NO!
I wanted to scream. My lips parted, but my agony was silent.
Alfredo smirked, his face a mask of evil. “I am surprised Lyov left you unprotected.”
You are stronger than you think, Maria.
I lifted my chin up and stared into his black, soulless eyes. “Why are you here?” I asked.
“You know exactly why I am here, sweet Maria.”
Sweet Maria.
Sweet slave.
Bile rose in the back of my throat, and I suddenly wanted to throw up. I felt sick.
Get on your knees and suck my cock, sweet slave.
The memories assaulted me with such pain, and I almost doubled over. My gaze went to the dagger in his hand, and I saw the emblem. The Italians’ emblem. The Abandonato.
Alfredo Abandonato.
Oh God.
My eyes widened in realization. But oh, how late I was. So very late. So very stupid.
My head lifted up, and our eyes connected. He laughed, a cold, merciless laugh. He saw it in my eyes. He saw it in the depth of my soul. He knew that I figured it out. Only I was eight years too late.
Alfredo was there…when I was owned by Valentin. He would come to Solonik’s house, to the little parties that he would throw every now and then, to show his collections of slaves.
Alfredo took part during those parties. He was an active member of that society.
But Alfredo was an Italian. He was a Boss. He was not meant to be there. The Italians and Russians never crossed paths.
My heart hammered, and I closed my eyes briefly. Oh Lyov.
Solonik betrayed the Russians.
He was in partnership with Alfredo. Valentin planned it—this. He was the mastermind.
“A little too late, aren’t you?” Alfredo tsked with fake sadness. “Lyov will never know the truth now.”
His mocking words hurt. God, did it hurt. So bad. Sharp knives were being stabbed into me, digging holes into my soul and leaving me to bleed.
I didn’t reply. Angered by my silence, just like always—he wanted my tears, my cries of agony—Alfredo lurched forward and grabbed me by the hair.
His black eyes were hard and cold. I saw death in them. My death.
He spat into my face, his fist twisting painfully into my hair before violently pushing me away. My feet twisted under me, and I went down hard. My stomach hit the ground, and this time, I screamed. My Princess.
I squeezed my eyes shut as indescribable pain went through every inch of my body. But that wasn’t what hurt the most. My nose tingled and my chest heaved with a laboured breath. Darkness clouded around me. What hurt the most was the bleak and bitter realization that there was…no escape.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw Alessio trying to move, trying to come to my rescue. My sweet protective boy. He was so much like his father.
I gave him a slight shake of my head, silently begging him, and he stayed still. I saw his tears. I saw my sweet boy cry, and my tears fell.
Turning around, still on the floor, I held my stomach and looked up at the man who could be my downfall. I pleaded with him, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. I pleaded with the devil, because I didn’t want to leave my Lyov behind.
“Please, don’t do this. I beg you. Have mercy.”
His laughter boomed around the room, and I flinched, choking back my cries. He knelt down next to me, and his filthy hands touched me. His fingers traced a line up my neck, my jaw, and then he thumbed my lips roughly.
His touch then continued down, toward my breasts. He circled my nipple, and I wanted to claw his eyes out. Alfredo raised an eyebrow seductively, and he pinched my nipple to the point of pain, and I cried out.
“I can show you mercy if you agree to come with me. Be my whore and then maybe I’ll show you mercy.”
I let my head fall back on the floor, and I stared at the ceiling. My body was cold and numb, my emotions in turmoil. My broken heart was like a shattered vase, all the fragile pieces scattered around. The broken glasses pierced my soul, without consideration and almost mockingly.
Lyov had been able to gather the shattered pieces of my heart before. He had slowly pieced them back together. It had not been a perfect mold, but it was perfect enough for us.
But now…those shattered pieces? They couldn’t be fixed or put together.
They burned into a bright fieriness until nothing was left but the ashes of it.
Alfredo leaned down, closer to my face, and murmured in my ear. “It could be just like before, sweet Maria. Although this time…I will take your cunt. Hmm, maybe I will let you come too. I’ll make you enjoy it. I’ll make you cream and squeeze my dick.”