Page 39 of The Red Queen

“Gio!” she said his name sharply, her body rigid against his.

He finally caught onto her distress and lifted his head to look at her. “What is it?”

“Please, I don’t want an audience.”

The blank look on his face soothed some of her hurt that he would engage in a sexual act with her in front of others. He hadn’t realized or was so used to having his men around that he didn’t notice.

It finally sunk in what she was upset about and he shook his head. “They don’t care, Desi. They will ignore us.”

“I care!” she cried, her heart sinking.

As far as she was concerned, having his men watch them fuck was the same as allowing them to fuck her. She’d been there and done that, and she wouldn’t allow it again. Not so long as she had breath in her body to fight.

“Send them away,” she demanded.

He stiffened against her and the danger suddenly emanating from him became palpable. She almost regretted her words, but she wouldn’t take them back. She had to take a stand if they were to make a marriage work.

“I think you misunderstand your place in my household,” he said coolly, all trace of desire now gone from his face and tone.

She mourned the loss but refused to back down. “You told me we’re engaged, that I am your fiancé. Has that changed? Am I now your slave once more?”

He laughed, the sound anything but mirthful. It sent a chill down her spine.

“You are both, my love, never forget it.”

His words felt like a physical blow to her chest, as though he’d taken a hammer to her heart. It was ridiculous. She wasn’t in love with him, couldn’t possibly be, so his words shouldn’t hurt so much.

“Then put me back in the basement and throw away the key, because if you insist on treating me like your personal sex slave, I will find a way to leave and I will kill as many of your people as I can on my way out.”

He moved so fast she didn’t have time to react. He gripped her by the throat and slammed her into the wall. Her head would’ve struck hard, except he’d slid his hand in behind to make sure he didn’t bruise her. He might be angry, but he didn’t want her hurt. An interesting thought to unpack later.

His fingers tightened until she had to fight for breath. She was on familiar ground though and didn’t flinch, didn’t show any signs of weakness or pain. She never would. She would allow him to drain the life from her without a single flinch before she showed her pain.

He leaned in close until she felt his breath against her cheek. “Your fight is intoxicating.”

It wasn’t what she’d been expecting, and she didn’t know how to respond. She stared up at him.

His dark gaze went from cold to hot and the hand at her throat eased, his fingers stroking the bruised flesh.

Her heart hammered as she waited to find out what he would do next. Was he about to rape her in the hallway to prove a point? Would he give way to her demand and find a private room for them?

He did neither.

He eased back from her, watching to make sure she stayed upright before releasing his grip entirely. He straightened his tie, pulled his cuffs down, then brought his hand up to his face, inhaling.

“It’s enough that I will carry your scent with me,bella.”

She watched in shock as he strode down the hall.

Chapter Seventeen

Desi went shopping the next day with Vitto and an escort of three additional guards. Vitto had told her that Giovanni would’ve sent more of an escort, but he knew Desi could take care of herself.

She eyed her four bodyguards and decided Giovanni was nuts. If she were attacked, they would only get in her way. She told them as much, ordering them to keep their distance.

“What do you think?” Vitto asked Desi when they arrived in Venice.

“It’s beautiful,” she admitted as he led her down a walkway to a motorboat bobbing in the water.

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