Page 20 of Revenge of Sin

“Anna, I was talking to Massimo.Trying to let him know you were safe, at the casino, and that he should come pick you up because we got word that Gallini’s men had touched down in the state.I was trying to protect you and you got right into the enemy’s car.”

My mind swirls with everything I heard, all the pieces of conversation moving far too fast for me to put together.“I honestly don’t know what to think.Why would you lie to me, make me think that you kidnapped me?”

“I never lied to you.I was hoping you would come to the conclusion that I could never hurt you like that on your own.”

I close my eyes.It’s all just too much.“Then call Massimo and have him come and get me.”

“It’s a little more difficult now, Anna.You can’t have any contact with Massimo because the Gallinis will find you if you do.”

If Massimo finds out what Vincenzo has done, the wrath of his entire family and every soldier in his control will come down on the DeLucas.

My voice almost cracks.“Are you really keeping me or sending me away now?”

He exhales a deep breath.“Princessa.it seems that you’re going to be hanging out with me for more than a while.”

My eyes widen.All the options of family deals and contracts that mafia men make regarding their women run through my mind.“You bought me?”It’s a guess, and I don’t yet know if I want it to be true or not, but what I do know is that I don’t want to be handed over to a Gallini.

He arches an eyebrow.“Is that what you believe?”

I take another bite of my meal, contemplating this latest development.He may still be my captor, but my anxiety level just dropped about a hundred and ten degrees.The Gallinis are no joke, and I don’t think it’s just a roll in the hay that Bastian wants.He’s rumored to be a sick sadistic son of a bitch and being at his mercy scares the shit out of me.

I’ll take Vincenzo any day of the week, prisoner or not.Besides, I’m not restrained here.If there’s an opportunity to get out that door one day, I’ll take it and be free.

Vincenzo leans closer.“I asked you a question.”

My mind swirls.“I honestly don’t know.Everything is just happening so fast.I feel like the biggest fool in the world.Why did you kidnap me if you weren’t going to sell me?”

He’s thoughtful for a moment.“It’s clear you don’t believe me and instead would rather believe what you want.Maybe I did kidnap you, or instead saved you from someone who did, or perhaps I did and just changed my mind.Or got a better deal and just have to wait out some timing issues.What do you think, princessa?Deep down, princessa, that’s what I want to know.”

The heat of his gaze is intense, causing my breathing to increase and pulse to race.“I honestly do not know what to believe except what I know for certain.You’re attracted to me.If he finds me I’m dead.You want me?You’re keeping me because you’re attracted to me.Are you going to buy me from Gallini?”

13

Vincenzo

She’s as attracted to me as I am to her, but thinks the worst of me at the same time and wants me to fucking buy her.If I thought Gallini would sell her, I’d do it in a fucking heartbeat.

I contemplate what she’s said, letting the options weigh out in my mind.Never in a thousand years did I expect her to go there.Buy her?I let it resonate.It’s not a bad reason for her to think she’s being kept here, at least for now.

It would eliminate her demanding that we tell Massimo, and it would give me the time I need to help her overcome the trust issues.Surely after what we’ve shared and not being handed over to Gallini she should trust me a little bit more, even if my last name is DeLuca.No matter what she’s been told about my family in the past or what she thinks she heard on that fucking phone call.

It would be starting our relationship on a lie, but fuck, I’ve already done that, and I’ll deal with her wrath about that rather than see her die at the hands of that sadistic bastard.I decide to circumvent the question.She’s going to think what she wants regardless of what I say.

“You’re mine now.I’m keeping you.I’m still contemplating how.”It’s all I’m telling her for now.

If I thought she’d be pissed, she’s not.Anna knows the life, from a female’s perspective far better than I.The females are the ones who are usually bartered, for position, power, marriage arrangements for family mergers, you name it, they are the ones who seal the family’s future in many cases throughout the crime family lands.Yet she does not seem upset but instead accepting of the fact.

“However I decide to handle it I’ll keep you from Gallini.You’ll stay with me.”

“Are you going to rape and torture me?Try to impregnate me with a baby that you can call your son?”

Her words gut me to the very core…

I may know much of what she’s been through in the past but clearly not all.My chest pumps with unprecedented fury and a gut wrenching need to make that fucker pay from the grave but for her sake I keep my voice controlled.“Of course not.I find our mutual attraction quite satisfactory, and protection can be arranged.I assumed it was, the pills in your purse, I had them put on the bathroom counter.Am I mistaken?”

She shrugs.“I’m unable to bear children so it’s a moot point.I was just trying them to keep the monthlies tolerable, but it didn’t work.”

My chest tightens, kicking myself for not learning the full extent of the brutality of Bastian’s dead brother.He’s lucky he’s deader than fuck or he would find himself dead by my own hands after what she just said.“We’ll talk in more length about the arrangement.For now, simply know there will be rules, but we’ll need to discuss those later.I’m late for a meeting.”