Chapter 20:
900 Words
Nadia’s POV
Peter Romano.
I was the reason why Lorenzo brutally drove a knife into his hand that night at the dinner gathering. So definitely, he must have some pent up grievances against me. Slowly, I turn around to meet his dark, burning gaze. I can feel the heat of the hatred and lust burning under his gaze.
“Hi, Peter,” I mutter under my breath, but just loud enough for him to hear. My fingers dig deeper into my bag, clawing at it. Lorenzo asks me to come here but he’s nowhere in sight. I look at peter’s hand and it’s still wrapped with a bandage.
“You actually came,” he sneers, his eyes roaming over my body and I can swear I saw a spark of hunger in his eyes. I take a shaky step back, putting just enough distance between us.
“Where’s Lorenzo, sister-in-law?” he lets out a gravelly laugh. “Don’t tell me he dolled you up only to leave you here all alone?”
I swallow hard, looking around to see if I’ll find Lorenzo, but he’s nowhere in sight. How could he ask me to come here when he knows he won’t be coming?
“Mmm… noisy.”
I turn up sharply as I hear that deep baritone voice that always sends a chill down my spine. Lorenzo is walking toward us, his hands in his pockets as his dark eyes remains fixed on me. He stops right in front of me, staring keenly as his tongue licks his lower lip slightly, his eyes lingering on the swell of my breast for a minute too long. Then he turns around and faces his uncle.
“Oi, Enzo… I thought you wouldn’t be coming, so I was just keeping your lovely wife company.” he says, grinning widely.
“Maybe I should rip your tongue out, then you’ll know how to keep shut,” Lorenzo growls. His uncle instantly shrinks back, raises his glass in a mock toast with a pretense smile, before slipping into the crowd.
The moment he left, an elderly man rushes over. “Mr Romano. Welcome. We have been waiting for you, shall we proceed now?” he asks.
“Mmm… go on. First, I need to have some words with my wife,” he drags the last word and i can sense the mockery brewing in his voice.
I watch in horror as the crowd slowly dissipates into the massive double doors of the palace until the outside is empty, left with only guards — Lorenzo’s men guarding in the shadows.
Lorenzo returns his sharp gaze to me, his crooked smile vanishes instantly as he takes slow, calculated steps toward me. “I was gone for just a minute, and here you are, flirting with him,” he lunges forward and grabs my arm in a bruising hold, pulling me forward with so much force against his broad chest, his hot breath fanning my face. “Just so you know, piccola, if I ever see you even an inch closer to him, I’ll lock you to my headboard with my metal cuffs, and f**k you until you pass out.”
“You are aware of my phobia, Lorenzo. Touching me won’t get rid of it. It will only make me despise you more,” I blurt out, staring daggers at him.
“I don’t give a f**k, Nadia. As long as you are writhing, screaming and moaning beneath me, hate me all you f*****g want.”
My heart stops. I blink rapidly at his vulgar threats, his grip on my arm tightens, making me wince in pain. “Let go… you are hurting me,” I hiss under my breath. Instead of letting go, his grip tightens even more, almost crushing the tender bones in my hand.
“Ah… Lorenzo, let me go!” I protest in a low yell, he laughs like a maniac and shoves me roughly. He fixes his cuffs and rubs his hair back with his hand then looks at me.
“It’s time to go in,” he says, the smile vanishing completely from his face. “I expect absolute perfection tonight. You know what happens if you mess up.”
A silent gasp escapes my lips as grabs my hand, forcefully locking his fingers with mine and pulls me forward to the grand entrance. I have no choice but to tag along so he doesn’t drag me.
His grip on my arm earlier already left red visible and painful marks on it, his fingers intentionally digs dip into the back of his hand. The moment we walk in, whispers follow instantly.
‘Now,” Lorenzo says, his voice returning to that terrifying detached tone as he smoothly sweeps a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and hands it to me. “Drink. Smile. We have guests watching.”
I stare at the bubbling golden liquid in my hand, my mind fracturing into a million pieces the puzzle is somewhat coming together. But the picture it portrays is far more horrific than I even imagined. I am not just a captive. I am a living reminder of a sin my family might have tried to bury.
And looking at the cold, beautiful monster standing beside me, I realize that he won’t stop until that sin is paid in full.
- Writer
