His sin, Her salvation

Chapter ten

Alessio.

Her fingers curled into fists. Rage, disgust, and fear tangled within her chest, a toxic storm threatening to consume her. She hated him.

Slowly, she forced herself to stand. Every muscle screamed in protest, but she refused to appear weak before him.

He stood there, silent, watching. His sleeves were still rolled up, faint traces of blood staining his arms. He looked utterly unfazed, his expression unreadable.

"You’re trembling, dolcezza," he murmured, his voice laced with cruel amusement.

Her eyes burned. "You're a monster."

Alessio smirked. "I never pretended to be anything else."

Serena’s hands clenched at her sides. She wanted to scream, to curse, to hurt him. But she had nothing. Nothing except her rage.

So she acted.

Before she could think twice, her hand flew through the air, striking his face with a sharp crack.

Silence.

Her breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. The room felt impossibly still, her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Then, Alessio moved.

A slow, dark chuckle rumbled from his chest. His fingers reached up, brushing the spot where she had struck him, as if amused by her audacity.

And then, with terrifying speed, he lunged.

Serena barely had time to react before he grabbed her by the throat, slamming her back against the nearest wall. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, her vision blurring as she struggled against his iron grip.

"You have no idea what you've just done," he whispered, his voice dangerously soft.

Serena gasped, clawing at his wrist, but he didn’t loosen his hold.

"You want to play with fire?" His grip tightened, making her whimper. "Then burn."

Serena gasped, her nails clawing at his wrist as Alessio’s grip around her throat tightened. Black spots danced in her vision, her lungs burning for air. Panic set in, but she refused to let him see her fear.

“You should have known better, piccola ribelle,” Alessio murmured, his voice laced with dark amusement. “Slapping me? You’re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.”

Serena’s fingers dug into his forearm, struggling against the strength that held her in place, but it was useless. He was a wall of power, immovable, merciless.

“I—h-hate you,” she choked out, barely a whisper.

Alessio chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. “Good. Hate will keep you awake.”

With terrifying ease, he released her, letting her crumple onto the cold marble floor. Serena’s body shook violently, her throat aching as she coughed, sucking in desperate breaths. But before she could fully recover, he grabbed her hair, wrenching her up onto her knees.

A sharp cry tore from her lips as her scalp burned from the force.

“You don’t get to walk freely in my home and disrespect me, Serena,” he hissed, dragging her closer until she was forced to look up at him. “You don’t get to witness things you shouldn’t and then act like a righteous little princess. You’re mine, prigioniera, and you’ll learn that the hard way.”

Her lips trembled, but she refused to cry.

Alessio’s grip on her hair tightened, yanking her head back further, exposing her neck. His free hand traced along her bruised throat, his fingers pressing against the red marks he had left.

Serena shivered, not from cold—but from the sheer menace radiating off him.

“I should break you,” he murmured, his voice almost thoughtful. “I should punish you so thoroughly that you never even think of raising your hand against me again.”

Then, suddenly, he let her go.

Serena collapsed onto her hands, gasping for air. Her entire body was shaking, her mind barely able to process the reprieve.

But it was short-lived.

A sharp kick to her ribs sent her sprawling onto her side. Pain exploded through her body, a strangled whimper escaping her lips.

“You wanted to act bold, dolcezza?” Alessio sneered, watching as she curled into herself. “Then suffer for it.”

Another kick—harder this time, aimed at her stomach. Serena coughed violently, a sob catching in her throat. The taste of blood filled her mouth.

Alessio crouched beside her, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at him.

“You’re going to learn something very important,” he whispered, his thumb brushing away the tear that had escaped her eye. “There is no defiance in my world. Only obedience. Submission. Pain.”

Serena’s lips trembled, but she held his gaze, refusing to back down.

Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement? Or was it something darker?

Alessio leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. “And before this is over, you’ll beg for my mercy.”

He pulled back, releasing her with an unsatisfied smirk as she lay there, breathless and not fully broken to his taste..NO ONE DRES TO LAY A HAND ON HIM.

Serena barely had time to breathe before Alessio’s boot slammed against her ribs again, harder this time. A sharp, strangled scream tore from her throat as white-hot pain shot through her side. Her fragile body curled inward, her arms wrapping around herself in a weak attempt at protection.

But he wasn’t done.

He crouched beside her, gripping the back of her neck like a vice and yanking her up onto her knees. The movement sent another wave of pain crashing through her, and she coughed violently, tasting the metallic tang of blood on her tongue.

“You’re so fragile,” Alessio murmured, almost mockingly, his grip tightening until she gasped. “And yet, you still have the nerve to fight me?”

Serena’s nails clawed at his wrist, her breaths ragged, but he only smirked at her struggle.

Then—a harsh slap.

Her head snapped to the side, a sharp sting blossoming across her cheek. The force sent her collapsing to the floor once more, her hair falling messily over her face.

But he wasn’t finished.

Grabbing her by the throat again, he lifted her—not gently, but brutally, forcing her to stand on trembling legs. Her knees buckled, but he didn’t let her fall, forcing her against the cold stone wall.

Serena whimpered as her back hit the unforgiving surface.

Alessio leaned in, his grip unrelenting, his dark, merciless eyes drinking in her suffering. His thumb pressed into the bruises already forming on her throat, making her choke.

“You think a slap is enough to defy me?” His voice was pure venom, low and controlled, but laced with sadistic amusement. “You should have killed me instead, piccola, because now… I get to enjoy breaking you all over again.”

His fist connected with her stomach—a brutal, merciless punch that sent shockwaves of agony through her body. Serena collapsed, her stomach convulsing as she gasped, struggling to hold back the sobs clawing at her throat.

But Alessio had no intention of stopping.

Gripping a fistful of her hair, he dragged her across the cold marble floor, ignoring her weak protests. She screamed, her scalp burning, her fingers desperately clawing at his wrist.

But he was unshaken—unmoved by her pain.

Reaching the center of the room, he threw her down like a rag doll.

She hit the floor hard, her body convulsing from the sheer shock of pain. Her breathing was erratic, shallow, but her mind barely had time to process it before his boot pressed down onto her chest, pinning her in place.

“You want to be defiant?” Alessio murmured, pressing harder until she wheezed. “Let’s see how much you can take before you break.”

Serena clawed at his leg, her nails digging into the fabric of his pants, but her strength was failing. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, her body screaming in pain.

And then—he leaned down, his face inches from hers.

“I own you,” he whispered, his tone dripping with dark satisfaction. “Your pain belongs to me. Your suffering belongs to me. And by the time I’m done with you, you won’t even remember what it means to fight back.”

His fingers trailed over the fresh bruises on her throat, his grip tightening once more, making her gasp for air.

Then, finally—he released her.

Serena collapsed into the cold floor, coughing violently, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Alessio stood over her, his expression unreadable, his dark gaze filled with something terrifyingly possessive.

He had broken her today.

And he wasn’t done yet.