I slowly blink. Cian is still there when my eyes open. Why is he here? My brain feels so fuzzy, nothing makes sense, it’s all emotion. A mixture of terror, shame, and disbelief.
“Did you come to rescue me?” My words come out slurred. “It’s too late. It’s over. Someone bought me.”
His pale eyes burn with rage. “Yes.Ibought you. You’re mine. You’ll always be mine.”
“You…” I have to think on his words for a while before they make sense.
He bought me.
He owns me.
But he hates me.
“Why?” My question comes out on a sharp breath. None of this makes sense.
“Because you’remywife. Nothing will ever change that.” His rough thumbs caress my bruised cheeks. Most of the damage is hidden beneath a thick coat of concealer. It hurts, but I welcome the pain, it helps to clear my foggy head.
“You came for me. After everything, you came to rescue me.” Speaking the truth aloud makes it seem more real. Concrete. Irrefutable.
A sob rips from my throat. My body shakes as tears stream down my face.
Cian holds me close and drops his forehead to mine. “Of course I came for you,broc meala.You are, and always will be, mine to rescue. I never should have forced you away. I’m sorry.”
No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop crying. Relief mingles with despair and shame.
My parents sold me at a flesh market. My own mother prepared me for this auction without so much as a protest to my father. I always thought of us as similar, as we both endured Papa’s beatings. But I’m nothing like my mother. I never could have done what she did to my daughter.
And Cian… he came for me. After everything, he saved me.
I close my eyes and let my sobs taper off to hiccups.
Cian speaks against my ear. “Now tell me, who did this to you?”
I focus on his question. I’m about to tell him the truth when I realize the potential ramifications for doing so. At the same time, I can’t lie to him. Never again. That’s a promise I’ve made to myself and I intend to keep it.
“I can’t tell?—”
“You will tell me the truth. Right. Now.” His pale eyes bore into mine, unrelenting.
“But if you know, if you act on it, then you’ll destroy the truce.” I slump. All remaining strength leaves my body.
“I don’t give a fuck about the truce. Tell me, or so help me God, I will kill every Italian I set eyes my on.”
I see the conviction in his gaze. He’s not lying. Cian never lies. Which means I have a choice to make. Either endanger all of my family, my people, or sacrifice just one.
The decision isn’t as difficult as I expected.
“My father,” I whisper.
“He beat you?”
I nod.
“He sold you?”
I nod again.
“Good girl.” Cian presses his lips briefly to mine. Then he stands and exits the small room, leaving me handcuffed and alone. Fear crawls up my spine. Is he going to leave me here?
