Page 117 of Impenitent Claim

Silence pulsed through the space.

It seemed that Alonzo wanted very much to say something, but mercifully he remained quiet.

“I’ll marry her.” Cosimo swept his hand through the air as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “I’m a capo now. I’ll…keep her in line.”

“I think that’s a fine idea,” Cecilia insisted, her response too immediate to not be premeditated.

A rough laugh escaped my throat. “What did Tullio promise you to take me off your hands?”

She narrowed her eyes, the hostility there only confirming the suspicions lurking in my chest. “You’ll want to beat this one regularly, Cosimo.”

The bastard chuckled. “I plan on it.”

“Father!” Alonzo rounded on the don.

Aldo raised his hand, looking shrewdly between his sister and the spawn of satan.

That’s right, don, see for yourself the treachery that lurks at your doorstep.I bit my tongue, not wanting to force the conclusion in his mind, but crossing my fingers that he found it nonetheless.

Don Aldo hesitated. “Alonzo shouldn’t be overlooked. He’ll be made a capo soon, and…he’s myheirto my estates, if not my title.”

He couldn’t sound any more reluctant if he tried.

“She’s damaged goods!” Cecilia cried. “She’s wild and loose. Let someone capable of handling her vices deal with her.”

“I don’t care for the mistreatment of women,” the don growled.

“Then don’t watch.” Cosimo closed the distance and grabbed my shoulder.

I struck, my fist landing satisfyingly high on his groin.

But his menacing grip only tightened.

“Look out!” Alonzo warned but too late.

An open palm cracked across my face. I cried out, stumbling but unable to move far.

Another merciless blow fell on my face.

“I didn’t say you could have her,” Don Aldo shouted.

“So try to take her from me,” Cosimo countered.

I struggled. The bathrobe pulled and tangled. I tried to twist away. Hot blood leaked from my lip, spreading the metallic tang over my tongue. Using my body’s weight, I sagged and bucked. Cosimo’s fingers scrambled to hold me. It was working! I stomped hard but missed his shoe. He dodged, freeing my arm.

Fight! I’m going to fight!I grunted, pushing to free myself.

There was another opening. I wound back my fist, prepared to punch the smirk from his smug face~

But the moment, I struck out, my fist connecting with flesh, a brutal blow knocked the wind from my lungs.

It was all I could do to raise my arms protectively near my face. Cosimo struck lower. The repeated blows were going to leave an array of bruises across my whole body. Focusing on anything but the pain, I watched Alonzo struggle in his father’s hold. Heard the tone of strict command, the harsh lecture in Italian. The heroic knight wasn’t saving me. Not today.

Not that he ever was….

Stars burst across my field of vision. I coughed, finally collapsing to the floor. For a twisted moment, the angry knocking seemed to come from my head.

But it was someone outside the room.

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