Eventually, I have to call out. I can’t usethe bathroom like this, and I’ve held out for so long, I’m in danger of peeingmyself. Alexis is the one who turns the lock and appears by my bed, his hazeleyes hungry and amused as he stares down at me.

“Can you remove the zip ties? I need to pee.”

“No,gattina. You didn’t do what you were told.”

“I did.” My voice is a whine that makes mewince. I sound desperate, pathetic, like a teenager asking for more money to goout with her friends.

“Not until you were forced, right? Not untilmy brother made you.”

“So you want me to piss all over thisexpensive bed?”

“No.” He takes me by the elbow, his fingerspunishing. “Come with me.”

I’m half-dragged to the bathroom which leadsfrom my room. It’s spacious and marble with a double vanity and a walk-inshower with a rainfall head that must feel like heaven. It’s a joke how muchnicer this place is than my actual home. There’s no mold in this bathroom, nocracked tiles or broken flush. And yet, I’d do anything to get out of here.

Anything.

The word taunts me. What would I do? Let Lucatouch me, fuck me? What about his brothers? Would they want that, too? I’veseen the way they look at me like they’re imagining my naked body and all thefilthy, corrupt things they want to do to me. How far would I go for my safetyand freedom?

I don’t know. I really don’t know. And that’swhat scares me.

Alexis nudges me back towards the toilet withhis colorful inked arms, the flames raging dangerously across his body, then heshoves his hand beneath my skirt and begins to tug my panties down.

“No,” I say, but he doesn’t listen.

“Do you want to pee through your panties?” heasks instead, shaking his head. “This fucking girl.”

I flush hot with mortification when my pantiesdrop around my ankles. Alexis pulls up the back of my dress and pushes me untilI’m sitting. My cheeks burn as the pee drops out of me with urgency and Alexiswatches with amusement lighting up his devastatingly handsome face. His eyesfocus on my panties and my embarrassment increases a hundredfold because I knowthey’re damp. When Luca touched me, my body reacted like a traitor.

What kind of sick person am I that his fingerforced between my legs turned me on?

I close my eyes, wishing that the blacknessbetween my eyelids could swallow me whole. I wish I could disappear into it,like the ocean at night, and escape this captivity.

The sound of the toilet paper roll unfurlingmakes my heart stop. I can’t wipe myself with my hands behind my back. Is hegoing to do it for me?

“Spread your legs.” Alexis crouches in frontof me, so we’re eye to eye. The dress is covering my bare pussy but for howlong. I ease my legs open, watching him watch me. With his eyes downcast, hiseyelashes seem impossibly long, his nose, which is slightly crooked, refined,his mouth which seems to carry sly happiness at its corners at all times,twitching. He’s enjoying this and I hate him for it. I close my eyes when hedips his hand between my legs, and shudder as he draws the paper over my sex. Adistressed whimper leaves my lips and his smile broadens. He thinks I likethis.

Jesus, help me. This man is sick.

He releases the paper and stands, helping meto my feet, then he drops to his haunches again and begins to drag the stupidpanties up my legs. It’s not easy. Whoever shopped for me only bought whitelace thongs that stick to my skin and twist around themselves. He works slowly,pushing under the fabric of my skirt but he struggles.

“Fuck this,” he mutters, yanking the skirthigher so he can see what he’s doing. I want to die as this stranger looks atmy most private place, fumbling with my underwear.

I keep my gaze fixed to the corner of theroom, where the marble tile meets the brilliant white of the ceiling, as AlexisVenturi, youngest of the ruthless mafia brothers, settles the edges of mypanties over my hips and then reaches behind to position the string correctlybetween the cheeks of my ass. His fingers aren’t sensual or soft, but itdoesn’t matter because I’m a woman with a very warped mind, it seems, and everytouch sends heat pooling between my legs. He lingers a few seconds longer thanis necessary, and when I look down, I catch him inhaling.

Motherfucker. Is he trying to smell me?

When he stands, he seems unsteady on his feet.And without any shame, he adjusts his pants, hefting a very thick, very erectcock to the side to ease his discomfort.

I gulp as the size of him makes my pussyclench inexplicably.

“You’re seriously turned on by watching mepee?”

He laughs and it’s a little manic sounding. “Yousay it like you’re surprised.” He heads to the vanity to wash his hands andwhen he returns, he pushes a lock of my hair behind my ear.

“You’re a very beautiful woman, my little cat.And beautiful women turn men on with just a flick of their head or the sound oftheir laugh.”

“And piss?”