Page 66 of Vow of Desire

“I looked into you, Matteo Marani. You once kidnapped a woman, Emma Detti, just because you could. I don’t think you have the right to judge me.”

“I only tried to take Emma because she was promised to me and Gabriel went back on his word. It was a matter of honor. It wasn’t because I delighted in kidnapping an innocent woman. But yes, I’ll admit. I wasn’t a good man. I’m still not in many ways. But I don’t kill for fun. I never have.”

“You should try it. Killing for fun is, well… a lot of fun. Taking a life is joyous. Seeing the fear on someone’s face right before they take their last breath. It’s electrifying. That’s what happened to Alexandra Ricci when I killed her.”

I flinch as shame hits me in the gut. “I never meant for her to die.”

“Then you shouldn’t have given me her name.”

“I didn’t know what kind of man you are,” I snap. “I didn’t know it would lead to her death.”

Dante leans over Matteo, getting closer to me. “Actions have consequences, Luciana. This is yours for deceiving me. I don’t like being deceived.”

Matteo grabs Dante’s face and tries pressing his thumbs into his eyes but Dante jerks back in time and raises his gun right at Matteo’s head.

“I will fucking shoot you,” Dante snarls. “Don’t think I won’t. I will shoot your pretty, little wife and fuck her with my gun. How does that sound?”

Matteo glares at Dante.

“I thought so,” Dante responds. “So both of you better play along if you want to survive.”

“You’re a monster,” I whisper.

Dante tilts his head to the side and gives me a pitying look. “You’re only now just figuring that out?”

“Don’t talk to her,” Matteo snaps. “Luciana, don’t engage with him. You’re only going to give him what he wants.”

“And what do I want?” Dante taunts.

“Attention. This is all a big game to you. You’re a lunatic.”

Dante presses his forehead to Matteo’s. “I may be a little crazy but at least I get shit done. You weren’t able to make Emma Detti yours. How pathetic you must be.”

“Luciana is my wife. Emma never was. I don’t even think about her anymore.”

I gasp softly. Matteo has never told me this before but it warms my heart knowing Emma is out of the picture. It seems that she has been for a while.

Dante smirks and pulls back, looking Matteo up and down. “You think you’re such a righteous guy, don’t you?”

“I know my flaws.”

“Mmm. Do you really?”

Matteo frowns. “You’re the fucking lunatic who is kidnapping us just for fun. You don’t get to judge me either.”

“Fair enough.” Dante laughs but there’s no humor to it. “I’m going to have so much fun.” His eyes flick to mine. “With both of you.”

Matteo inches closer to me. “Whatever you want to do, do it to me.”

“Oh. A martyr, are we?”

“I am not going to let you torture my wife.”

“Your wife walked into my restaurant when I was conducting business. Your wife lied to me about her name. Your wife fooledme and I don’t appreciate being made a fool. So I am going to do whatever I feel like to your wife.”

Matteo places his arm over my lap as if that can somehow protect me from Dante. We both know it won’t be able to but I appreciate that Matteo is trying.

“How does that make you feel?” Dante asks me.