“You need to follow me,” I say as she darts her eyes about the room, her cheeks reddening.
“Where? Why?”
“I’m to show you to your room, Ms Moorside.”Like a fucking lapdog. “It’s late and you need rest.”
“I want to stay here with Kelley,” she shoots back. I sigh internally, because of course, she has to argue. Stepping forward, I have her over my shoulder before she registers my movements. It doesn’t take her long to start screaming and beating my back with her fists, demanding I put her down.
Glaring at Kelley, warning her not to do anything stupid, I swivel around and march out of the room with an apoplectic Bonnie. I’m tired and want to relax before sleeping. My mental fortitude is waning and I cannot deal with her dramatic shit right now. We’d still be arguing in Kelley’s room if I hadn’t taken action.
Bonnie might be small, but she’s no pushover. I have to considerably tighten my grip to keep her in place as I ascend the stairs to the second floor. Kicking the door open, I dump her off my shoulder and onto her bed. “Your room. Good night.”
I want to laugh as I watch her scrambling to get to her feet. “You can’t just manhandle me,” she screams.
I’m in front of her in a second with my hand wrapped around her throat. “I can do as I please. This is my family, my house, and my rules.”
She narrows her eyes in defiance. “Is it your house? Your rules?”
Gritting my teeth, I lean even closer. My lips are millimetres away from hers. “Yes, it is. Don’t be fooled. I am the head of this family.”
Her retort is instantaneous and cold. “No, Allegra, you’re a replacement.”
The wind is knocked from my chest. I’ve underestimated her. She has a cruel streak, just like her father. I’m a little proud, to be honest. She isn’t cowering. In fact, I think she’s even surprising herself if her wide eyes are anything to go by. She’s not used to delivering such cutting words.
“The door will be locked,” I grit out. Shoving away from her, I stalk out of the room, filled with emotions I have no business feeling. Why is my usual composure failing around her? I’ve dealt with the worst of human society and none of their remarks have ever hit their targets. I don’t care enough about them to let their words affect me. But Bonnie’s have. They’ve hit a painful bullseye.
Deep down, I know why. As cold and ruthless as I am—as I want the outside world to believe—I crave what can never truly be mine. Lorenzo took me in and treated me like his own, but the hard truth is I’m not, and I never will be. However, I have worked my ass off to get where I am today, and no one is going to take that away from me. Being a replacement is enough. I can live with that. There is no other choice.
My room is opposite Bonnie’s. I wish now I’d locked her in elsewhere. How can I relax when she is so close? She makes me want to storm back in and scream at her. This waif of a woman has well and truly gotten under my skin.
“You look like you want to murder someone,” Rosa says, rounding the corner, heading to her own chamber.
She is the answer to my prayers. I need to distract myself from the past few minutes, and what better way than sex? Rosa and I have not fucked in a while, but I think it’s time to break the seal once more. We both know it will be nothing more than a release.
“My bed,” I growl. Her pupils dilate and she licks her lips. She takes a final step towards me and claims my mouth roughly. Lust takes over, and instead of dragging her into my room, I spin her and slam her against Bonnie’s door.
“Fuck me, Allegra,” Rosa gasps.
Dropping to my knees, I rip her pants down until they pool at her feet. Rosa’s hands grasp at the door, looking for something to hold on to. I waste no time plunging my tongue into her wet folds. She’s ready for me, and I need this. Maybe it’s my sadistic side that wants Bonnie to listen to me fucking another woman against the door that holds her captive. Or maybe it’s my way of demonstrating the power I have; the power she just stripped from me with a few callous words.
Whatever my reasoning, Rosa is panting and slamming her hand rhythmically against the door as I take her closer to the edge. As she chants louder, I can’t help but wonder what Bonnie is doing. Is she listening? Touching herself or curled up on the bed, plugging her ears? My gut says the former, however. She’ll hate herself for feeling turned on. I saw it in her eyes when she stared at my tits. Here is my opportunistic revenge. She made me feel out of control, so now I’m returning the favour.
“Fuck, Allegra. That was something else.” Rosa slumps against the door, her face red and her breathing laboured. “Please tell me I get a turn.”
“Go to my room,” I say, my voice slightly breathless. Rosa will think it’s because I’m turned on and in need. But the truth is, I lost myself to thoughts of Bonnie Moorside.
Rosa practically skips to my room, and I know I’ll follow, but I need a moment. I’m still facing Bonnie’s locked door and an irrational need to see her almost knocks me back to my knees.
Is she standing on the other side, straining to hear what’s happening? Am I losing my fucking mind? A growl escapes my throat in sheer exasperation. What the fuck am I doing, getting all bent out of shape over a bookstore manager? A woman who could ruin the life I’ve so carefully curated.
Tearing myself away, I cast all thoughts of her to the back of my mind. It’s the shock of learning who she is. That’s the only rational explanation for feeling and behaving this way. I just need to recentre myself and concentrate on what matters. Yes, I’ll make sure she comes to no harm, but that’s it. She can stay locked away with her friend while I reestablish my position. Lorenzo and I are going to have another talk, and this time,hewill do the listening.
I am Allegra Malgeri, for fuck’s sake. Maybe it’s time to remind my beloved Don of that. He knows what I’m capable of. He knows what I have done and sacrificed for him and this family. There is no Ferrante legacy without me at the helm.
7
Bonnie
Mybodyisstillflooded with adrenaline after my altercation with Allegra. Maybe it was the way she threw me over her shoulder like a sack of spuds, or maybe it was the argument afterwards that still has me vibrating with pent-up anger. It’s definitelynotthe fact she clearly just did rather adult things with someone, up against my door.
