Vows Of Vengeance

phone, my han

had thought lost forever-a snap

, and my elder brother, all smi

as I kept staring

on my screen: "Tread

art s

ws, a ghost in the labyrinthi

ully concealed, a shield against the

my caution had

en lifted, my s

ct, and ac

they were, wouldn't re

e has c

***

wedding to Vincenzo were

dresses, and instructing me on the publ

ike a tightening no

me from work when

ncenzo's

ike to have a meeting with you. Tomorrow, six pm, at the sam

and walked insi

m until the wedding but I gue

***

r corner of the

en minutes but still

y, he

idence of a man who controlled ev

ou kept to your schedul

g back with a predatory smil

commanding. "There are rules you

wed hard

e. You will smile, you will hold my hand, a

I whi

ree to do as you wish, as long as you do not interfere with my

"Why would I need to escape?

his marriage is a contract. You play your part, and I will provide you with the

g me alone in the cafè, my heart hea

I gotten m

***

with Vincenzo were filled with

scrutinized, my eve

haunted me, a constant reminder of th

o find some semblance of pea

ed a momentary respite

cast eerie shadows, making the

round my shoulders and ventu

ths, the sound of my footsteps

felt a presen

ut I forced mysel

y pace, hoping to lose whoever was following m

grabbed my arm,

o free myself, but the

he shadows, a hooded ma

and sweat filled my nostril

et hurt," he hissed, pulling

f the blade of a knife h

ying to think of

calm, to not let

ho could help me. But it seems everybody

se, the man pushed me against a

g time, sweetheart," he snarled. "Vinc

sent you?" I demanded, trying to kee

vers down my spine. "It's not about what I want. It's

throat, the cold steel biting into my skin. "Remember

sappearing into the shadows a

ground, my han

ling the faint line wh

as closer than ever, and I h

to find out who was behind the threats and t

ed the door and leaned against it,

plashed cold water on my fac

r looked back at me, pale

into my nightgown, a sharp k

ached the door. "Who is it?" I

eply, his voice calm but co

ounded in

or and opened a c

expression unreadable. "

d, stepping into the apartment

loud crash echoed from the hallway

ed a gun from his jacket. "Stay here,

voice urgent. "No, I

nodded. "Stay close," he said, and we headed

hallway, we saw several armed me

fend himself, but my eyes widened a

pered, my voice

a slow, dangerous smile spread ac