Page 60 of Beneath the Shadows

“Does the princess think she’s too good to have a job?”

“It’s not about having to work. It’s about the fact that you expect me to work alongside your whores.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?” I shout, my patience finally shattering. “I’m sick and tired of watching my mouth. I refuse to let you humiliate me like this.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he growls, rising from his chair.

“Make me,” I challenge, my eyes blazing with defiance.

In a flash, he’s in front of me, his hand striking my face with such force that I stumble, catching myself on the edge of the desk. Pain radiates through my cheek, and I feel the hot sting of tears.

“You’ll work at the restaurant,” he hisses, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. “Or anywhere else I say,” he continues, shoving me against the desk, lifting my skirt.

“The door’s open,” I say, struggling to pull away.

“You think I don’t know that?” he asks, the metal clinking softly as he unbuckles his belt, followed by the whisper of leather sliding through the loops. “You earned this by arguing with me. You deserve to be humiliated.”

He brings the leather down across my backside, the bite tearing a cry from me.

“Keep yelling,” he warns. “And my men will come. They’ll get to see you bent over like the dirty whore you are.”

He strikes my upper thighs, and I bite down on my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming. My body shakes as he continues, strike after strike, until my knees wobble, threatening to give out. Then he kicks my legs apart, the sound of his zipper filling the room.

“Val, please,” I beg, my voice breaking. “Don’t do this.”

“You should be grateful,” he spits, his breath hot against my neck. “Do you know how many women would kill to be in your place? And yet, you keep acting like a spoiled bitch. Maybe I should just kill you and be done with it.”

He thrusts into me and a sharp pain tears through my body. I can’t stop the sound that escapes my lips.

Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he yanks my head back. “I said shut the fuck up,” he snarls, his hips driving into me.

“Is everything—” I hear Dante’s voice, but I can’t see him.

“Everything’s fine,” Val snarls, halting his movements.

“I heard Alessia scream. I didn’t realize—” Dante stammers, flustered. “I’ll close the door.”

“You’ll leave it open,” Val orders sharply.

“You have your wife bent over your desk with your cock inside her. I’m not the only man here.”

Val’s laugh is cold. “And you think I care?”

Mortification grips me, my face flushed with shame. I want to disappear, to escape this nightmare, but there's nothing I can say or do to stop it.

“No, but?—"

“She’s a hot piece of ass, I get it,” Val says, his voice laced with cruelty. “Perhaps you’d like to join in? See what she’s like for yourself?”

“No,” Dante says, disgust evident in his voice. “At least allow her some dignity.”

“If you aren’t going to fuck her, then get the hell out,” Val roars.

“Yes, sir,” Dante mumbles. His heavy footsteps echo down the hallway as he retreats.

“See what you’ve done?” Val sneers, his grip on my hips tightening. “Now all my men will know you like to take it up your ass. You won’t be able to walk through here without fearing one of them bending you over and fucking you like the slut you are.”

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