Julian's Torment (Mafia Heirs 3)

“I understand,” I breathe. “But trust me, Signore. She’s the best person at this school. You’ve raised a wonderful daughter and you should be proud of her.”

A smile pulls at the corners of his lips. I can tell he loves his daughter. I’m jealous of Luciana right now. I don’t think my father ever cared about me this much.

“Thank you for going easy on me,” I mutter before disappearing out of the Lost and Found and back to the girls’ bathroom.

I quickly change and discard the ruined uniform in the trash. I check my reflection and wipe off the last smudge of red from my skin. I look normal again.

I make a vow to myself to stop letting Adrianna get to me. That bitch is never going to hurt me again. I’ll get Miss Ricci on my side and I’ll beg Julian for help, too. I’m not letting the mean girls win.

And yet, what Adrianna did is just a painful reminder that I used to be just like her.

17

JULIAN

“Yeah, she’s a sexy little thing, isn’t she? I wouldn’t mind sinking my dick into that.”

“I know what you mean, man. I want a piece of that ass for myself.”

“The fuck are you talking about?”

I narrow my eyes at my friends, who shut up the instant I enter the room. I watch them warily while I pour myself a drink and sit down on the couch in the main area.

“That new girl,” a younger guy gushes. “Francesca.”

Instantly, my eyes cloud over. Marco shuts up. At least one of these pricks knows how to handle himself around me. I’m about to lose my shit with the other guy, and it will not be pretty.

“You don’t talk about her. Ever. Got it?”

“Why the fuck not?” the younger guy challenges me. “She’s public property, given what happened to her dad, isn’t she?”

“Fuck no,” I hiss. “She’s mine.”

“Yours?” Marco butts in, raising his brows at me. “I thought you didn’t give a shit about her. Weren’t you all over Adrianna?”

“I don’t want to hear her name coming out of your mouth ever again,” I hiss at him. “I don’t want you mentioning her, thinking of her or doing anything that might piss me off when it comes to Francesca Esposito. You fucking got that?”

“Fuck man, you act like you own her,” Marco mutters, making me face him with an enraged expression.

“And if I did? Would you finally keep your filthy claws away from her?”

“Maybe,” he challenges.

“Well, I’m not taking fucking maybe for an answer,” I hiss. “She’s mine. You don’t look at her. You don’t talk about her. You don’t even fucking notice her. Or else.”

“Or else what?” the younger guy puffs out his chest, making me take a menacing step closer.

“Do you really want to find out?” I hiss, glaring at him from above.

Wordlessly, he swallows and shakes his head. But Marco seems like he will not give up so easily, and he speaks up from behind me, reminding me of his existence.

“So if one of us wanted to date her, or fuck her we have to go through you?”

I face him with a snarl. “Yeah, that sounds about fucking right. You still talking shit, Marco?”

“Just checking if I need to check with you before I brush my goddamn teeth,” he mutters. “You’re so fucking controlling, Julian. Don’t you think it’s about time you took a step down from your throne?” “No,” I slam him. “I’m just fine up here, thanks. You got something else you want to say to me?”

His lips tighten into a painfully thin line and he watches me intently. The bastard is asking for a fight, and I’m more than ready to give him one.

“Yeah,” he hisses. “How about we battle it out for her, Julian?”

“Francesca?”

The prick nods with a self-satisfied smirk. “Let the stronger one out of the two of us get her. How about that?”

“I will not let you get her.”

“Why?” he cocks his head to the side. “You afraid you going to lose if you try to take me?”

“No,” I hiss. “And this is your final warning, Marco. I really don’t feel like knocking any teeth out today.”

“Then I guess you’re just giving her up,” he smirks. “She’s mine now.”

I take a step closer. My hand has already clenched into a fist. Marco must be a fucking idiot because he’s not even fucking flinching. But I’m nowhere near done with him.

“You got any last words?”

“Yeah. I can’t wait to taste Francesca’s-”

Before he can finish his sentence, I’ve slammed my fist directly into his face. Marco stumbles back, groaning at the exploding pain in his nose. Blood trickles down his skin and I watch with a sick sense of satisfaction. Nothing makes me feel better than defeating a prick like him.

“You got the hint now?” I hiss at him, glancing down at my fingers, which are now dirty with his blood.