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“How can a man be so cruel to his own children? Marcello wouldn’t be in this courtroom if he weren’t forced to burn that warehouse down.”
“Make Drake sign the divorce papers,” Luca said.
Alessandra shook her head stubbornly. “No. I’m not divorcing my husband.”
Luca leaned in and whispered in her ear, “If you don’t get him to sign, I’ll make you a widow. And when I reclaim you, I won’t be gentle. You’ll be pregnant with my son before the year is done.”
Alessandra trembled at his words, feeling just as helpless as she had at eighteen. He turned her hand over, drawing attention to the scar on her wrist. The pain was unbearable, leaving a permanent reminder of how evil men could be.
She blinked back tears. “Don’t you dare threaten him, Luca! Drake’s a good man. I’ll make sure he signs the papers. We were only putting on a show for court.”
“Tell that to the fucking hickey on your neck. You let him mark you. Did you let him fuck you, too?” Luca spat venomously when Alessandra covered her neck. “You accused your father in open court, Alessandra. Do you realize how poorly this reflects on him? That went on the record. We’ll have to bribe the court clerk to make the transcript disappear.”
“That sounds like your problem. I’m not a Russo anymore. I’m Mrs. Drake Walker now. My father saw to that.” She yanked her hand roughly from Luca’s grip, bracing herself for what he would say next.
Luca delivered the blow with a smirk. “Why do you defend him, Alessandra? You know he can’t stand you. He’s just using you as a revenge fuck against his ex. You’re dumb enough to think you’re special. You’re just a desperate, sad, little girl looking for love. News flash, sweetheart, he’ll never see you as more than a pair of tits and ass while it lasts.
“At least with me, you’ll know where you stand. I’m capo bastone now, don’t forget. Being my wife won’t be so bad as long as you mind yourself. With you by my side, the Russo legacy will be stronger than ever.”
Believing in the possibility that Drake could love her might be a childish flight of fancy, but Alessandra had clung to it. Luca said everything she knew deep down was true. The excitement she felt for the date Drake promised was now long gone.
She’d never be free as long as demands were made of her. Loyalty was expected from her, but no one reciprocated in kind. Drake was still her best chance at self-discovery. It felt wrong giving him the papers, but now it was the safest thing for him.
“There, there. There’s no need to get upset, poppet. It’s how this game’s played. You’ve seen it firsthand. Make sure Drake signs the papers. You’ve got one week.”
As though sensing Alessandra’s distress, Drake glanced over his shoulder and immediately glared daggers at Luca. Luca locked eyes with Alessandra and shot a finger gun in Drake’s direction with a wink. The gesture drove the seriousness of his threat home.
The remainder of court went by unremarkably, not that Alessandra was emotionally inclined to pay attention. The judge ordered a continuation, and another court date was set. Marcello was led away in handcuffs, waving gently at her. She stood ramrod straight, not looking at her father, waiting for him to exit first.
Drake tried to take Alessandra’s hand, whether as a small comfort or part of the show, she didn’t know. She shrank into herself. They returned to the penthouse in tense silence after multiple attempts of engagement by Drake had failed.
What had once felt inviting now felt like a prison sentence of its own volition. Alessandra longed to be anywhere else. Drake stepped closer to her, and it was all she could do not to fall apart.
“Talk to me, Alessandra. Tell me what’s wrong. What did that stronzo say to you?”
“Like you care. I’m done with these games, Drake. You have the papers. Please just sign them.” It was easier to be angry than face the truth.
Drake grabbed Alessandra’s forearms and pulled her close. “What the fuck are you talking about? I thought we decided to make this work. You’re the one sending mixed signals now. I was there in court when you begged me to kiss you. You certainly allowed me to make you come in that bathroom. I promised to protect you, but you need to be honest with me so I can.”
She laughed shrilly and thrust her arms out of his grasp to put distance between them. “You think you can lecture me on honesty? Pot meet kettle.”
Drake stepped closer to Alessandra, causing her to jump back. He stalked closer, licking his lips. He was the predator, and she was the prey. She searched wide-eyed for an escape route and failed. It was already too late. He had her back against the wall.
“That’s right, bella. There’s nowhere left to go. Now, look at me.”
Alessandra wanted to defy him, but he was too close. His woodsy scent threatened to choke her, and she longed to bathe in it. Drake roughly grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.
“Tell me what’s changed. Is a divorce what you really want?”
But she didn’t get the chance to respond because he traced her lower lip with the pad of his thumb. Her knees trembled at his sensual touch. All Alessandra wanted was for him to end this conversation and punish her. She sucked the tip into her mouth, eliciting a groan from Drake. He fucked her mouth with his finger before withdrawing it with a pop.
“Answer me, Alessandra.”
Of course, she didn’t want to divorce. But she couldn’t ignore the truth in Luca’s words or Drake’s own admission. She would only be a sexual toy to be used and discarded by Drake until Luca claimed her for much worse.
Men like them would never change. But she would try desperately to twist herself into the mold they desired just for a single kernel of love. Hell, she’d take a microscopic crumb. The life she was raised in didn’t allow her higher value but to spread her legs for those her father deemed worthy.
She almost broke under Drake’s studious gaze, but her eyes shone with resolve. They were two people who barely tolerated each other and had no business being married. So why was she so inexplicably drawn to him? If staying married meant he was a target, that his life was in danger, didn’t he deserve better than that? She cursed her warped feelings and said the only thing she could.
