Page 96 of Winter

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Inca nodded, but something was bothering her. No, ‘bothering’ was the wrong word.Haunting. And she couldn’t pin down exactly what it was, just that, soon, very soon, all this would end. That she would die. She could feel death at her shoulder, just waiting for the opportunity. So she was greedy, wanting to spend all of her time with Raffaelo and Tommaso, not caring what anyone else thought.

At night, they shut the rest of the world out and made love to each other, then talked until dawn, making plans. Inca worried about Raffaelo, who seemed to be plagued with nightmares and dreams that he would not share with them, but which would keep him up.

Inca was thinking about this as she went into the study to return a book. Deep in thought, she pushed open the door and went to the bookshelf. As she slid the book back into place, the door behind her slammed. She turned—and saw Edgar Winter smiling nastily at her.

“Alone at last.”

That’s all he had to say to let her know this wasn’t going to be a friendly meeting. She glanced at the window—if she could get to it, she could push it open and get away. He caught up with her before she got halfway across the room.

“Let me go!” she struggled against his strong hands and he laughed.

“I don’t think so, Inca. How about you just lie back and let me show you what a real man could do for you.”

Losing her temper, she laughed in his face. “A real man, you piece of shit, doesn’t spend his life trying to destroy his sons.”

“What have I destroyed, Inca? Tell me? Because the way I see it, my boys have had every luxury, and now …” he kissed her roughly; she spit in his face. “They get to fuck a pretty little cunt like you. “

He had her trapped against the wall and his hand snaked up under her skirt. Inca screamed, but Edgar clamped his hand over her mouth. “Come on, beautiful, what’s your problem? After all, you’re fuckingbothof my boys … surely you have something left for me?”

He was twice her size and, struggle though she might, Inca couldn’t get free from him. He slammed her down onto the desk and held her down as he unzipped his pants. Inca kicked out at him, got lucky, catching his groin with her heel, and he buckled. She rolled from the desk, sobbing, but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her down.

“No, you don’t, you little whore. I’m going to take what I’m owed, and afterwards, I’ll decide whether or not I’ll let you live another minute.”

Inca struggled with all her might as he tried to enter her, twisting and shutting her thighs, but when Edger raised his fist and punched her in the stomach, the pain was incredible and all the breath left her body.

She felt him watching her and struggled to stand up—pain racked her body and, as she looked at him, she was horrified to see lust in his eyes.He’s enjoying my pain,she realized,he’s turned on by it.Adrenaline kicked in then and she managed to stand up straight. The searing pain in her stomach dulled.

“Please, don’t …”

But he didn’t listen. For Inca, the next few minutes were worse than hell. Edgar groped her sex, grinning triumphantly, nastily. Inca was sobbing, her arms flailing around for anything, anything to help her, when her fingers felt steel. Scissors, that had fallen from the desk during the struggle. She gripped them as best she could and drove the point into Edgar’s shoulder. He roared in pain and jerked back.

“Fucking bitch!” He screamed for his guard, who ran in.

“Hold her down,” he ordered as he ripped the scissors from Inca’s hand. “I’m going to gut this little bitch.”

Inca went cold, but she screamed and fought with her captors. As Edgar raised the scissors, a shot rang out and plaster from the ceiling rained down on them. Edgar stopped.

Tommaso, his face contorted with rage, leveled the gun at his father. “Let her go.Now.”

Edgar gave a nod and Inca was released, still sobbing. She ran to Tommaso, who put his free arm around her, pressing his lips to her temple. “It’s okay now,bella. You’re safe.”

Edgar smirked, and Tommaso’s eyes narrowed. He leveled the gun at his father’s head. “Give me one more reason, Father. Just one.”

His father’s guard edged forward but, from behind them, Inca heard Raffaelo enter the room.

“Don’t,” he said to the guard, who balked.

“Raff, take Inca outside and help her. Me and Daddy Dearest are going to have a little chat.”

Raffaelo and Inca exchanged worried glances. Tommaso, without looking away from his father, half-smiled. “It’s okay, both of you. Leave us.”

Whatever had passedbetween Tommaso and his father, he never told them, but when he came to join them, to tell them that Edgar had left the house, he seemed different. Stronger. He and Raffaelo hugged for a long moment, then Tommaso asked if he could speak with Inca alone.

“Of course, brother.” Raffaelo smiled at them both, then left the room, closing it quietly behind him.

Tommaso sat down next to Inca, his fingers sweeping the hair back from her face, briefly touching her split lip. “Are you okay,Principessa?”

She nodded, leaning against him. Her eyes searched his face. “Are you?”