“Ah, ah,mia piccola.Girls who play in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, no matter how pretty they may be. Are we going to trade insults or conversation before my brother returns with food?”
Rosa purses her lips before she nods. “Dealer’s choice,mio marito.”
Verona snorts softly, while I decide whether or not I’m going to ignore her. It’s not until the doorbell rings, and Ciro enters with bags of clothing and even some toiletries, that I make my choice.
“Verona, you mentioned you needed a shower. I’m so glad my brother already relieved you of your IV. I suggest you wrap your stitches before you do that. The doctor worked really hard for you to fuck it up and get an infection.”
I will gladly play the overly helpful host if it gives me some time with my very secretive wife.
“I’m alright, Vero,” Rosa murmurs, watching as Verona stands with her blanket wrapped around her waist. She walks stiffly, and I’m sure she’s in pain. They’re both lucky to be alive.
Don Accetta took a calculated risk that backfired due to the bond.
“I’ll walk this to the bathroom for you,” Ciro says easily. I would almost confuse him for my other brother, due to how nice he’s being. “There’s a roll of plastic wrap for your side in here as well.”
“Quite the planners,” Verona muses, following Ciro with her head held high.
“Shall we?” I ask once she’s gone, sitting in a chair beside my wife. “Your secrets are unraveling quickly, Rosa. I suggest you begin telling me something real so I can keep you safe. Spill.”
Glaring at me, she turns to stare down at her ruined dress, a reminder of how much her father hates her.
“I’ve seen the video footage of the day we met,” I add. “Your father is a rat bastard, and I fully plan to murder every adult in your family.”
“Can I help?” she asks finally, taking a deep breath as she fully realizes I mean the rapes by my tone and anger in my body.
Finally, maybe we’ll be able to get somewhere.
Chapter Eleven
ROSALIA
“I don’t knowhow you know…” My mind feels as if it’s short circuiting as I shift on the table. I use how hard and uncomfortable it is to ground myself, even if the butt plug is pressing in places that feel illegal. “I need to stand up.”
Nico’s hand reaches out as I scoot forward with a wince, and he stands quickly to help. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he lifts me up and places me on my feet. The IV is still in my arm, but that doesn’t bother me. I can tell it’s giving me the much needed hydration that I’m missing.
I haven’t been taking care of myself due to the nerves I’ve had about today.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. He’s pressed against me, his green eyes reminding me of the color of grass as he stares intently at me. “No bullshit. Why are you moving like that?”
“It’s embarrassing,” I mutter, biting my lip.
It’s my wedding day, and my husband fucked his stepbrother with me across the house. How am I supposed to act or feel?Granted, I’m in love with my stepsister, so do I really have a leg to stand on?
“I’m your husband,” he reminds me, his thumb pressing against my chin to push my head up to meet my eyes. “Tell me.”
“There’s a butt plug in my ass,” I rasp embarrassment filling my voice as it cracks. “My cousin is a sadist, and my father paid her to get me ready. She forced me to wear it. I’m really confused about how I feel about Eva because she also gave me poison to kill myself with. Do I appreciate her efforts to give me an out, or still hate her because she watches too many soap operas in her free time?”
“That’s a lot to unpack,” he growls. “You’re still wearing this butt plug?”
“Well when was I supposed to take it out?!” I scream.
I can take a lot of shit, but eventually, people shatter. I’m at the end of my rope, my emotions are all over, and I still feel out of it from whatever drugs my father forced on me.
I’m slowly piecing together that he planned to kill Verona, but wanted to keep me compliant. There’s no way he could have known that we are bonded, yet the drugs still managed to dull our bond until I couldn’t feel her pain when he had her stabbed.
No, the drugs were to ensure I didn’t fuck up the precious wedding, and Verona was the final piece of showing me he’ll always have the upper hand on me. Funny how life works. If she’d died, I would have too.
Even now, the bond is muted, and I can barely feel her. It’s probably for the best that it works both ways, because I’m freaking the fuck out.
