“No. He was never given the chance. I was … I was never allowed alone with him. I don’t know if it’s because my father knew of his reputation and he didn’t want to risk anything happening. The moment he broke off our engagement, it was the happiest day of my life. It sucked because of the way my parents reacted, but everything else, that was awesome.”
He chuckled. “You’re never to be alone with him.”
“Is he as bad as I fear?” she asked.
“Worse. He has done so many bad things, and now that you’re mine, I think it’s safe for me to tell you. He doesn’t like me, but that’s okay. I’m going to make you ready.”
“Make me ready?” she asked.
He nodded.
“For what?”
“I’m one of the most feared men in the Rossi empire, babe. What do you think I’m going to do?”
“Train me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
He chuckled. “I’m going to have to get used to your shock, aren’t I?”
“It’s just that no one ever allows us to do that. You mean so I can defend myself?” she asked. After the kidnapping, she had wanted to train, but her father had forbidden it, saying a lady didn’t need to learn to fight. No matter how many times she pointed out that even with the guards she’d been taken.
He’d gotten angry with her pointing out the obvious, and he still refused to allow her to learn. Even her brother had refused, and sometimes he liked to defy their father’s orders. Not this time.
She had spent the last three years attempting to hide her fear from everyone every time she left the house. No one knew how she felt. Only her mother, and she hadn’t been very supportive.
“Yes, you will be able to defend yourself. Our world is never safe, and I want to be able to say you won’t ever come to harm. I will work so that never happens, but I’m not going to leave you without the means to protect yourself. Not just from the outside world, but from those who are close by who would love to do you harm.”
“I like that,” she said.
“Good. It’s another reason we’re going to my private island. No one will interfere. I’m not going to go easy on you. My teachings are tough, and it’s brutal.”
She held up her hands. “I don’t mind at all. Honestly. I can’t wait.”
“Good.”
He took hold of her hand, and she stared at his. They were larger than hers, and she saw the ink trailing up his wrists.
“You have so many tattoos.”
“It helps to cover my scars,” he said.
“Do you have a lot of scars?”
“Enough. When you’re in my line of business, nothing is ever safe.”
She didn’t want to think of him getting hurt. She traced a finger across one straying leaf that curled around his wrist. It was in black ink, and so pretty. So intricate. She had wanted to get a tattoo, but it had never happened.
Would Giovanni allow her?
She didn’t want to constantly be reminded of her own scars. Her back was covered in them, as well as part of her stomach and thighs.
Her mother had wanted her to go the surgical route, but now, looking at her husband, she had to wonder if getting ink would help her. She filed it away as a question to ask him for a later time. Right now, she didn’t want to push their boundaries.
****