“I’ve never done anything to you, and whatever Toni did, I’m sorry about it, but you don’t have to punish me for his mistakes!”
Draco chuckles, swiping a hand across his jaw. “You think I’m punishing you because of him?” His amusement washes away in an instant. “Trigger Toni is gone. My beef with him has been settled. But while you are under my roof, nothing of his will be here. Now. Take. It. Off.”
His thick eyebrows draw together as he sticks his hand out. His furious glare confuses the hell out of me. I don’t get it. What have I done to deserve this?
I’ve been trying to fight my tears ever since the first night I cried in that cell. I fought them when he wouldn’t let me eat, and even at night when he sneaks by my bedroom door. I fought them when he made Francesca do those things to me.
I have fought them every night, but I can’t today. Today is just a really fucked up, shitty day.
This is all I have left of Toni, my husband, my life, and he’s asking me to hand it over like it means nothing at all?
I know I can’t fight him—I can’t resist. If I resist, he’ll punish me and I’m sure the consequence will be worse than not eating.
I twist the ring off and the hot tears that fall down my cheeks feel like lines of fire. My heart thunders in my chest, my entire body vibrating as I finally hand him the $25,000 ring, which meant so much more than money to me.
When it’s in the palm of his hand, he clutches it, but doesn’t pull his sight away from me. He takes one large step forward, getting so close to me that I can feel his body heat. He leans forward, and the stubble on his jaw grazes my cheek.
“You should know, niñita, that you are not his. He is gone and he’s never coming back.” He strokes the tears away from my left cheek. “Once you accept that, things will be so much easier for you around here. All you have to do is submit,” he says, running a hand up my arm. My skin crawls in response. “Accept this fate. Do as you’re told, please me, and things will go a lot smoother for you around here. Are you ready to accept this fate?”
I shake my head, grimacing up at him. “Fuck you,” I hiss.
As soon as my words fill the already thick air, his hand comes up to my throat. He turns my body and forces me to step back so that my back hits the wall. He bares the top row of his teeth, his hand squeezing tight, but not so tight that I can’t breathe.
We stare at one another with heated glares. He’s looking from my eyes to my lips, and then down to my breasts. I can only focus on his evil face, my nostrils flaring.
It finally softens a touch and he releases me. I rub my neck and he releases a throaty chuckle.
“You’ll come around, niñita. The smart ones always do, and from what I know about you, I know you are far from stupid.” He raises a stern finger and points it at me. “You’re angry right now, and I understand that. I can be an empathetic man, you see. But,” he rasps, “the next time you speak to me like that, I won’t be so merciful. Disrespect is another thing I don’t admire, Gianna.”
His hot gaze travels up and down the length of my body. Leaning forward, he tips my chin and presses his warm lips to the apple of my cheek. I hate the heat I feel sinking down to the pit of my belly.
“Make sure you dress nice tonight,” he commands lightly, stroking my cheek. “I have something big planned for my new arrival after dinner.” His new arrival, meaning me.
Pulling away, he turns his back to me and walks out. Before he disappears, I see him slide my wedding ring into his front pocket. Watching it sink in there, knowing it will be riding along with him as he walks around this house, makes my heart shrivel up in my chest. What will he do with it?
My heart is still slamming, my tears thicker and heavier.
I slide my back down the wall, squeezing handfuls of hair in my hands, unleashing all of the emotion and rage that I can longer contain. Taking my ring is the last straw. That was sacred and special to me.
I hate this place. I hate him!
Francesca was right. All he cares about is himself. All he cares about is feeding his ego.
I meant what I said to him. Fuck him. I won’t accept this fate.
I won’t be happy living with a man that isn’t even happy with himself.