Page 150 of Brutal Heir

“You don’t get to say no,” he said softly. “You think you’re strong enough to challenge me? To defy me? Go ahead, Sabrina. Keep testing me.”

I curled my fists at my sides. “I’m not yours, Sebastian. You don’t own me.”

“You’ve always been mine, Sabrina,” he murmured. “You just didn’t know it.”

“I’ll never be yours.”

Sebastian’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “That’s what makes you such an irresistible challenge.”

He reached out, his fingers brushing the edge of my wrist.

“Do you know where you are, Sabrina?” he asked. “This isn’t New York. It’s Rome. My city. No one will help you here. You’re alone.”

“I don’t need help,” I snapped, yanking my wrist. “I’ll figure this out on my own.”

Sebastian’s low laughter unsettled me.

“You’ll figure it out?” he repeated. “Go ahead, Sabrina. Try. Run. See how far you get.”

“Why me?” I asked.

He returned to his seat and took a slow sip of espresso. “Your family and mine have a…complicated relationship.”

“Complicated how?”

His fingers traced the rim of the espresso cup. “It’s none of your concern.”

“How can you say that when you’ve put me right in the middle of whatever fucked-up game you’re playing with my father?”

“Sit and eat your breakfast, Sabrina.”

“Tell me about my father.”

The silence that followed was razor sharp.

He put down his cup. “That’s a dangerous question.”

“Answer it anyway.”

“No.”

I curled my fingers into fists. I was a rabbit caught in a wolf's den, and I knew it. But I wasn’t going to show weakness.

“I want out,” I said again, softer this time, but no less determined.

His eyes locked with mine. “Not possible.”

The game continued, but I was running out of moves.

“Then tell me about my mother,” I said. “About why she left Italy. About why you brought me here. About the reputation of the Badalamentis.”

A muscle ticked near his temple—the only sign my words had any impact.

“I’m not some pawn you can just move around a chessboard.”

“You have no idea what you’re involved in,” Sebastian said.

“Then enlighten me.”