AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I turn my hand this way and that, watching the diamond sparkle. I hear again Salvatore’s footsteps coming down the hall tonight. There was something strange about the way they sounded.
Hollow.
They sounded hollow, and alone.
“You’ve been played and you don’t even realize it.”
Salvatore’s gaze narrows. “Excuse me?”
“It’s so obvious that even naïve, stupid little me can see it. You think you’ve won, but really, you’ve lost. The four of you together were a threat to my father’s power. At least the other three have stuck together. You’ve been peeled off from the herd and now Dad’s going to use you however he wants.”
“Is that so?” Salvatore asks, his voice quiet and dangerous. “If you’re so clever, how is it you’re poking me like a bear when there’s no one here to protect you from me?”
“I didn’t say I was clever. I said I was stupid.”
“So you did. After what I warned you about last night, I have to agree with you.” He grabs me by the throat and squeezes, anger sparking in his eyes. “I’m starting to think you mouth off because making me angry makes you wet.”
He puts his hand on my shoulder and shoves me to my knees. Maybe he’s right. Or maybe I’ll learn to be afraid of him, but right now, all I’m anticipating is what he’ll do next.
Salvatore grips the hair at the back of my head. “I’ve been obsessed with your mouth from the moment I saw you. Now open up and show me what it can do.”
There’s a bulge at the front of his pants and I reach up and touch him. So, that’s what he feels like, thick and hard beneath the layers of fabric. I rub him back and forth, watching the pleasure flicker over his face. “Is this how you’re going to shut me up for telling the truth? By shoving your cock in my mouth?”
“It’s worth a fucking try.” He unzips his pants, grips his cock and draws it out. With his other hand he pulls my hair, making me gasp. As soon as my mouth is open, he shoves himself inside.
“Let me tell you something,” he growls, pumping his hips back and forth and making me gag. “If you wanted out of this marriage, you would have found a way by now.”
I try to pull away so I can argue with him but he holds me tighter and fucks deeper.
“That’s it, suck. Open your throat. You’re a prisoner and you always will be. Not because I’m making you a prisoner. Because youwantto be one.”
I fight him harder but his grip on my hair is merciless. All I can do is focus on my breathing as tears leak from my eyes.
“God, I can’t wait to hold you down and fuck you when you’re as angry as this. I bet you’re so…fucking…delicious.” With each word he thrusts further into my mouth and then he groans and his cock spasms. My mouth is flooded with his come and I swallow him down before I choke.
He squeezes my throat and growls, “You’re beautiful like your mother, and you’re going to end up like her, too. That mouth of yours is going to be the end of you.”
He lets me go, and I fall in a heap on the floor with my hand over my mouth, feeling like he’s struck me across the face.
“Fuck you,” I whisper, my shoulders shaking.
“I thought we were dishing out hard truths,” he growls, tucking his shirt back in his pants and zipping them up. He smooths his hair and his jacket and casts one last look at me. “Goodbye, Chiara. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
I feel Mom’s presence hovering over me, and her heart is breaking. This is what she died for, to see me brought to my knees by a man who can be crueler even than my murderous father.
I stare at the diamond ring on my finger.He’ll see me at the wedding?
Over my dead body.
I get to my feet and wipe the tears from my face. As the front door slams, I walk out into the hall and downstairs to the kitchen. I’ve let most of this year pass in a blur of fear and confusion, but it’s not too late to thwart Dad and Salvatore. I can defy them even with a chip in my neck and just a week until the wedding date.
Salvatore’s given me one last chance.
Francesca, Stephan, and Violette look up in surprise as I burst into the kitchen.
The old cook wipes her hands on her apron and comes toward me. “Chiara? What’s wrong?”
I pull my engagement ring off and hold it up, looking between all three of them. “I need to get a message to someone. Will any of you help me?”
