With trembling legs, I sit myself down on the toilet, catching my shaky breath.
Can I really risk seeing Luca more?
I can’t let Dante know about him, not when Eva’s safety is on the line.
But Luca isn’t a man to give up, I know that. Maybe if he can get me through this, maybe one day he can help me. I was so close to telling Luca the truth, but he’s protecting his family. He would kill Dante, just like that guy who tried to hurt me at his house.
That puts everyone in danger if his fiancé’s family finds out.
I take a deep breath, wiping under my eyes. I’m not the weak little girl Dante once knew. I can push back. I can say no. I know what kind of monster he is now. I just have to find a way out that keeps me alive long enough for my new happily ever after.
Luca.
“Rosa, what the fuck are you doing?” Dante says, his heavy fists pounding against the bathroom door.
“Coming!” I shout back, shutting off the faucet.
Bracing for impact, I slowly creep open the door. He towers in front of me, his amber eyes squinting as he looks me up and down.
“Come on,” he grunts, grabbing me tightly around the wrist and dragging me back into the dining area.
All eyes are on us. He plasters on a fake smile, and I do the same. My eyes search for Luca, but he’s fixated on the hand grasping my forearm. I pull my arm back hard enough it forces Dante to let me go. He shoots me a scowl but releases me.
Fuck, it’s sore. But I can’t rub it. Luca will know he was hurting me.
As we take our seats, my body brushes against Luca’s shoulder, sending sparks of desire straight to my core. I know he feels it, too, the way he stiffens. Luca keeps his gaze firmly on Frankie opposite him, but his thumb connects to my right hand under the table and he starts to gently rub my arm in small circles. The same spot Dante just had a hold of.
I try to subtly pull away from him. The fear of discovery has my heart racing like I’m about to have a heart attack. But Luca laces his fingers through mine, putting my hand back in its original position and continues to massage my tender wrist.
“To us!” Dante announces, holding his flute of champagne in the air. My sister gives me a smile and joins him. I know I’m hurting her by hiding away from her, but it’s the only way I can keep her safe.
I stiffen as Luca leans forward and offers his hand to Dante right in front of my face, giving me a subtle wink. With those same fingers that were just inside me, he’s offering to shake my fiancé’s hand with. My body is on fire.
“Congratulations. You’re a very lucky man.” Luca’s words tickle into my ear as his hidden hand squeezes mine. Their handshake looks intense, like they’re both vying for power. With white knuckles and bulging tendons, it’s only after Dante gives a grunt do they separate.
“Come on, give me a kiss, fiancé.” Dante drapes his arm over my shoulder and tugs me to face him. It’s like cold water being thrown over me.
I can feel the waves of anger rolling from Luca next to me, so I slip my hand from his and start to trace the square around his knee. Anything to relax him, to remind him of us.
With him by my side, I can do anything.
Taking in a breath, I shut my eyes and let Dante press his lips to mine. I don’t kiss him back; I stay still, hoping this will be over quickly. I sigh in relief when he breaks away, but his jaw twitches as he leans close.
“I expect better from you next time,” he whispers in my ear, his voice full of venom.
Frankie’s Italian chef cooked us a delicious three-course meal. It was so tasty, I couldn’t resist digging in. It’s the first meal I’ve been able to devour in a long time.
Every time Luca brushed my thigh, I had to clench my legs together.
Luca stands from the table, nodding to Uncle Frankie.
“I have to go. Congratulations.” He turns to me, his eyes then settling on my fiancé. A darkness clouds his features.
He stands and walks behind me, stopping at Dante’s chair. Grasping his hand firmly on Dante’s shoulder, he bends and whispers in his ear. I know it’s nothing good. Dante’s face goes red and his jaw clenches. He doesn’t say a word back before Luca turns and strolls out the door.
He left me on my own with the monster. Eva shoots me a questioning look as Dante pushes himself up from the table.
“Well, thanks for a lovely meal, Frankie. But it’s time I get Rosa back home.” Dante waits as I slide my chair back.
I stand and give Frankie a tight-lipped smile. Keep it together, Rosa. As Dante clasps my trembling hand, I give my sister a wave as he all but drags me out of the room.
He walks us down the long hall in silence until we are near the end. Then he twists my arm up, bending my wrist uncomfortably.
“Ouch, let go!” I whisper.
“Who the fuck is Luca to you?” he spits out as we step outside of the house.
“N-no one. He’s just Frankie’s business partner.”
“I don’t believe you. You little slut.” He turns to face me and I back away. Fury flashes across his dark eyes as he stalks towards me.
I wince as he brings his muscular arm up, bracing for the impact. My eyes shoot open as he softly brushes my lips with his rough fingers.
“You’re all mine. You’d do well to remember that. I promised you I wouldn’t hurt you again. Don’t push me to break that promise.”
I let out a shaky breath. I’ve been waiting for him to snap. There is no way this man can be anything but a monster.
“Do you understand?” he says softly as he slides one of his heavy fingers over my shoulder.
I bite the inside of my cheek and give him a small nod.
“Always so obedient,” he mutters, cupping my jaw with his rough palms and bringing his lips to mine.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I freeze in his grasp. All I can concentrate on is not throwing up.
“I might as well be kissing a brick wall. Work on that,” he grumbles, pushing me away roughly.
I keep my head down and he yanks my hand, dragging me to his car. He throws the door open and pushes me in. Slamming the door shut, it echoes through the parking lot. Staring straight ahead, I blink back the tears. I wish my life was anything but this, that I was going home with the man my heart belongs to.
We pull up outside his home after a silent drive. His knuckles are white from squeezing the steering wheel. He cuts the engine and turns to me. “Get inside, and I want you naked on the bed waiting for me.”
The blood drains from my face.
I shake my head, my hands now trembling, and I grab the handle. I could run, but it would only make the punishment worse.
“I’m not asking again, Rosa. I need to fuck that man out of your system. I’ve been nice to you up until this point. Now, you’re going to be my wife, so that means you let me fuck you whenever I want,” he grits out, his face expressionless.
“You said you wouldn’t push me. You wouldn’t do this!” I don’t know if I can survive this again.
“You should think about that before you whore yourself off to other men. Now be a good little wife and get ready for me. I’ve been waiting six years to sink into that tight little cunt.” He grins at me, and I want to puke.
Bowing my head, I open the door and get out of the car. His footsteps follow closely behind mine, like a hunter stalking his prey.
He unlocks the door and holds it open for me, and I make a beeline to the bathroom in my room.
“Why can’t you follow a simple instruction, you thick bitch!” he yells and I flinch, backing myself into the cabinet.
With fury in his eyes, he strides towards me. His hands clamp around my biceps, and I try to shake him off with no success.
“Dante, please,” I croak, scratching at his forearms.
I thrash my body around to try to shrug him off, but he only tightens his hold, scowling at me the entire time.
“I like it when you fight,” he mutters and begins sloppily kissing along my jawline.
Tears stream down my cheeks.
His thick fingers wrap around my neck. “God, Rosa. I can smell the fear seeping from your pores and your heart pounding against my fingers.”
I yelp as he bites down on my earlobe. “Please, don’t, I’m begging you.”
He pulls back, his face searching mine. For a split second, I think he might stop this. But he throws me onto the marble floor, my side smashing against the ground. I roll over onto my back and he towers over me with an amused look.
I scoot myself away from him until my back hits the wall.
He walks towards me, unzipping his pants, and holds his hard dick in his hand. I fight the urge to spill the contents of my stomach all over the floor. My lungs start to burn. This can’t be happening. I close my eyes, my chest heaving, and I think about Luca. I try to imagine him charging through the door and whisking me away. My savior.
But that won’t happen.
I have to fight for myself for once.
I remember the words this psychopath told me.
“How could I ever love you if you do this to me?”
He stops dead in his tracks. My ears are ringing and my palms are sweaty as I muster the strength to stand and face him.
“I need time,” I whisper while crossing my arms across my belly.
I have to figure a way out of this life, and I think I’ve just found my ticket by playing along with his delusion.
“Fuck!” he roars, smashing his fist into the wall next to me, making me flinch.
I quickly recover and take a step towards him.
With fury in his eyes and his nostrils flaring, he pulls at his hair and starts pacing like an animal in a cage.
Despite the nausea and my trembling hand, I rub my fingers along his cheek. “I think we can get there, Dante. I really do.”
His features soften, but doubt still clouds him. I swallow. He needs more to make this believable.
“I will give myself to you in time. I need you to understand that we need to build our relationship. If you truly want my love, that is.”
“I can give you some time,” he huffs, placing his hand over mine and pressing my palm against the scars that line his face. I resist the urge to snatch my hand away.
“Thank you,” I whisper, smiling at him.
He leans forward, and I squeeze my eyes shut as he places a wet kiss to my forehead before storming off into the kitchen. I’m too frightened to move.
The fridge slams shut and I close my eyes. I’m desperately craving a drink right now, but I have a glimmer of a lifeline, and I need to think clearly if I’m going to tame the beast.
I suck in a breath as he comes back into view. My heart thuds erratically against my ribcage when he brings his hand to my face, and I fight the urge to flinch.
“I’m sorry, baby girl.” His touch is gentle. “I’d never hurt you unless you deserved it.”
I snap my face back to his, now full of concern. Visions of my sister flash in my head. Now I truly know the level of crazy I’m dealing with.
“Okay.” It’s all I can muster right now.
“I’m going to leave for a couple of days. I meant what I said. I want you to love me, Rosa. I’ll be better. I promise. Just don’t do anything stupid, for Eva’s sake.”
I nod and watch as a crocodile tear slips from his eye.
He sighs and backs away from me, leaving me speechless.
I survived another day. I know his delusional weakness.
Maybe there is a light somewhere for me.
