Page 11 of Unrelenting
He spanks my ass again. I cry out, more because of the injustice of it than because it hurts.
“I didn’t call you anything.”
He spanks my ass again. I cry out, more because of the injustice of it than because it hurts.
“I didn’t,” I protest. “I said you were being ridiculous.”
He grips my hair and pulls my head up from the table. “Is it ridiculous for me to protect what’s mine?”
“No, but…”
He cuts me off. “Is it ridiculous to want my woman to get home safely?”
“Lorenzo, we fucked twice. I am not your woman.”
He pushes my head down again so my cheek is resting on the cool surface of the table. He delivers three more punishing swats to my ass.
Then he blows out a breath as if I’ve wound him up in knots and he needs to decompress. He helps me stand and places his hands on my shoulders.
“Look, Lucia, I’m trying to be nice to you. Let me do this small thing to protect you because, believe me, you will not like the alternative.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the warning in his tone. I don’t ask him what the alternative is because I really don’t want to know how far he’s prepared to go to get his way.
“Okay, Lorenzo,” I agree. “I’ll let you take me home.”
“And you’ll allow me to provide security when I’m not available to take you myself?”
“If you think that’s for the best.”
My capitulation pleases him. He leans forward and kisses my forehead.
There’s something so fucking patronizing about the gesture I want to scream. I don’t, of course.
Lorenzo steps back, giving me space. “Your life will change now you’re mine,gattina,but it needn’t be bad for you. Do as you’re told and things can carry on just as they were.”
I smile tightly, holding back the vitriol that wants to spill from my lips. It’s late and I’m tired. I want nothing more than to get home and have the bath I’ve been dreaming about.
But if Lorenzo Volante thinks I’m simply going to do as I’m told, he is in for a shock.
FOUR
Lorenzo
As I settleat my usual table at Gianetta’s, I can’t help thinking I made a mistake in bringing my cousin here.
I love my family, and I would never raise a hand to a woman, but right now I want to slap the petulant pout right off Olivia’s face. She’s been in a shitty mood since I picked her up.
Apparently, Piotr Reznov, heir to one of the most powerful Bratva organizations in the world, turned up at Damiano’s house to speak to her.
Olivia has been staying with Damiano for the last couple of weeks, ever since her oldest brother, Antonio, head of our New York family, banished her to Italy for being a major pain in the ass.
Their brother Matteo came too, and they were staying at a country villa Gabriele bought years ago and never lived in.
Unfortunately, Matteo got caught up in the shooting of a young girl and sent Olivia to Damiano to keep her safe from the violence that followed.
It’s been a turbulent few weeks. My American cousins create soap opera worthy drama wherever they go.
Olivia isn’t a bad girl. She’s certainly not the reckless, spoiled brat Antonio paints her as. She’s done some silly things in the past, but I can’t judge her for that.
