Page 81 of Savage Enemy

When I stepped into the hallway, I found Benedetta leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a bored expression on her face.

She raised an eyebrow.

Any attitude from her about what I’d just done wouldn’t be tolerated. I had no regrets.

I straightened my tie.

“Can I help you with something?” I snapped.

With a knowing look, she wiped lipstick off my chin.

“If you’re quite finished fucking his daughter, Saul will see you now.”

CHAPTER 16

VAL

Stefano marched out of the ladies’ room, ready to conquer the world, and I collapsed onto the toilet, taking a minute to catch my breath and collect my thoughts after silently saying goodbye.

Sex with him had always been earth-shattering, but nothing compared to this time. We had connected on a different plane, like our souls had come together in the same place and at the same time to become one after existing separately for so long.

Why now, though? How cruel could God be, letting me find my everything, all I’d ever wanted, the man I needed, only to rip it away from me? Why did my last moments with Stefano have to be so incredible?

Tears flowed from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks, each one faster than the last, and I couldn’t make them stop.

The aching in my chest intensified.

My nonna had taught me that crying was an expensive luxury, an indulgence women like us couldn’t afford in large portions or with any frequency. Of course, she was right.

But fuck it—I couldn’t prevent the overwhelming eruption of emotions from taking me down nor did I want to. The pain, the stress, sorrow, anger, fear, and even regret imploded within me, my heart breaking into tiny pieces all over again.

I allowed myself three gut-wrenching sobs before straightening my spine and moving my ass out of the stall.

I frowned at my reflection in the mirror.

Mother of Christ, how did one sort out makeup and hair like the mess Stefano and I had made of mine? I thanked God, though, for waterproof mascara and a complexion that required little foundation if any.

After doing my best to clean up all the red lipstick smears and reapply it where it belonged, I smoothed and straightened everything else.

I tilted my head, gazing at myself again. I actually looked more presentable than I’d thought possible… and yet somehow still freshly fucked, as Stefano would say.

Taking in a deep breath, I strode out of the ladies’ room to go find my little brother and my shoes.

The long hallway with its soft, red carpet running down the center felt like an invitation to run to my freedom. I stopped and stared at the fire exit door at the far end.

If only this princess could have her fairy tale moment on the palace stairs as she escaped at the stroke of midnight. Sadly, the warden of the night kept my shoes nice and safe.

No Cinderella moments for me. Not even if my own Prince Charming thought he could make a deal with the devil.

When I entered the ballroom, classical music filled the air. Guests drank, danced, laughed, whispered secrets, and hatched their schemes for world domination.

These events were all the same. Nothing out of place, as if no one had noticed my absence at all.

Well, Santo had for sure, and he now waited just inside the door with my strappy heels dangling from his fingers.

“Thank you,” I said.

I gazed at the floor as I took my shoes from him, hoping he couldn’t read my face and figure out what had happened.

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