Page 84 of Doll's Eye

“Don’t tease me,gattina. I’m already restraining myself so that I don’t wring your pretty neck. If I come in there to remind you who you belong to, we’ll be locked in here for days.”

The amusement drains from her face as she sits up all the way. Her seductive façade gone. “I’m not yours, De Luca. That was a hate-fuck, make no mistake.”

My mouth twitches. “Whatever you say,mia amata.” We have a standoff for an intense moment. “Would you like out of your little cage?”

“That depends.” She stands up and stretches her arms above her head. My eyes make a leisurely path up and down the length of her body in reaction. “Are you just exchanging this cage for another one?”

“Yes.”

“Then I think I’m okay where I’m at.” She casually walks over to the sitting chair in there and sits down, crossing one leg over the other.

“So, the hard way it is,” I mutter, and she glowers at me.

“You better not dart me again like some kind of wild animal.” She clenches her teeth.

“Then you need to behave,gattina.”

“I hate you,” she hisses and stands back up. I can physically see her struggling with her own forbearance as she tries to decipher whether or not her pride should outweigh her comfort and dignity. “I’llbehave.”

“Good girl.” I fight a smirk when her nostrils flare out of response. “Come on out.”

Chapter forty-three

Alessia

“Youbastardo! Get these fucking cuffs off me right now!” I scream and thrash. “Ti ammazo, De Luca!”I’ll kill you. I yank and pull on the cuff locked around my wrist as I screech and sling all kinds of profanity at the sorry bastard that put me here.

“You brought this upon yourself with your petulance. I was going to let you have free range of the bedroom, but you decided to be a brat instead.” He hovers over me with his hands inside his pockets, all calm and relaxed on the surface.

“You can’t keep me like this forever. Once I’m free, you’re a dead man.”

He sighs and shakes his head, then clucks his tongue. “Naughtygattina.” He crouches down, his face level with mine now. “Do you know what happens to someone who threatens me? Huh?” He pauses. “You have now threatened me several times, and I will not keep letting it go,” I growl and yank on the cuffs. “I’ll give you a moment to rest because you’ll need it for what I have planned for you.”

“Massimo,” I sneer. “Let. Me. Go.”

“Never.” He stands up and straightens his jacket. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” He reaches towards me to touch my cheek and I turn my head to dodge it. “You’ll pay for that too,amore,” he says on a heavy sigh.

I hate him. I hate him so much. I hate all the feelings that instantly came back the second I heard his voice over the phone and the way my body absolutely aches for him. I miss him so fucking much and I know I can’t deny him forever. It’s only a matter of time before my body gives in ultimately and my heart won’t be far behind it. It isn’t fair.

I’ve killed people. A lot of people. And I didn’t care what they did to deserve it. I was able to point a gun at a complete stranger and pull the trigger, taking their life. So, why can’t I stop loving this cruel man who purposely broke my heart?

I lay there staring up at the ceiling for who knows how long. All I know is that it was light out when we came up here and now it’s dark. I don’t even know what day it is or if it’s even the same month. I tried to keep track in my cell, but then it felt like it was only making it worse.

I was blessed with the privilege of being outside of my confines only to shower every couple of days, and every time I tried to run. Obviously, my attempts ended in spectacular failure. I know there’s no getting out of here, but I won’t stop trying, purely out of spite.

I anticipated Massimo bringing me to his room to keep a close eye on me. Then his bed came into view, and I panicked. Depressing thoughts of Massimo fucking other women in my absence had me backpedaling. I’m sure he figured it was my final attempt to fight him, but it was my heart weeping for what we once were and begging him not to mar those precious memories of mine.

I honestly thought that what we had was real and that everything he’d ever said to me was absolute. He fucking played me. He’s nothing but a pompous canard with an alluring veneer that I will never trust again. If I let him anywhere near my heart, he’ll squeeze the life out of it.

The door creaks open then clicks shut. I don’t bother to look; I just know that it’s him. When he comes to the side of the bed and looks down at me, I keep my eyes averted. “Would you like to join me for dinner,bella? Or would you like me to feed you?” I don’t answer. He sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. “If you don’t choose, I’ll choose for you, and I think we both know which option I’ll go with.” If he thinks his nonsensical threats get to me anymore, he’s fucking clueless.

“If I give in. If I behave. What then?” I state, my voice remaining uninterested. “What do you want with me, Massimo?” I turn to look at him.

Two creases appear between his dark brows. “I wantyou. I thought that was obvious.”

“You want to toy with me.”

“No,amore mio.” He tucks some hair behind my ear.

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