Page 34 of The Arianna Arrangement

There was no way he needed to get that close or inspect me that much just to check for a hymen.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he moved back. “A little pressure.” His finger pushed inside me, and he was right, it was uncomfortable. Not necessarily because the finger felt weird. If it had been Tucker’s finger, I don’t think it would have felt unpleasant. It was because I knew that finger was attached to an old man that was definitely taking some liberties.

He didn’t push the finger in very far, considering the hymen wasn’t far in the vagina, but he did keep his finger there longer than I thought he needed to. The furrow of Bethany’s brows said she was thinking the same thing.

“All done.” The doctor pulled my gown back down and put a hand out to help me sit up. Yep, his hands definitely didn’t have gloves on. He noticed me looking and just chuckled. “Easier to feel the hymen if I don’t have a glove. Didn’t want to risk accidentally breaking it in an effort to feel it through the latex.”

As he stood up, I could see the boner in his pants. When he saw me notice that, he just chuckled. “I’ll make sure your father knows you are intact. You can get dressed and then you’re free to go.” His eyes raked down me, making me feel completely naked. “Have a good day, sweetheart.”

Chapter 15

Tucker

Lucian’s jaw had been clenched since my father walked through the door the night before. At this rate, his dentist was going to have a lot of work to do on his teeth as he had to be grinding them down.

We walked into the same room we’d interrogated Leo in and there were four chairs bolted to the floor with four hooded figures sitting in them. “Here is your final test, boys. You are to execute the innocents sitting in these chairs. This will show your willingness to put the family above all else.”

As each of us were handed a gun and walked to the chair we’d been appointed, I thought back on the conversation the guys and I’d had the night before.

“When they hand us the guns, why don’t we just turn and shoot Lucian? We all know the world would be a better place with him not in it.”

Sandro shook his head. “If any of you three shoot him, I’d have to execute you. If I shoot him, the syndicate will execute me. Patricide is strictly forbidden. It keeps sons from killing their fathers to take their power. If I die, the family goes to Marco’s dad and trust me when I say, he’s no better than Lucian.”

Marco nodded. “He’ll for sure be bidding on that girl's virginity. He has a thing for girls that aren’t exactly legal yet.”

As I pulled off the hood of the guy sitting in the chair, I wished I could turn the gun on Lucian. He was still a kid, probably only sixteen. His mouth was bound so he couldn’t talk, but his eyes were wet with tears, fear reflecting in them as he knew what was about to happen.

“He’s a child, Lucian.” My father’s voice had me looking over my shoulder. “Why are those three killing grown men and my son has to kill a teenage boy?”

Lucian rolled his eyes. “Because your son is soft and I want to know that he can take care of my daughter at all costs.”

“This is bullshit and you know it.” Apollo put a hand on my dad’s shoulder, but he just shrugged it off. “Is this because me showing up earlier than you expected forced you to stick to your word?”

Lucian’s jaw ticked. “No. These men were captured yesterday afternoon, before your arrival in New York. Now, we’d all like to get on with our afternoon, especially my men who will have to clean up this room and dispose of the bodies.”

“I’m sure you’ll understand that we have brought our own disposal crew for the body of Tucker’s kill.”

Lucian’s head whipped toward my father, looking at him for the first time since he spoke. “Do you not trust me?”

My dad laughed. “Not at all.”

I expected Lucian to be mad, but he just laughed. “Fair enough. I’d do the same for my heir.” The tension in the room dropped as it seemed that they were now in agreement, even though I knew my dad was still furious. “On the count of three. One. Two.”

I looked at the boy in front of me and pictured Brennan. They were about the same age. This boy hadn’t done anything to deserve the bullet that was about to go in his brain, but neither had Bren. All I was doing was choosing Brennan’’s life over his. “I’m sorry.” It was a whisper, not loud enough that Lucian or anyone other than the boy in front of me would hear.

He closed his eyes right as Lucian spoke the last number. “Three.”

All four guns went off at once, and there was cheering from Lucian’s men behind us. When I turned, Lucian’s face carried a wide smile. “Well done men.” This was the first time he hadn’t called us boys, and I hated the fact that it was because we’d now taken innocent lives. “All that’s left is the blood oath. Then we’ll head back to the estate. We need to meet before the celebration tonight. Tomorrow, they’ll get their tattoos to symbolize their commitment to the family.”

Lucian started the oaths with Elio, then Marco. He was saving Sandro for last since that was his heir. When it was my time, I stepped forward, bracing myself for the pain of the knife slicing across my palm.

My dad joined Lucian, looking at the paper in his hand before he spoke. “Since your vow isn’t the one everyone else takes, I don’t have it memorized.” I gave him a slight nod, but contained the smile that wanted to break free at Lucian admitting he wasn’t fully prepared. “Repeat after me.”

“On my name and the lives of the ones I love, I swear loyalty to the Vitale family. Breaking this oath would not only bring shame to myself and the Givenchy name, but certain punishment. I will keep the secrets of the family and build no alliances with any of the other syndicate families without express permission from the head of the Vitale family. I will protect Arianna and our heirs with my life and avenge all wrongs done to them. So I swear in blood and honor.”

Lucian sliced the knife across my palm and my blood dripped onto the Vitale crest that was usually hung up in his office. I’d never known before today that the red on it was actual blood. I thought it was just designed that way.

When I stepped back, Apollo wrapped my hand with sterile cloth to stop the bleeding as he and my dad both clapped me on the shoulder and told me they were proud of me. I was sure they’d have more to say behind closed doors, but for now, that was all they could risk.