Page 16 of Merciless Queen
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I need to get checked. Can’t they show up randomly? I really don’t know.”
“It’s okay. We’ll get you fed and make sure you are okay while eating. Nothing will happen to you.”
Oh, how I wanted to tell him he was wrong. I was a walking target. It didn’t matter what Caterina said. Vincenzo wanted me. He’d always wanted me since the moment my father promised me to him. He wouldn’t rest until I was chained to his bed, carrying his children, until he got tired of me and put a bullet in my head.
CHAPTER 11
Caterina
My fist slammedinto the worn punching bag with a force that reverberated through my arm. The surge of adrenaline powering through me was the only reason the impact didn’t sting. Vincenzo ruined that girl’s life, and here I was shoving guns down her throat and victim-blaming. Fuck. I should have known never to believe Vincenzo’s own scum, but once again, he crawled under my skin and messed everything up.
I was a mess when it came to Vincenzo, and he fucking knew it, too. Distractions were deadly in this life. I was a mafia princess, but also the mafia leader with lives depending on me. Vincenzo got into my head and made me angry. Seeing his cocky fucking grin because he knew I couldn’t kill him pissed me off even more. If I knew I would have other families on my side, I would rid the world of Vincenzo Mancini and his vile bloodline, but I couldn’t because of a foolish treaty made forty years ago between the Mancini, Petrov, and Orlov families. I was fucking powerless against all three of them. Even without Petrov joining in, I would have no help, and my family would be destroyed.
This life was not sunshine and roses or shit people read about in books. It was brutal and took a soulless devil tohandle the reins. This life changed people, but I did my best to help innocent people affected by this life. Drugs were one thing and so were weapons, but forcing someone into sex work was disgusting. Yet, what more could I expect from filth like Vincenzo Mancini?
My knuckles stung as I continued to assault the worn punching bag, ignoring the blood from my split knuckle. I could have killed an innocent woman because I was angry and irrational. One day I would make it up to her. For what I did and what I was about to do—Harlow would help me get rid of Vincenzo, but not in the way I originally intended.
“Cat!” Malachi grunted, snapping me from my thoughts. He was holding the punching bag.How long was he standing there?“I called your name several times. Are you okay?”
“I kidnapped her.” I punched the bag again. “I’m letting my hatred for Vincenzo block my rational thoughts. I was going to kill her.”
He stepped in front of me and grabbed my fist as I went to punch the bag again. “But you didn’t. Stop beating yourself up because of this. We have the girl. She is free from Vincenzo. There is nothing more you can do.”
“I’m going to marry her.”
Malachi stumbled. “I’m sorry. What?”
“Two birds, one stone. She will have my protection, and the other families can leave me alone. It’s another jab to Vincenzo by marrying her. He will never have her again.”
“Boss, how are you going to have a kid?”
I glared at him. “Are you really that dense? Aren’t you dating a doctor? A woman doesn’t need to be with a man to have a baby. Besides, this marriage won’t be real. Not really. She will have my name and my protection.”
He folded his arms to his chest. “Boss, are you sure?”
“Yes. I am going to protect her, but it will also be for my advantage.”
“What do you want me to tell the men?” he asked. “You know they will have questions.”
“She will be my wife. That is all you tell them. Only a few people will know our marriage is fake. You are included.”
“Boss. Are you going to sleep with her?”
I rolled my eyes. “She is traumatized, and I won’t be forcing myself on her.”
“No one said it would be by force.”I flipped him off, removing my fingerless gloves as I inspected my knuckles.
Men, even mine, thought with the wrong head when it came to a pretty girl. If I didn’t trust Malachi with my life, I would string him up by his toes and let the rats nibble his face until he learned his lesson. Harlow needed support and a lot of therapy to help her heal from what she endured. Not a bunch of horny men lusting after her like she was a pawn. Regardless of her beauty, I would murder anyone who harmed her, even if it was one of my men. They knew what the punishment was if someone harmed a woman.
I had a newbie start working with me four years ago. He was under Malachi, following his orders, and he was good. One of the best men I knew who could shoot a gun. Little did I know, he was also an abuser who beat his wife and almost killed her. His wife now lived in a cushy villa with her new husband and newborn daughter while his bones fertilized my garden.
“You better let everyone know that if they harm Harlow or even stare at her too long, I will trap them in my basement with Titus and Lucifer.”
“Of course, boss. Is there anyone you want to be included?”
“No. Only a handful of people will know the wedding is a farce. I’ll spin a story about rescuing her and falling in love withher strength during a difficult time for our men and close family. The media will get whatever I decide to tell them.”
“A gorgeous woman and the opportunity to tick Vincenzo off. You’ll bask in the limelight.”
