Not moving his gaze from my breasts, he continued, “Gianni was groomed for death, taught the ruthless art of control by his father, Lorenzo. And when the time came, hetookthe throne from our father.”
“Back away from me. . .please.”
“Why?” Vito licked his lips. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”
“I’m your fucking sister—”
“Half—”
“That means nothing. We have the same blood running through our veins.”
“I barely remember our mother.” Vito reached out and brushed his fingers along the cuts he had left on my arm. The touch was light, almost tender, but it sent a jolt of revulsion through me.
I yanked my arm away, glaring at him with as much defiance as I could muster. “Don’t touch me.”
He glanced over his shoulder as if expecting my stepfather to come in and then he returned his view to me. “Are you still a virgin?”
I widened my eyes. “That’s none of your fucking business—”
“It is all of our business. Gianni is expecting a virgin.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he is expecting—”
“Father had men watching you at your little ballerina boarding school and even college. They kept men from you.”
I blinked.
“But still. . .” Vito licked those lips again. “I bet you fucked someone.”
“You’re disgusting.” I shoved at him to move. “Get away from me.”
Vito held his ground. That muscular frame didn’t move an inch under the pressure of my push.
His smile widened into a grin that didn't quite meet his cold eyes. “Oh, Bella. You still think you have options.”
The humiliation of him attempting to control me made my heart pound, but I kept my face impassive. “I'm not a part of this family.”
His laughter rose in my dressing room. “You’re about to be Mrs. Fortunato soon.”
I trembled.
Vito's face contorted into a maniacal grin, and his eyes wild and unblinking. “Sweet Bella, you should know that Gianni is fucking crazy.”
Coming from this psycho that freaked me out even more.
“His rise to power has been ruthless.” He leaned forward, putting only three inches between his face and mine.
I trembled.
He whispered, “When Gianni’s father was gunned down by a rival family, he didn’t grieve. He retaliated, wiping out every single one of his enemies within weeks. . .the things. . .he did to them. . .”
I parted my lips.
Vito’s eyes sparkled with a twisted delight as he leaned in further and his stank hot breath brushed against my face.
I could barely breathe, trapped between the wall and the darkness he was weaving with his words.
“The Devil unleashed hell upon them. They didn’t just die. They suffered.” He moved his face to my ear and brushed his lips against the shell.
