Page 132 of Poison and Wine
After reaching into his pocket, my father produced a knife. Whimpering, I tried inching away from him as best I could. “This is also no way to treat your future wife,” he said as he began to cut through my binds.
At the mention of Carmine’s future wife, I recoiled. “I’m a married woman, Father. Although I wasn’t married in a church, it was by a priest, and it was consummated,” I countered.
Hate simmered within the sneer he shot at me. “Marriages are easily annulled.”
When he finished with my hands, he handed the knife to Carmine. It didn’t surprise me at all that my father saw it beneath him to kneel before me. He still saw himself as the all-powerful capo. Carmine’s expression told me he felt the same way, but he was left with no choice.
Wincing, I brought my arms around my body from the back of the chair before I rubbed my aching wrists. Once Carmine finished with my legs, I rolled my feet, trying to get some feeling back in them.
Before I could get my bearings, Carmine grabbed me by the waist and dragged me to my feet. Although I swayed, I refused to reach out for Carmine. He dipped his head to where his rancid cigar breath scorched against my cheek. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to skip the nuptials and go straight for the consummation.”
I stared past him to my father. “You can’t seriously be supporting him in this madness.”
“Carmine needs a son and heir. While we work on getting your marriage annulled, he can get you pregnant. Then you’ll marry him.”
Oh God. This couldn’t be happening. How could both of them be so delusional? The thoughts of enduring Carmine raping me repeatedly sent bile rushing to my throat. “There’s no way you can make any of this legal. Neither Callum nor I would agree to ending our marriage.”
My father’s brows shot up. “Surely you don’t doubt my abilities or the power of my alliances?” When I didn’t respond, he took a handkerchief from his pocket. Although I tried jerking away from him, he brought the fabric to my cheek to clean my wounds. “Forging signatures is child’s play for a man like me. Despite what you think, my name still holds respect and power. There are still judges and law enforcement in my pocket.”
He jerked a chin at Carmine. “Not only am I still a very powerful man, so is my underboss. With the marriage of his daughter to the pakhan of the Jersey Bratva’s son, we’ve unified a very strong and lucrative alliance.”
I recoiled in horror as I thought about the teenage girl who was once to be my step-daughter. “But Allegra isn’t even eighteen yet.”
Carmine gave me a shark-like grin. “It doesn’t matter if a parent gives consent.”
My lips curled in disgust at his response. “She deserves better.”
“I’m glad to see you’re caring for your future daughter,” Carmine retorted.
I tore my gaze from his back to my father. “If you marry me off to him in this hairbrained scheme, whatever was fractured between you and Rafe will never be mended.”
“I have no use for Rafe or his traitorous brothers...” He pointed to my stomach. “Your son will inherit the Neretti legacy.”
My hands protectively flew to cover my abdomen to try and shield my baby from his heinous plot. Trembling wildly, I tried to think of any way out of the current hell I faced. I hoped and prayed that Callum had managed to track me down, and that he would somehow save me.
Carmine licked his lips while staring down at me. “Can I take her now, Alessio?”
“Be quick about it. After the shipment arrives for Mikita, we’re heading to the safe house in New York.”
With a lecherous grin, Carmine grabbed my arm and began to drag me away. My stomach churned when I imagined him putting his hands on other parts of my body. I wanted to save myself, but at the same time, I didn’t want any harm to come to my baby. Although I tried clamping my hand down on my mouth, the panicked scream tore through me and echoed off the walls. “I’m already pregnant!”
Carmine froze. “You lie.”
A part of me wanted to tell him I had. That I could endure him violating me if it meant my baby would remain safe. But instead, I furiously shook my head. “You can call the Kavanaugh’s OBGYN. I was there today. I’m six weeks pregnant.”
Carmine whirled us around to where we faced my father. Disgust radiated off of him. Although it pained me to do so, I sank to my knees. “Please, Father, if you let me go and abandon this terrible idea, I’ll ensure that no harm comes to you. On the life of my child, I swear to you that I’ll broker a peace between you and Callum. Regardless of how you feel about Rafe and my brothers, there can be a peace and alliance with the Kavanaugh’s. Think of the power you’d hold then. You’ll truly be unstoppable.”
For a moment, he appeared to be weighing my words. I prayed with everything within me that he would accept my offer. When he closed the gap between us, I held my breath. “I want nothing to do with any alliance that involves that mick son of a bitch you’ve spread your legs for.”
As the hope drained from my body, my chest caved in agony. Tears stung my eyes. “Please, Father.”
After grabbing me by the arm, he jerked me to my feet. His cruel sneer caused my stomach to clench. “I suppose we’ll just have to ensure you lose the baby, won’t we?”
Terror the likes I’d never known cascaded over me as my arms wound around my abdomen. Why had I been so stupid and revealed my pregnancy? I could’ve endured the rape to ensure my child was safe. I would’ve endured anything. But now, my father–my own flesh and blood–was going to kill the child within me.
He shoved me into Carmine’s arms. “Take care of it.”
“Coward!” I spat. The words had barely escaped my lips when Carmine’s fist connected with my abdomen. A scream tore from me as I sank to my knees. Desperately, I tried to shield my stomach from Carmine’s fists. My defensive exertions left both of us panting.