“Just a few days, until Victor and Bianca’s marriage is complete and consummated. Then, you can reemerge into the world and rejoin your father’s ailing family business.”
Clenching my teeth, I prepared for the intense pain as James removed my shoes.
“We’ll start with your toenails, and then work our way up,” Frank said, an evil glint in his eyes. “Sound good?”
“Fuck you,” I spat.
He ripped off a piece of duct tape and secured it over my mouth. Knowing there was no use in fighting, I sat still, bracing myself for the pain...
Torture would only make me more determined, and one day, I vowed to make Victor Rossi pay.
Bianca
My marriage to Victor went by in a blur, my vows sounding like garbled words in my ears as I spoke them in front of the priest. After the ceremony was over, we had a reception that many would’ve called lovely, but I saw as the gateway to my captivity.
Eventually, we headed to Victor’s home, and I stepped inside the glitzy foyer, which was lined with gold that seemed gaudy and gauche to me.
“You don’t like the décor?” Victor asked, his eyebrow arched.
“It’s fine,” I said, pasting on a smile.
“Let’s go upstairs and I’ll give you a quick tour. Carmen will be happy to show you the entire home tomorrow,” he said, referencing his housekeeper.
“Thank you.”
I followed him up the carpeted spiral staircase and down the hallway. We stopped at a room halfway down, and he pushed open the door.
“This will be your bedroom, Bianca. You can sleep here when I don’t require you in my bed, and it will allow you to have some privacy.”
I swallowed thickly. “Okay.”
He pulled the door closed and led me to the large bedroom at the end of the hallway. It was immaculately decorated, although too ornate for my taste, and my gaze fell to the king-sized bed in the middle of the room.
He took my hand and drew me to the side of the bed.
“While I think you’re a very beautiful woman, Bianca, it’s important for me to be honest with you.” He lowered to the bed and gestured for me to sit beside him. I gingerly sat and he continued.
“I have...proclivitiesthat I don’t wish to partake in with you. Tonight, we will consummate our marriage. After that, I expect you to track your ovulation, and only come to me when you’re ovulating. I want to ensure you give me a son quickly. After that, I will let you nurse him and then we’ll try for another son a few years later. Otherwise, there is no need for us to have sex. Do you understand?”
Inhaling deeply, I nodded. Relief swished through me at the thought that I wouldn’t have to sleep with this man on a nightly basis. Although it worried me that he would continue to fuck women at his various clubs—most likely without protection—at least I’d be free of his advances unless I was ovulating.
“Good. Now, let me help you remove your dress.”
Rising, I turned and Victor unclasped the tiny buttons at my back. Once I was naked, he urged me toward the bed. “Lie on top of the comforter.”
I slid on the bed, lying on my back as Victor removed his clothes. He climbed over me, his skin weathered in the dim lights. Without any care, he pushed my thighs open and settled between them.
“It will feel better if you relax, Bianca.”
And then, like the bartered woman I was, he took my virginity in several harsh thrusts that hurt terribly.
I closed my eyes, willing the tears to abate, understanding that crying would get me nowhere. After several rough thrusts, he gasped and released inside me. Breathing heavily, he rolled off of me and onto his back before tossing his arm over his eyes.
“You can go back to your room now, Bianca. Good night.”
Rising, I grabbed my gown and underwear and clutched them in my arms before rushing to the room he’d shown me. Grateful there was a private bathroom inside, I quickly showered, wanting to wash away the smell of Victor on my skin. Blood smeared my thighs, and I cleaned the skin, rubbing so hard I feared it might wash away too.
Exhausted from the day, I fell into bed and cuddled my pillow to my face. Squeezing my eyes shut, I wondered how I’d ended up in this nightmare.
