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Fear has turned into a tangible, living force creeping through me like a ravenous beast… but what’s left of me will not go down without a fight.
I frantically glance around the room to find something to help me, something I can use as a weapon, or to protect myself with, or somewhere I can hide. The door… It’s not too far away, and Gualtiero is on the other side of the bed. There has to be a place somewhere outside this room where I can hide until he has calmed down.
Before I can think too much about it, I launch off the bed and run for the door. But Gualtiero had followed my line of sight and expected my move. He’s on me before I can reach the handle and slams me against the door.
His body presses into mine to hold me in place. He grips my hands and pins them above my head, holding them tight in one of his. His eyes burn into me as I struggle against his hold.
“Are you really running from me… again?! Have you not learned from your mistakes,” he whispers through gritted teeth, disbelief in his voice.
“You don’t get to run away from me…ever,” he emphasizes the last word. “You’re mine, and you’ll learn to behave like it. The rules are simple. Obedience gets rewarded. Disobedience gets punished.”
All blood seems to drain from me. My vision blurs, and my head spins. My eyes plead with his, but I see no mercy.
“What happened to the girl who tried to help me? You didn’t hurt her, did you?” I ask breathlessly, my voice raspy.
“You are mine,” he repeats as if that statement alone answers my question. “Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, gets to touch what’s mine and gets away with their life,” he says, his voice as cold as the arctic ice.
I turn white. Oh my God, he killed her.
How will I live with that on my conscience?
“Let me make one thing clear, Ella,” he hisses into my face.
“You. Never. Run. From. Me.” He lets his statement sink in, but he really didn’t need to. The message has been received loud and clear.
“Did you not believe me that it’s not safe? That there are people just waiting to take you to get to me? You’ve become an extremely valuable commodity to my enemies. They’ll stop at nothing to get you. And theywillhurt you.” His face is so close to mine, his breath on my cheeks.
If I hadn’t been already scared shitless, his words would have done it.
I’m surprised my anxiety could be amped up, but it’s definitely possible. The awareness I have a target on my back and can’t go anywhere without looking over my shoulder makes me shudder.
He sees the horror in my face. “We can manage this. But it means that you’re under guard twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. You will not leave or go anywhere on your own. Do I make myself clear?” His eyes bore into me. I’ve never seen him like this, nor do I ever want to see him like this again.
“In my circle, Ella, women mean nothing. They warm your bed, entertain you, and the one you marry is to bear your children. You, however, Ella, mean everything to me. Despite our short time together, a life without you is unimaginable. But that doesn’t change the fact that you will learn your place.
“In my world, everybody obeys my word, and it’s doubly important that my woman does. Otherwise, you make me look weak. I need to be in control at all times. It’s imperative for everyone’s safety and well-being, especially yours.
“You’ll do as you are told or there will be consequences and trust me, princess, you won’t like them.”
His words infuriate me, and I welcome the emotion. It’s so much better than the crippling fear I’ve felt up to this point.
I’m not a dog who follows every command from its master. I choose to keep my thoughts to myself, though. Gualtiero is too worked up, and my words would only throw gasoline onto the fire.
So, I stay silent and try to turn my eyes away from him. But they shoot to his again when his free hand that had rested against the door next to my head is traveling up my thigh, lifting the bottom of my dress along with it. He cups my pussy and starts stroking my slit over my underwear.
“I thought you had to take off your panties because you’ve got your period,” he says, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “That was clever of you, princess. But trust me, none of my men will make that mistake again,” he says as he continues to stroke me.
For the first time since I’ve known him, his touch leaves me cold and unresponsive. The fear and adrenaline pumping through my body make anything else impossible.
“Tell me, was that story your idea or little Miss Molinaro’s?”
“Who’s Miss Molinaro?” Though I can guess he’s talking about Sofia, I want to keep him talking, hoping he’ll calm down and forget about the belt.
“Sofia Molinaro, daughter of Niccolo Molinaro, the head of the Molinaro family empire, our biggest rival.”
I blanch as the truth dawns on me. Sofia was only helping me so I could be kidnapped by her father. If Alonso hadn’t reached me in time, I might have found myself in far greater danger. God only knows what they would have done to me in order to get to Gualtiero.
He watches me closely as understanding dawns. I’m certain he can see my thoughts playing across my face.
