My chest heaves at the thought.“He doesn’t need to know.”
My father’s eyes narrow.“I’m sure he already does.His family may not be as strong as ours, but he is astute, and watching everything we do.He already knows, you can bet your ass on that.”
I wonder if Desiree’s father is also watching his daughter’s actions, how she can’t wait to flirt and dance, or fuck anyone in the club just to flaunt her freedom in his face.I’m tired and not interested in drawing this conversation out tonight but of course he’s not yet finished chewing my ass.
“You have just saddled yourself with a responsibility that you did not need to take on.From here on out, the Cassone girl is your problem.But make no mistake, if the Cassone soldiers find out she’s at your estate and not guarded at the warehouse, the almost fucking impenetrable warehouse,” he yells, “then you had better be prepared.”
“Fine.”I spin on a heel to leave.The old fuck can rant and rave all night, drunk on half a decanter of Jack, but I’m not staying to listen to it anymore.
“Massimo?”
My hand pauses on the door, and I turn to meet my father’s ever disapproving eyes.“Yes?”
His face is beet red.“Until I get my money back and since you decided that you could keep an eye on the enemy better than our men, you will do just that.You better not take your fucking eyes off of her or fucking lose her until I get my fucking money back!Capische?Consider her your personal fucking responsibility until her father’s debt is paid.”
10
Sophia
Istep out of the shower and dry off with the luxurious towel pulled from the warming station.The Roselli’s life is one that does not necessitate sparing any expense for anything.Just this room alone is a testament to that.It may not be the most horrible of prisons, but still, after five days of being completely alone, I’m beginning to wonder if my father is ever coming and what Massimo plans to do with me until he does.
I should be concentrating on getting the hell out of here instead of wondering why Massimo hasn’t returned after that mind shattering orgasm.No matter that he probably just wanted to humiliate me and keep me in my place.
Maybe a debt is owed.I wouldn’t have thought it in a million years.Papa always said we would know if we weren’t safe, guards would be doubled, and all the like.Maybe it’s true that he did something to bring this on the family.
It’s sure looking that way right now, because in the twenty-three years of my life, it’s never taken my father more than a twenty-four-hour period to respond in retaliation to anything, yet here I sit in the enemy’s camp for days without even a word.
This isn’t how my father does things.No, he likes to strike fast before the enemy has time to hunker down and prepare.Besides, we’re at Massimo’s house.How hard could it be to send our men to take the fuckers out?Doesn’t he have soldiers who have infiltrated the Rosellis and could bring word back to him about their plans?
I sigh… Perhaps it’s true, and protocol demands that he pay a debt that is owed, even if it is the freedom of his youngest daughter.My mind drifts to my sister.At least it’s not Anna.Just the thought of her being here and alone, scared out of her mind for her baby sends shivers down my spine.And I didn’t get taken to the warehouse where the Rosellis are rumored to hold their prisoners, where they make them beg for mercy on their knees and never let them live.
I should thank my lucky stars.
This is not so bad.It could be so much worse.I slip into a pair of leggings left by the house woman with the other box of stuff she brought up for me a few days ago.If I need to stay here until the debt is paid, then I will do it for my family and try not to feel sorry for myself.I will wait out my time while Papa figures out how to repay the debt.
Massimo saved me from the fucking bartender who drugged me.He was the only one I spoke with, the only one close enough to slip something into my drink.It had to be him.My blood races at the thought of how close I actually came to becoming a victim of trafficking.Who knows what would have become of me if it weren’t for Massimo stepping in, taking me to the safety of his car, and sobering me up before having his driver take me home.I don’t think he’s going to let people, even his own family, kill me now.At least I hope not.
The intensity and gentleness that I woke up to, not knowing what had happened or where I was, but somehow, knowing I was safe.I heave a sigh, sliding into my shirt and slipping onto the comfort of the four-poster bed to read for a while and try to get the enemy, my captor and the handsome man who makes my thighs quiver with desire from my mind all while swearing under my breath at just how frustrating he is.
Letting my thoughts wander to the gentle side of Massimo will do me absolutely not one bit of good.Repeat after me, I am not attracted to the devil who kidnapped me and placed me in a gilded cage no matter that his hand on my ass is enough to make me cream.He is the enemy, one who has left me to rot in this prison, no matter the luxurious state of the suite I find my cage.
But in all fairness to him, it could be far worse.There is no doubt in my mind that Massimo is to thank for the fact that I am not groveling on the concrete floor at the mercy of his soldiers.
I curl up, plumping my pillow, getting it and my blanket in the perfect position to support one of the paperbacks from the large library shelf in the adjoining room.An hour into the story, I’m engrossed in the book, but the sound of my doorknob turning immediately pulls me from the story.
I look up from my page, watching the door, half expecting Massimo to have finally graced me with his arrogant presence after five days of silence, but fear curdles in my belly at the sight walking through my door.
This man is nothing like Massimo, a complete and utter contrast.Massimo is dark and devilishly handsome no matter that he brought me here.But this man, the one with a tattooed snake around his neck, sends terror racing through my heart as he leers at me in the ugliest of ways.
He closes the door and locks it behind him.“You can scream, but no one here really cares what happens to a fucking Cassone.”
I swallow past the lump in the back of my throat that makes it hard to breathe.“I haven’t done anything to you or to anyone.Please leave my room.Please…”
This man’s sinister sneer leaves no doubt that he means me harm.His boots scuff across the floor in three long strides, and quicker than I can react, he grabs my bare foot and tugs, causing my book to fall from its perched place on my pillow and right off the bed and onto the floor.
I may be trained not to cry in situations like this, but to spit in the eye of the aggressor instead, but fear causes my body to tremble and tears to run rapidly down my face.“Get away from me.”
His smile doesn’t leave any doubt in my mind.He is the one who will make me beg for mercy on my knees, only not on the hardness of a bloody concrete floor but in this luxurious bedroom suite where I thought I was safe.
