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He had taken her from her cell and drawn her inside to a private chamber, which also had a cage inside it because that was the sort of freak Angelo was. He must have spent an absolute fortune on cages in his lifetime. She wondered idly if he had a cage guy or if he employed new contractors every time he moved. If the former, that was a possible exploitable source of intel.
Every encounter with this man was another opportunity to find a weakness. She had to keep her eyes and ears open. She had to pay attention and not be distracted by all he was going to do to her. She knew very well that Angelo intended to use her instincts against her. He was predictable in his pattern of attack; that was something she had learned through the intelligence she had sifted through over the many months it had taken to prepare her assault.
He had no idea that she was in control. This arrogant beast of a man thought he had her captive. Every time he touched her, it was like watching an enemy push a poisoned dagger into their own heart.
Digby could remain in the barn. He had nothing new to offer that Angelo had not heard screamed at the top of his lungs a thousand times over. Willow, on the other hand, was new and terribly interesting.
"You came to my house just to tell me that teams were descending on it. Why?"
"I called in the cavalry because Gemma had been foolish enough to come to see you alone. I told you about the cavalry because I thought you would be sensible enough to run and leave us behind. This entire day has comprised of underestimating those around me."
Angelo allowed himself a smile, though he did not believe a word out of this suave woman's mouth.
"You wanted to be in my custody."
"Believe me. I did not. I would quite like to leave."
"And here I am quite wanting to keep you."
"That is a mistake."
"I don't believe so. I have the Braybrooke fortune under control, and now I have the potential to have the House of Lords and your set of machinations and influences as well. Keeping you two Spencers is exceptionally advantageous for me."
Willow set her jaw, clearly determined not to show her fear.
"We will not help you. You may have broken my idiot brother, but there is no chance I will fall for your charms, your threats, or your cruelty. You may terrify everybody in your little world, Mr. Vitali, but you are nothing but a common criminal. My family and I have been crushing petty thieves like you for as long as you have existed."
The sound of flesh on flesh echoed around the room. A hot hand shape mark appeared on Willow's cheek, left by Angelo's palm.
It was easy to forget everything Angelo was, to assume that he represented danger rather than embodying it. That illusion was completely shattered in a single gesture.
It was not a particularly rough or hard slap. It was not designed to send her off balance or do any real damage. It was designed to shock her out of the perpetual illusion that she was untouchable.
"You bastard!" Willow gasped, putting her hand to her face.
As the curse left her lips, Angelo gripped her very firmly by the throat and pushed her back against the wall. Closing the distance between them, he pinned her there, his long, powerful body pressed against hers with sudden aggressive intimacy. Willow was a tall woman. She looked down on many men. She could not look down on him. She was shorter. She was smaller. In Angelo's grasp, she was made as weak as any woman could be.
"Listen to me," Angelo purred. "I will tear every last vestige of propriety from you. I will break you down until you do not remember anything of your aristocratic ways. I will make you common, Lady Willow. And I will make you love every moment of your debasement. Do you understand?"
Willow's eyes flashed with fury. "You will never break me, Mr. Vitali," she said, her words becoming huskier as Angelo's grip tightened, restricting her breath.
"But I will. It has already begun. We both know it. I have your brother. I have you."
Willow swallowed, her eyes filling with tears she refused to cry, but which gleamed nonetheless.
Angelo's voice softened a little, though his grip remained firm.
"I know more about you than you think, Willow. I know that you have taken on the mantle of protector and enforcer in your family because your weak, overbred relatives no longer have the strength they once did. I know more responsibility than anybody wants to bear has fallen on you. And I know that you are pursuing Matilda Braybrooke not because she owes some ancient debt but because, in part, you are jealous of her."
