Page 17 of Claimed
For years, I told myself I had escaped this life. But standing here, with those cold eyes fixed on me, I realized how much power Maximo still held over me.
My eyes watered. “Please, don’t make me do this. There has to be another way. I will do anything else but this—”
“You don’t have a choice. You never did. You’re the daughter of Maximo Giordano, whether you like it or not. That comes with responsibilities.”
“I’m not going to marry some stranger just becauseyoudecided it. This ismylife. My choice.”
“Vito, you should talk to your sister for a few minutes.” My father headed away. “Get her comfortable with the idea of marriage.”
“I don’t need to talk to Vito about anything, and I don’t care about your empire,” I snapped. “I’m not one of you. I never was.”
My stepfather’s eyes darkened. His calm faded into something more sinister. “Yes. I think that you simply needmoreconvincing.”
Tears threatened to spill over, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t cry in front of them. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. “I-I don’t need any convincing.”
He turned to Vito. “Talk to Bella for me. Perhaps, you can warm her to the idea.”
This dark twisted expression covered Vito’s face. “I could try, Father.”
“What?” I stepped to the right, putting space between my brother and me. “I don’t need any—”
“Just make sure her face isn’t bruised. We need her to look nice for her groom.”
“Yes, Father.”
No. No. No.
Vito's hazel eyes gleamed with violence.
My heart pounded in my chest like a wild beast thrashing against its cage, desperate to escape.
Don’t leave me with this psycho.
I got further away from them and searched for some weapon I could use against him. All I spotted was glittering tutus, delicate pointe shoes, ribbons, and tulle.
My stepfather opened the door and soon his broad back and confident stride disappeared through the doorway, leaving me and my brother alone in the room.
“Wait. Don’t—”
The door closed with a resounding finality that echoed in the room.
And in that moment, I knew, I was truly alone.
No more fatherly intervention.
No more half-hearted attempts at familial diplomacy.
Just Vito and me.
Predator and prey.
Now what?
Chapter four
The Devil of Shadows
Vito stared at me, his gaze slithering out like a snake sliding through grass and seeking out a meal. “You know what’s funny,sis? I could kill you right now, and no one would care. Father might be mad for a moment, but I’d still be his favorite.”
