Chapter 4
Alessandro
I lean back in my chair, whiskey in hand, and my feet on the desk as I turn on my computer to watch the cameras in Luciana’s bedroom. Enzo mentioned he had vaguely spoken with her and told her she’s unable to leave. The screaming I heard must have been the reaction she had to Enzo slamming the door in her face. It’s almost comical how she is when mad, similar to a toddler who’s been told no for the first time.
She paces around the room after throwing a pillow at the door, trying to figure out her next move. Her hesitation radiates through the camera as she mutters to herself. Before I’m able to guess what she’ll do next, she rushes over to the desk, swiping everything off the surface. The heavy bookend catches her attention when I stand, both palms on my desk, knowing her intention but hoping I’m wrong. “She wouldn’t.” I’ve barely finished my sentence when she launches it at the antique mirror, cracking but not shattering the glass.
Red-hot rage builds up inside of me while I watch her ruin everything in the bedroom I’ve created for her. I’m not sure if her goal is to piss me off or make the bedroom uninhabitable. Whatever she’s attempting to do, she’s achieving both. If she wants to destroy the space I’ve given her, I’ll shove her in one of the rooms downstairs, normally saved for people who haven’t paid their debts.
When she strips the bed clean I grab the paperwork that seals her fate, racing up the stairs. I shoot a text to Domenico, asking him to put a mattress into one of the rooms downstairs.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I yell at Enzo when I reach the door and scan my finger to let myself into the bedroom.
Luciana turns around, a bedside lamp in hand when I rush her, grabbing that same arm, preventing her from flinging the lamp at me.
“What in the entire fuck are you doing?” I most likely resemble a maniac by the fear in her eyes. I can tell she immediately regrets everything she’s done to her bedroom. “What do you plan on achieving here? Huh? Destroy anything you want, but you’re not leaving this fucking house. If you’re not comfortable in this bedroom, I have a mattress on the cold, dark basement floor with your fucking name on it. Personally, I think this room is more comfortable. You can decide if you’ll be comfortable in a beautiful bedroom or on a dirty mattress on the basement floor, stained with the blood of people who owe me. This is your choice, Luciana.”
A burn radiates through my cheek when she unexpectedly smacks me across the face. “Who do you think you are? You’re the one that kidnapped me and you’re angry with me? I deserve to be the one angry at you. What do you have to say to that, Alessandro?”
I turn her around, grab both of her hands and bend her over the naked bed, pressing my semi-hard dick against her ass. This is the only consistent reaction my body has to her. I know she feels my erection from the gasp that leaves her lips and how her body stiffens. Part of me wishes she would continue fighting. My lips graze her ear as I press my chest against her back before whispering. “Are you done acting like a child?”
“For now,” I swear she subtly rocks her hips. I ignore it and let her go. She turns around with fight still in her eyes but doesn’t do anything. Now that the physical fight has depleted, it’s time to tell her the fate Stella set in place for her.
“Do you know why you’re here, Luciana?” She mentioned Aldo and Stella hadn’t told her about their life before living in America. It makes me wonder if Caterina knows anything or if they’ve held their secret for generations.
“I’m here because you’re a psycho who enjoys kidnapping innocent women and shoving them in locked bedrooms.”
I chuckle slightly, happy to know she’s about to find out her family’s secret that’s become her issue. “Have a seat, Luciana. We can discuss things further.”
“I’m not sitting anywhere! You lied to me, you dirty son of a bitch, and I want to go home. And by the way, it’s Luci.” She crosses her arms and brings her shoulders back. It’s almost cute how she’s trying to intimidate me.
“Luciana, this is your home now. Let me explain everything. I never lied to you, I just haven’t had the opportunity to tell you what your life will entail from now on. Our families have known each other for generations.” I pull out the contract drafted up, signed by both of our great-grandfathers promising Stella to Geno, and hand it to her. She snatches it from me and scans through it while I explain everything.
“You see, according to this contract, Stella was promised to marry my nonno, Geno, as payment for her family’s debt. She fell in love with a man who worked for my family and they ran off the night before Geno and Stella’s wedding. While this contract was drafted decades ago, no one has made payment on the terms, which means that this contract still stands and your family is in debt to mine. Now that I’ve found you, a descendant of Stella Miani, you will marry me, a descendant of Geno Leone, to pay off your family’s debt.” I smirk while she reads the contract I’ve handed her as she tries to find a loophole out of this. I know what she’s going to say when she smiles like she’s figured out where the lost city of Atlantis is.
“First of all, again, it’s Luci, not Luciana, and second of all, my last name isn’t Miani, it’s Bonacci, which means this contract doesn’t qualify for me. Now let me out so I can go home.” She says with a smug smile, an attempt at appearing brave while walking to the door and suddenly realizing it’s still locked. She thinks she has it all figured out, but oh how very wrong she is.
“Fine. Luci. I don’t believe you heard me correctly though. Or were you not aware Stella’s maiden name is Miani? While your whole family’s last name is Bonacci, you are a direct descendant of Stella Miani, which means you’ll pay this off. You can despise me all you want, but you will marry me and give me everything that encompasses that, including giving me children.”
She whips around, a mix of shock and anger edged on her face. “In your dreams! You can’t leave me locked up here forever. You’d have to force me to do any of those things.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. The security at Geno’s family home may have lacked in strength, but I can confidently say that’s not the case here. Until I’m positive you won’t pull a stupid stunt to escape, you will stay in this bedroom. I will send up anything you need and will visit you often so we can get to know each other. Once I allow you to leave the bedroom, you’ll be able to walk around the house or outside on the property with a chaperone. If I ever let you leave these grounds, it will be with me and I will follow every step you take. Remember that you’re on the third floor of a property with plenty of security and fingerprint scanners at every door. The windows in here open for some sunlight and fresh air. Here’s a phone with my number programmed into it if you need anything. Don’t get any ideas though. That phone cannot contact anyone that’s not programmed into it by me or my head of security, does not have access to social media, and I’m able to track anything you do with that phone.”
“Get some sleep, Luci. I’ll have breakfast sent to you in the morning. After that, we can figure out how to clean up the mess you’ve made. Goodnight.” I knock on the door to get Enzo’s attention. As I walk out, I hear Luci scream and throw something against the door as it shatters. I smile deviously, thinking of all the ways I could break her until she willingly submits to me.