2. Eliza
2
Eliza
One way or another, I plan on escaping this hellhole. I don’t care how I’ve got to do it.
This bastard Bertelli feels comfortable enough to sleep next to me. Even through the darkness, the moonlight gives him away. Each slow rise of his chest is constant. I hope he’s having a nightmare.
I don’t know how he can sleep. Even with all my efforts of fighting this man, I’m feeling wired . Like a constant shot of adrenaline is coursing through my veins, I’m feeling another itch to get out of here.
There’s a door not too far away. From the occasional pass of a shadow, I can tell they don’t have too many people keeping guard on the second floor.
They must have more on the first. Otherwise, why wouldn’t my baby sister have succeeded at her own escape?
I recall trying to persuade her before this marriage mess came to be. She looked hesitant, even at the thought of us getting away and surviving on our own. Despite my promise of not needing Rocco or anyone, it wasn’t enough.
She wants to stay here. I don’t understand why, or how Santino got into her head, but she wants to stay.
If I leave this place tonight, I’ll end up leaving alone. I can’t abandon her, not like Rocco had. At the same time, I can’t wait around for him to gather enough forces to rescue us in a more violent way.
Something tells me he’d rather see me dead after slipping out without a word. Who knows if he even is coming? I don’t want to imagine the punishment I have coming for me. I really fucked him over by coming here.
Rocco wanted to marry me off to a guy with an eye patch. No thanks. He’s just as bad as the brute sleeping next to me.
That’s what all these men are. Brutes. Rough, and angry, and… ugh.
I need to get out of here. If not off of this estate, away from this beast.
Ever so carefully, I slide off the bed. Taking my sweet time to leave the surface undisturbed, I move to my feet and look down at his frame.
I could try to kill him. Grab something sharp and sink it into his throat. However, how far will that leave me? He’s Bertelli blood, related to the don of this family. If I kill him, I’m promising my very own death.
Can’t save Camellia if I’m dead.
For now, he’s safe to keep sleeping. Even if he deserves to be stabbed twenty times over, I’m going to turn the other cheek.
Moving toward the large glass windows, my steps are mute against the carpet. There’s a door that leads outside, so I make my way over. Before I reach my destination, I catch a view of what is on the other side of the glass.
For a moment, I’m surprised by the view. A sky full of stars is not the first thing I expect to see out here. Compared to the cloudy skies in the city, this is like a whole new world.
Catching myself getting distracted, I tear my eyes away and look around. There are two chairs resting on what looks like a patio. Ever so carefully, my fingers graze the handle on the glass door. Throwing a look over my shoulder to make sure my captor is still resting peacefully, I open the door and shiver at the cool air nipping at my skin.
Stepping outside, my hair whips against my cheeks. The days may be warm, but the nights are far cooler.
Moving past the chairs, I head over to the rail. Looking down, my head swims at the height from here to the ground. Down below, there’s a thick strip of concrete promising one hell of a painful drop. A broken leg is a guarantee.
A gated lattice separates attached patios to my left and right. No one else is out here to enjoy the incredible view.
Leaning over the rail, I hope to at least figure out how many people are patrolling, but I’m distracted by the sight of a trellis covered in greenery.
Oh, hell yes. An escape .
How many times have I climbed down one of these to escape my very room each time Rocco decided he wanted to keep me locked up? Way too many times to count. Sure, this trellis is longer with the difference in height, but if I ignore the weight forming in my stomach, I’m sure I can get the fuck out of here.
If I alert anyone, I can just drop on them and make a run for it.
There are only a few walls of muscle here; I’m sure whoever I run into won’t be as much of a force to reckon with as Urzo.
Moving swiftly toward the trellis, I give it a good shake to see how secure it is. My smile is immediate when it doesn’t move at all. Perfect.
Freedom is all but fifteen feet away. Maybe twenty. I don’t want to think about it being any more than that.
I’m eager, swinging my leg over. One foot over the rail, my other foot doesn’t get the chance to lift before a thick arm wraps around my torso, tugging me right back.
For such a brute, this sonofabitch has steps as light as a feather.
“Release me!” Crying out as my soon-to-be husband shuts the door with his other hand, I wiggle and jerk against his hold. “Right now!”
He grunts when I elbow his chin. It’s enough to free me from his prison, but hardly for long. Just as I’m let go, I’m pressed against the wall right next to my near escape.
I fight, because that’s all I can do. When I try to scratch, Urzo easily captures my wrists and shoves them above my head.
“You need to calm down.” His eyes narrow when I continue to squirm. Sleep laces his voice, and he’s acting like he’s cranky that I’ve woken him up from not getting enough sleep.
“You clearly don’t know a thing about women.” I kick him in the leg when his iron grip doesn’t loosen. “ Don’t tell one to calm down.”
He growls low, and that scarred lip curls in distaste. Looking at me with eyes as dark as the night, he doesn’t blink. He looks pissed.
Like he wants to kill me. His patience is already so thin, I’m surprised he hasn’t already.
Yeah, we’re a match made in heaven, alright. Two people meant to be together.
I didn’t agree to this arranged marriage, and I think he only did because he’s got a kink for pleasing his family.
I try to headbutt him, and he bares his teeth like a wild animal. Hell, more like a predator. The way he stares at me… I tremble involuntarily. I refuse to be afraid of this man, my body be damned.
“I will not stop,” I hiss between my teeth. “Once I undo the brainwashing of my sister, I’m going to rescue her and leave this entire madness behind.”
His eyes narrow, his brows coming together. His jaw flexes as I can see the thoughts spiraling in his head. Finally, he makes up his mind. Instead of letting me in on what is going on in that brutish head of his, he takes my wrists and pulls me away from the wall and toward the bed.
“All the men in your life have clearly spoiled you. Sorry to say, but I’m not going to do such a thing. Bad behavior gets punished around here, and you’ve been fucking terrible since the moment you showed up. A goddamn headache for everyone.”
What happens next is a blur. He’s sitting on the edge of the bed, and I’m staring at the carpet because he’s yanked me over his lap.
Oh no. Fuck this. This man is not going to punish me.
Before I can think of trying to free my hands from his iron grip, I suddenly feel a warmth against my back. My shirt is so thin, I feel the entire trail down to my ass.
A similar heat swarms my face as this man squeezes my ass hard enough to bring a groan to my lips. What the fuck .
A man has never touched me like this. Hell, I’ve barely touched myself down there. I’ll be damned if I let this man spank me. What does he think I am, a child?
If he thinks this will be what solves all of his problems, then he has another thing coming.
I can feel his cock swelling against my stomach. He’s enjoying himself, the bastard. He’s fucked up in the head. All of these Bertelli men are. They think they can get whatever they want if they use violence. My brother is the same way. I can’t take any of them anymore.
Gritting my teeth, I look back at him. “I’ll slit your throat, I swear to—”
Crying out as his palm strikes my ass, I hiss as the pain sizzles out. Even though he’s spanking me through my pants, I can feel the heat from my skin radiating. Even more when he suddenly squeezes my sore cheek again, this time spreading the pain.
“You want to finish that sentence, princess?” He still sounds so angry, but there’s something there. A tingle I don’t think I’m too fond of. Now that he’s starting to touch my ass, I feel the tingles from his fingers making contact. He’s stroking the curve of my ass, purposely putting pressure where it hurts.
He’s using that nickname again. Princess. Like he truly believes I’m a spoiled brat. He doesn’t have a clue. I haven’t had a single thing handed to me.
“Fuck you.” Spitting the words out, I flinch when his hand comes back down. It makes it worse and I’m left whimpering.
My thighs squirm against his lap as he squeezes the aching muscle again. Like he’s waiting for me to retaliate, like he knows me better than I know myself, I fight to speak or grit my teeth.
I should’ve stabbed him while he was sleeping. Biggest regret of my life.
I’ve never been the type to swallow down my words. Never been the type to back down like some frightened animal.
Scowling, I glare at him. My eyes are a little watery, much to my dismay. I can only imagine how red my cheeks are, both sets.
He sighs, his frustration pouring out of him. Without warning, he strikes my ass again, this time, his thumb grazing the outside of my pussy. “Your thoughts are written all over that face of yours, Parada.”
The bastard cracks a smirk, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Yeah, he’s enjoying himself alright.
My toes curl as I try not to focus on the stroking motion of his fingers. He’s making my pussy tingle, and I don’t know why. Everything about this is screaming wrong . I shouldn’t be bent over this man’s lap. He shouldn’t be touching me.
I can feel the slickness of my panties after two more smack s. Even as I’m left squirming against his lap, it’s the touch I’m given after that keeps me from cursing him. I grit my teeth to keep silent. I don’t want him to know my body is trying to turn this into something other than a ‘punishment’.
“Are we done?” His fingers ghost over once more, the heat of my wounds seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “Are you going to be good and let me fucking sleep?”
My hands ball up in fists tight enough to carve crescent shapes into my palms. So hard, I’m surprised I don’t draw blood. When I take too long to answer him, I whine when he squeezes one of my cheeks hard.
“Yes!” Barking out the word, I glare at the ground. I can’t look him in the eye. Not after he’s done this.
Finally, he releases me. I all but tumble to the ground, too shameful to pick myself up right away.
“Try to pull another stunt like this, and I’ll punish you the very same.” There’s promise in his voice, and I believe him. “Next time, it’ll be skin-to-skin contact, understand?”
I try to imagine those scarred hands rubbing my bare cheeks. His fingers would be so close to my pussy, he’d notice the moisture collecting from this confusing experience.
Trying to pick myself up, I realize how much my limbs feel like jello. It’s like I’ve completely forgotten how to use them.
Rage licks at my veins from embarrassment. Finally, lifting my gaze to look at him, seeing his blank expression pisses me off more than his erection does. He hasn’t brought attention to it, but there’s no denying his arousal.
Urzo Bertelli is a fucked up human being.
“I mean it. Piss me off anywhere, and I won’t think twice to punish you whether we’re alone or in a room full of people.” He moves to circle the bed and ever so casually goes to lay back down. “Go to sleep, or stay there, I don’t care. Just stay in here or else.”
I don’t need to ask him what or else entails.
Using the bed to stand back up, my legs wobble. Body on fire, I snatch a pillow. Glaring at him, I move toward the attached bathroom and slam the door shut. Hurrying and locking it just in case he gets pissy, I flick on the light and look at my reflection.
My cheeks are flushed a deep crimson, and my bottom lip is swollen and throbbing from the force of my bite. I don’t even want to get started on the mess of my hair.
Turning around, I grimace as I pull down my pants to take in the damage done. I wince as I see marks of red fingers. My skin is hot to the touch, and it aches as I push one fingertip against it. As the pain radiates, my toes curl.
While I’m taking in a sight I’ve never seen before, I pull my pants down another inch and discover something even more disturbing than the evidence of his punishment.
My underwear is soaked all the way through. Not just the thin fabric, but there’s even a spot on my pants.
Urzo spent so much time rubbing his fingers against my ass. There’s no way he didn’t notice.
The sensation of being spanked did not excite me. This… is just something I can’t explain.
Tearing my eyes away from my reflection, I shove my pants back onto my hips and move to the bathtub. No, he doesn’t even have a tub, just a walk-in shower. Damn it all.
Hoping I’d be able to sleep a little bit of comfort, I opt to sleep on the floor instead. Anything is better than sleeping next to that brute.
Just because I can’t put up a fight, doesn’t mean I have to like the guy. If I keep up my antics, maybe he’ll beg Santino to reverse his decision.
I can only hold my breath and hope that’ll be the outcome. If not, there’s no way I’m going to survive being married to this guy.
I’d prefer to be asphyxiated than to follow through with his intentions for me.