“Lucia, Lucia, Lucia. You surprise me.”
“You’ll still take me to my sister?” I asked, burrowing into his body, my eyes half-open.
“I told you I would. And we need to go shopping to find you a dress.”
“A dress? For what?”
“My father’s birthday party.”
8
LUCIA
Being locked away with the nuns for five years had been easier than this. I didn’t have to face anything. I could think about it. I could get angry about it. I could blame everyone and everything, but I didn’t have to face them. Now I sat beside Salvatore in his car as he drove me to what should have been considered home to me. Thing was, I didn’t know what was home anymore. I didn’t know where I belonged, who I was. Who I was meant to be.
I looked at Salvatore, at his profile. At a glance, the set of his jaw told of power, of strength, while his eyes betrayed a depth beneath this outermost layer. Gave a glimpse into the darkness there. He kept his attention on the road while I studied him, wondering who this man was. What was expected of him.
Wondering what the hell had happened between us yesterday.
They’d examined me on the day of the signing. His father had wanted to be certain I wasintact. A virgin. Was it only to humiliate me? To break my father to the point he could no longer be repaired?
I shook my head, trying to erase the memory of my father’s face when I’d finally been able to look at him. How his hands had been fisted, his shoulders slumped. He’d been made to stand by and watch his daughter’s degradation. Why?
Yesterday, Salvatore hadn’t forced himself on me. He hadn’t tried, and he’d had the opportunity. Multiple opportunities. And, he might argue, the right. Heownedme. But he hadn’t taken anything I hadn’t given up. And I’d given it. I’d lain there and let him bring me to orgasm. I’d felt his cock pressing against me throughout both the punishment and the reward, but he hadn’t taken his pleasure from me.
I fumbled to turn up the AC, feeling too hot suddenly. Our fingers touched when Salvatore adjusted it for me, and it was like a bolt of electricity. Our gazes locked, but I quickly blinked and turned away.
“If you get off at this exit, I can show you a shortcut.”
He made his way over. Once we were off the exit, I gave him directions. We weaved our way through the narrow streets near my childhood home.
“Want to get a cup of coffee first?” I asked when we neared my favorite bakery, wanting to put off our inevitable arrival. Afraid Isabella would see right through me. Would I be a traitor then?
He seemed surprised by my offer. “Sure.”
“Right here, you can park at the curb. The parking lot is usually full.” And I wanted to walk through the streets, see the houses and neighborhood I didn’t realize I’d missed. “You don’t mind walking a few blocks, do you?” I asked once we climbed out.
“No, it’s fine.” Salvatore pushed a button to lock the car and looked around. “I’m curious where you grew up. This is very different from what I imagined.”
Wayne, Pennsylvania, was a pretty suburb. Quiet. Wealthy. And, apart from the mob family living there, safe.
I slung my purse over my shoulder and glanced up at the sky. Clouds collected thick and heavy with moisture. It had to be ninety degrees already. As much as I hated rain, I’d welcome it today to cool things down.
Salvatore came to my side, his attention still on the surroundings. He wore a navy T-shirt and jeans, and I had no idea how he wasn’t sweating his ass off. My tank top and shorts seemed stuck to me.
“What did you imagine?” I asked as I led the way, liking the fact that most of the houses looked just like they had five years ago.
Salvatore turned his blue eyes my way. Would I always become breathless when he looked at me?
“I don’t know. A castle with a moat.”
I chuckled. “That’s your family. We were more…low-key.” I thought about it. “My father kept us out of things. He wasn’t meant to rule the family, my uncle was. But when my grandfather and uncle were killed, he was forced to take over. I remember it happening. Well, remember all the meetings, all the people who were suddenly in our house all the time. I was maybe ten.” They’d told my sister and me that they’d had a car accident, but I knew better. I’d snuck into my father’s study and had seen the photos of the bullet-riddled car. Of them inside it. I shuddered. Some things you couldn’t un-see, no matter how much you wanted to. “I remember not being allowed to play in the front yard or bike through the neighborhood anymore.”
“Your father didn’t have control of the family.”
I stopped.
Salvatore turned to me.
