“That wasn’t so hard to say, was it?” Cautiously, I moved my legs off hers. She didn’t try anything. Good. “You gotta learn when to quit. It’s not smart to keep fighting when you don’t have a chance. You need to learn how to survive. If it’s not for you then for your son.”
“Thanks for the tip,” she said through her teeth.
“I haven’t slid in the tip yet.” I winked. Then, slowly, I released her wrists.
Her lip curled with a silent snarl at my innuendo, but again, she didn’t try anything. Her hands only moved to cover herself.
I picked the knife off the carpet, held on to it and sat on the edge of the bed. “As I said earlier, the way your nerves got the best of you caused us both some trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
“The kind that obligates you to provide proof of the consummation of our marriage.”
“What?” she spat.
“My mother and uncles are no longer convinced either of us happily walked into this arrangement. Our last chance to prove them wrong, your last chance to stay alive, is to show them real evidence.”
“And what could that be? I’m not a virgin to show themthe sheets.”
“I know. Cosimo saved those and gave them to Marta. I think she still has them.”
“What the…” She squeezed her eyes shut, her hand clawing the air.
“Anyway, I suggested we show them cum-stained sheets or even make a video—”
“There’s no way in hell I’m making a porno with you.”
“Well, it’s your lucky day because they refused both my suggestions as they could be faked.” I held her gaze. “The only thing they’re going to accept, contessa, is watching the consummation.”
She looked like she was about to pass out again.
“The fake porno doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?”
Chapter 8
Bianca
“I’ll tell them to wait a day or two because, even though the doctor said you were fine, you still don’t feel so well.” Enzio got off the bed and fixed his tux. “You’d better get your shit together. If you fuck this one up, there’s nothing else I can do or say that will spare your pretty head the bullet.”
I dashed to the bathroom and vomited my guts out, every cell of me crawling, poisoned. Wasn’t it enough that I had to marry that devil? Now I had to let him fuck me while his family from hell watched?
His grumbling curses echoed from the bedroom. “You make me sick, too.”
Rage outweighed the nausea. I jerked to my feet and held what was left of the gown up to my chest, my other hand holding my disheveled hair back. Then I glared at him without leaving the bathroom. “Imake you sick?”
He tilted his chin up. “Yes. You.”
Didn’t look that way when you were drooling all over my mouth, when you couldn’t take your eyes off my boobs, when you were on top of me and your fucking dick was digging a hole in your pants. Looks like I’m hurting your ego so bad with my rejection and disgust that you had to say something awful to me to compensate.
My impulses wanted me to say that so badly, but I just stood there.The cat ate your tongue. Say it. Say it, Bianca. Say it. Let’s provoke him ugly until he rapes you dead. Say it!
I pursed my lips tight and spun. Bracing myself against the sink, I closed my eyes to push away the stupid voice. “You gotta learn how to survive,” I whispered.
“Wanna say something, have the guts to say it to my face,” Enzio barked.
Say it. Say it. SAY IT!
Shaking my head like a maniac, I blew out a long breath. “All I said is that I should take your advice.” I raised my voice so he could hear me. “I gotta learn how to survive for Mario.”
