I cross the room and sigh. I cup her cheek with my hand. Her soft, sweet cheek, that fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. “Ah, sweetheart,” I say with a note of sadness in my voice. “You’ll have a lot more regrets than that before I’m through with you.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Angelina
I wanted the truth to be out, and now that it is, I don’t regret it. I do have regrets, but telling the truth isn’t one of them. If I had it to do over again, I would do it again for Elise. I only hope that none of it was in vain.
Everyone but Orlando leaves the room. There’s a certain pall of silence that hangs in the air, and I don’t know how to handle it. I squirm uncomfortably as he paces in front of me.
Orlando has always been very stern, my ass bears testament to that. In the short time I’ve been with him, I’ve learned what he likes. I’ve learned how to communicate with him. He has a sense of humor, and I can take some leeway, but he’s a high-ranking member of the most dangerous mob in New England, and every day I don’t forget that. I can’t.
And now… I realize I almost have. Cuddling with him, showering with him, kissing him. Eating dinner with him, receiving gifts from him. Sitting on his lap. All of those sweet, precious moments I’ve had with him seem so far away now as I look at my angry, furious husband pacing in front of me.
He’s told them that he will punish me. He asked for permission to be in charge of my punishment and imprisonment. He told me that I’d have regrets before he was done with me. And I didn’t miss what he promised. He’s going to keep me prisoner until I bear his child.
And then what? What happens with my child?
What happens when Elise finds her way here?
What if they find her first?
“What are they going to do?”
“Quiet.” I freeze and clap my lips together. His anger vibrates in the room, a slithering snake about to strike. I don’t want to be his victim.
Not that I blame him. I hate that there’s a chasm of hurt between us, I hate that he’s angry with me. But I did what I had to. And his family was the one that forced my hand. I never would’ve taken her place if she wasn’t in danger.
But he told me he wouldn’t have hurt her…
She was in love with Piero. But Tavi says she had no right to fall in love.
But if we ever had full control over who we fell in love with, would I be in love with the man in front of me now? Never.
I bury my face in my hands, and a wave of nausea ripples through me, making my mouth water. I swallow hard so I don’t vomit.
“You go to bed. I’ll deal with you in the morning. Tonight you’re going to stay cuffed. Tomorrow I’ll figure out what else to do with you.”
When he walks to me, my voice is frail. Pleading. “Orlando.”
A quick shake of his head silences me. I lay down on the pillow and go to put my hands under my cheek.
He pulls a blanket up over my shoulder. “Do you need anything to eat? Any water? How do you feel right now?” But I know his questions aren’t because he’s concerned about me. He’s taking care of the baby. His baby.
I can’t believe I’m pregnant.
“Did you truly know you were pregnant down in the dungeon?” he asks me. I will not tell another lie. I swallow and shake my head. “I didn’t. I was only trying to buy time.” He curses under his breath and turns away from me as if it pains him to look at me. He paces away. Then he turns back to me, his blue eyes blazing. “How much of what you’ve told me was a lie? All of it?”
“I told you I was Elise. I let you believe that I was a Regazza. But I’m not, obviously, you know that. But everything I told you about my family? True. Everything I told you about my father? True. Only, my father is not a Regazza. I know Elise’s father, though, since I’m friends with her.”
I turn away from him but can’t turn too far away because I’m still restrained.
“I thought I loved you.” His voice holds a hollow, cold tone that freezes my heart. I blink, hating that I shed tears I wish I couldn’t. I wish I could freeze myself off from him, but it’s useless. I sigh.
“Go to sleep. We’ll deal with all of this in the morning.”
I still feel the lash of the leather falls of the flogger from earlier. A strange part of me wishes he hadn’t gone gentle, that he’d used something harsh and punishing. Then I could feel as if I’d paid my penance for the sins he hadn’t known that I’d committed.