Gabriel places his hand on my shoulder. “You made this decision on your own, Leo. You will have to face the consequences of it. But I will try to kill Alessandro sooner rather than later. You married the daughter’s enemy. Figure out how this will help us.”
Gabriel leaves after that. I know I’m on my own with this.
I look towards the basement door where Emma is now kept. She is mine to do with as I please. So why do I feel guilty?
No. Guilt has no place in the world of the mafia. She is the daughter of my enemy and that’s all Emma will ever be.
Emma
The sound of the door opening makes me sit up with a gasp. Leo steps into the dungeon, looking me over like I’m a stranger. He doesn’t look anything like the kind man who offered me a job.
“Have you given what I asked any more thought?”
“Since I don’t know what you’re talking about, no. I do not know who my father is. I do not know who Alessandro is. I don’t know anything.”
“Fine.”
“Leo,” I say before he can leave the room again. “Why did you offer me kindness in the first place? Why do that to me?”
“Because I had to get you to stay and it seemed like killing you with kindness would be the easier way.”
“So what changed?”
“Your father is getting closer. And when Isabella came by, I knew there was a chance your father could find you. That anyone could. I had to take drastic actions because of it. I wasn’t trying to be cruel but I am not a good man, Emma. I work for the mafia. I have to do what I must to ensure the safety of me and my men and the people I care about. You’re the sacrifice I am afraid to say.”
I grip the bars of the cage so tight my fingers turn white. “I don’t know anything. Please. Don’t do this to me.”
“I see you keeping in the cage hasn’t loosened your tongue. But something else will.” He unlocks the cage door and grabs my arms, dragging me out. “Follow me.” He leads me upstairs to the nearest bathroom.
“What are you doing?” I whisper, staring at the bathroom like it might bite me.
“You must have to go. You’ve been down in the that cage for hours.”
“I do,” I admit, blushing.
“Then go.” He motions at the room and tentatively, I step inside.
“Can you shut the door?” I ask.
“No. You will go with me watching. You don’t get any privacy from me anymore, Emma. Not when you could be keeping anything from me. So you will go with me watching.”
“That’s humiliating.”
“That’s the point. You won’t get any privacy until you tell me what you know. Maybe this will learn to get you to speak. So go.”
I really do have to relieve my bladder but the thought of peeing in front of Leo fills me with shame. This is just as bad as my mother treated me. All the ways she controlled my life.
I hate Leo for this.
But with no other choice, I pick up the ends of my large wedding dress and force myself to let my body relax and find my release. A soft sigh escapes me when I go.
Leo watches me the entire time, making my face burn.
Once I finish, I quickly shove my dress down and wash my hands.
“Do you have anything to say to me?” he asks.
“Yes. I hate you,” I hiss. “For doing this to me. You’re a monster. Especially when you made me think you were a good man.”
