Chapter 12 #2
His fingers thrust harder. My toes curl, my fingers digging into him. My head tilts back further, teeth sinking into my lip to stifle the moans threatening to escape.
Without relenting in his tormenting rhythm, he buries his face in my neck and murmurs, “No, she doesn’t know. She’s a naive little fool who thinks I’m her knight in shining armor. All she’s ever gotten from me is a few meaningless kisses.”
“So you brought her here just to throw her to the wolves for more time?”
He plants a wet kiss on my neck, his lips warm and possessive. “Life is what it is, Lucia.”
“But she’s innocent.”
He lifts his head, looking at me as he slides another finger inside, pushing my body closer to the brink. My walls tighten around him, the sensation both agonizing and exhilarating. His gaze is unwavering, his voice resolute.
“In this world, people are either black or white, prey or predator. There’s no in-between.
You either sacrifice, or you’re the one sacrificed.
And I’m not a person who lets himself be hunted, or allows his prey to slip away.
To bring Carlo to his knees, I’ll commit every sin worthy of hell’s fiercest flames. ”
His voice grows firmer. “And for you. There’s no woman I wouldn’t sacrifice in an instant. No man I wouldn’t tear apart without hesitation. You’re mine. You’re the throne that was promised to me. You’re the proof of my victory. I’d sell my soul to the devil in a heartbeat just to have you.”
I clench hard around his fingers. My eyes squeeze shut as my head collapses against his chest. I press my hand over my mouth, desperately trying to cage the cries of ecstasy. His thumb finds my clit, adding a maddening rhythm that sends me hurtling toward the edge.
“You were made for me,” he whispers against my ear. “This pussy was made for my cock. You were created to writhe beneath me, to moan and cry out, to shed tears of pleasure.”
My hand presses harder against my lips, muffling my moans as I tumble off the edge of the cliff.
I’m drowning in wave after wave of pleasure.
As the storm subsides, his arms wrap tightly around me, holding me close as if to keep me from collapsing.
My arms circle his torso, and I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
A wave of self-loathing washes over me. How could I let him have this kind of control over me? One snap of his fingers, one touch, and he owns me completely.
Eventually, he pulls back, taking a step away. As he wipes my release from his hand with a handkerchief, he says with maddening calmness, “Don’t get too close to her. With your hormones all over the place, you might slip up.”
I smooth down my skirt, trying to regain my composure. “If we leave her behind, Carlo will kill her for. Or worse.”
He tucks the handkerchief into his pocket. “Don’t bring this up again. Don’t even think about it. This is on me. You have nothing to feel guilty about. You just need to play along, and remember this. Maybe your father promised not to harm your brother, but I didn’t make you any such promise.”
Before I can respond, he takes my hand, and leads me toward the dining room.
***
Emily is sweet and full of life. Stunning, with deep black eyes and dark hair framing her face. Unlike me, quiet and reserved, she has that bright, lively American energy.
A few days after she arrived, she started messaging me, asking me to go out with her.
Tony leaves the house early every morning, entrusting her to Rafael’s care.
For several reasons, I can’t join her, and I can’t bring myself to get close.
For one, Carlo’s absence and the lack of his permission confine me to the house.
And on the other hand, just looking at her fills me with a wave of guilt.
Tony has manipulated her, lured her here with empty promises, and plans to leave her here to the wolves.
I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to help her. But who am I kidding? I don’t even have control over my own life.
From my bedroom window, I see her wandering aimlessly through the garden. I suppress the knot of guilt tightening in my chest and decide to do my part as a host, if only for a brief conversation. As soon as she spots me, a radiant smile spreads across her face.
“Good morning, Lucia,” she says warmly.
I step beside her and return her smile with one of my own. “Good morning, Emily. I saw you walking from my window. If you’d like, we can take a walk together.”
“Of course, I’d love that.”
We stroll through the lush rows of greenery.
“I’m so tired of shopping and going out alone,” she says. “I thought I’d spend today at home instead. But Tony, as usual, left early in the morning, and I doubt he’ll be back before tonight.”
She falls silent for a moment before continuing, “I don’t understand why he brought me here if he’s going to leave me alone all day. And now your birthday party has been postponed too.”
“I’m sorry if I disrupted your plans. The party was delayed because Carlo’s work trip was extended.”
She offers me a quick smile, her tone hurried.
“Oh, there’s no need to apologize. It’s not your fault.
Honestly, I’m just not used to being alone.
This lifestyle is quite unfamiliar to me.
To be fair, my best friend Jill isn’t entirely innocent in this.
She’s a ball of energy, and years of being around her have made it hard for me to handle solitude and silence. ”
I stop walking and turn to face her. She halts too, her expression curious.
“The truth is, I wanted to apologize for turning down all your invitations. It’s not because I don’t want to spend time with you. The reality is, I’m not allowed to leave the house without my husband’s permission,” I explain with a touch of shame.
Her eyebrows lift slightly, looking at me in total disbelief.
I can see how strange it must sound to her, that in this day and age a woman needs her husband’s approval to leave the house.
After a few moments, she regains her composure, offering a warm smile as she shrugs, clearly trying to ease my embarrassment.
“There’s really no need to apologize. I completely understand. Though I won’t lie, your explanation does make me feel a bit better. I thought maybe, like everyone else in this house, you didn’t like me.”
My heart aches for her. Ever since she arrived, she’s been met with nothing but indifference and disrespect from everyone here, even Tony. It must have been incredibly hard for her.
I take her hand gently, softening my tone as much as I can. “Of course I like you. Don’t mind the others. Most people here have issues even with themselves.”
She lets out a heavy breath. “I wasn’t expecting any of this. I came to meet Tony’s family…now I realize I don’t even know him. All I can think about now is how coming here might have been a huge mistake.”
This time I can’t comfort her. Every word she said is the truth. Soon she’ll realize she made the biggest mistake of her life.
I squeeze her hand and gently steer her back toward the house. “Don’t dwell on negative thoughts. Let’s go inside. I’ll show you the house, we can talk, maybe have some wine. I’ve got a great terrace in my room with a beautiful view of the lake.”
***
My dearest Fabiano,
By the time you read this, you might feel too ashamed to call me your sister. You might even hate me for what I’ve done. There may be days when you wish I had never been part of your life. I understand, Fabiano. I really do.
I’m writing this because I need you to know the truth: I didn’t leave because of lust or some passing desire. That’s not who I am. I followed the only path my heart would allow.
You’re the only one I can tell this to—I’m in love. Deeply in love with Antonio Bruni, my husband’s cousin. The man I was never supposed to want.
I’ve loved him for as long as I can remember. That love only grew stronger the day I overheard our parents and learned I was meant to be his fiancée. I held onto the hope that my fate would be kinder than what our mother and Nonna endured.
I still hold onto that hope.
I want to believe that one day he will love me back. That one day I will truly have his heart. Every day I look at the only gift he has ever given me and wish his eyes would one day hold the same longing I feel for him.
My heart tells me we will see each other again. You and I have always been everything to each other. I hope, with time, you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
Please use the money I gave you to chase the dreams you’ve always had. I’ll reach out the moment it’s safe.
Never forget how much I love you.
Your sister, always,
Lucia
The moment I fold the letter, the door bursts open, making me jump in surprise.
I look up to see Tony striding toward me, his steps fast and determined.
Before I can speak, he leans down, slides one arm under my knees and the other around my back, and lifts me effortlessly.
He carries me to the bed and gently lays me down on it.
My hand reaches for his face, resting on his cheek. “What are you doing here? Someone might see us.”
“I don’t care,” he growls before crashing his lips against mine. His kiss is deep, intense, and possessive—like a man returning from war, desperate for a taste of life.
I haven’t seen him in days. He’s barely been home, not even bothering with the poor girl he manipulated into coming here. When I talked to Emily, I realized they aren’t even sharing a room.
“Tony, please, let’s talk,” I plead with him.
He doesn’t stop. Instead, a low growl rumbles from deep in his throat, a clear refusal. But I refuse to back down. I pull my lips away from his demanding ones. “Let’s take Emily with us. She doesn’t deserve a fate like this.”
His lips trail to my ear, his teeth catching my earlobe. “I’ve already explained Emily’s place in my life so you don’t ruin things for both of us out of jealousy. But don’t overstep. Stay out of my affairs.”
I glare at him and scoot back on the bed, trying to create distance, but he grabs me effortlessly, pulling me beneath him once more. His lips crash against mine, filling the room with the sound of our fervent kisses.
“Stop. Please, don’t.”
Ignoring my words, his hand slides beneath my dress, finding the wet heat between my thighs.
“Don’t waste your energy, beautiful. You know you’re getting fucked today. You need it. You need me. And deep down, you hate yourself for it. Your mouth lies, but your body screams the truth. Look at this tight little pussy, aching to take my cock.”
He captures my lips again, his kiss demanding and consuming, but our moment is shattered by the sudden, jarring sound of glass breaking in the hallway.
I freeze, panic locking every muscle in my body. Tony, however, moves instantly. He pulls his gun from the shoulder holster under his jacket and strides toward the door with calculated precision.
I sit up on the bed, my hand pressing against my chest. A wave of nausea grips me. What if someone heard us? What if Carlo was back early? My mind races with worst-case scenarios.
Tony approaches the door cautiously, his hand resting on the handle. A series of quick knocks follow, and then Rafael’s voice breaks the tension.
“Boss, there’s an issue.”
Tony steps outside, but a few seconds later, he pops his head back in, his face twisted with barely contained fury.
“Stay here,” he orders.
I scramble off the bed and rush toward him. “What happened, Tony? Did someone hear us?”
The pristine white marble floors of the hallway are stained crimson with spilled wine from a shattered bottle. Tony glances at the mess briefly before walking away with Rafael, his voice calm but clipped.
“No. I’ll have someone clean it up.”
Then he disappears around the corner, leaving me standing in the doorway, my heart pounding harder than ever.