Alessia Mancini
The bound man stumbled, fear now plainly visible on his face. I felt a twinge of sympathy, quickly suppressed. This was the price of loyalty to Vitale, I reminded myself. This was the world I had chosen to be a part of.
Giovanni's fingers gently grasped my chin, turning my face towards his. His eyes searched mine, a flicker of concern breaking through his stern facade. "I won't think less of you if you can't watch this," he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek.
I swallowed, torn between the desire to prove myself and the fear of what I might see - or become. "I won't know until I try," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "And that's what this month is about, isn't it?"
As Alessandro's fist connected with our captive's jaw, the sharp crack echoing through
