I turn my attention back to Alessandro. “You tasked me with protecting her, I assume because you knew he couldn’t be trusted?—”
"You did what I asked, but you overreacted. He didn't need a gun to his head."
The dismissal in his tone sends rage coursing through me. "Overreacted? I prevented your sister from being assaulted. I have no doubt he'd have fucked her?—"
"Don't talk about my sister like that." Alessandro's deadly warning makes my head spin.
"But you're okay with Maksim talking about her, to her, like that?"
“Maksim has agreed to respect boundaries until the wedding. That's what matters."
"And after the wedding?" I can't keep the challenge from my voice. "What happens to her then?"
I look over at Adriano, expecting him to agree with me.
He watches me more with curiosity than anything.
Alessandro rises slowly from his chair, and I'm suddenly aware of how far I've stepped beyond my place.
"You've been a loyal soldier, Bonetti. But don't mistake your position. You're Valentina's security detail, nothing more."
I won’t lie, the words bother me, even though he’s right. I’m a soldier. Disposable if necessary.
"Maksim has been warned," he continues. "I ordered him to back off. The wedding proceeds as planned. That's all you need to concern yourself with."
"He'll try again," I say. "He's testing you, and by letting this pass, you’re giving him the inch to take a mile."
"He won't. He knows I won't stand for it. You're there to make sure?—"
“You just said I overreacted.” I throw my hands up. “Do I stop him from assaulting her or not?”
“I’m sure he’ll?—"
"I should have put a bullet in that bastard's head today.” My control snaps, not caring that my job, my life could end right here, right now. "I should have killed him where he stood."
Alessandro's eyes turn to ice. "You forget yourself."
"No.” I glance at Adriano again, willing him to stand up for Valentina. "I'm the only one who remembers what matters. While you sit here making deals with the devil, I'm the one watching your sister break apart piece by piece."
Adriano steps forward, his hand hovering near his waistband where I know he keeps his gun.
I guess he’s not so worried about Valentina, after all.
"Back off, Bonetti. Now."
"For what?" I whirl to face him. "So you can keep pretending this is anything but a sacrifice? You're throwing your sister to the wolves to save your own skin."
"This alliance prevents a war," Alessandro's voice remains measured, which only pisses me off more. "Valentina understands what's at stake."
"She doesn't understand shit! She's twenty years old, and you're selling her to a man whose eyes gleam with eagerness to break her. You didn't hear what he plans to do to her. Fucking hell… you didn't see her face. If you had, you might think about her well-being?—"
Alessandro’s eyes flash with heat. "Valentina agreed to this arrangement."
"Because she wants to please you!" I can’t contain my anger any longer. "Because she wants to prove she's as valuable to this family as her brothers. She thinks she's making a noble sacrifice, but she has no idea what she's walking into."
"And you do?" Alessandro's eyes narrow dangerously.
"I've seen men like Maksim. We all have." I sweep my hand between the brothers. "The way he talks about her. The things he whispered to her today weren't promises of love or caring. She’ll be his whore until she becomes his broodmare."
