Page 52 of The Consigliere
“You’re lying.” I snap in the vain hope I’m right, but even I realize he is speaking the truth. It all slots into place and I say desperately, “Then why did my parents tell me I was marrying Jefferson? You’re a fool if you think I’ll believe a single word from your disgusting lips.”
I know I’ve gone too far when his eyes flash and his lip curls and he spits, “It was Jefferson or me. That was the choice. When our fathers made the deal, it was to that effect. If Jefferson couldn’t be persuaded to marry you, then I would happily step in.”
“But he did.” I say exasperated, and he nods.
“That was before your boyfriend threatened to ruin him. He knew there was no way out but to step aside and let a greater warrior take his place. Matteo is like a bug to me, and I will soon stamp on him. When the Ortega family is under my control, the first thing I’ll do is kill Giovanni’s three sons. It’s inevitable because their father foolishly believed everything I told him and cut them out of his will, gifting me the title of don instead. It’s all worked out rather well for me, in fact, and now you will take your rightful place by my side as my bride.”
“I would rather die.”
He merely smirks. “It’s funny you say that because if you don’t marry me, you will be sacrificed to the Dark Lords. It’s your choice.”
“The dark what?” My head is spinning and Mario grins with a wicked glint in his eye.
“I’ll demonstrate that later. You see, my home also doubles as our headquarters, and tonight there will be a ritual. I’ll show you what happens to those who incur our wrath. It will make you aware how trapped you are. You see…” he moves across and a wave of revulsion hits me as he tugs me toward him and wraps his arm around my waist. His breath is rancid as he whispers close against my mouth, “The only way you live is married to me. Your father knows the score. He sold his soul to the devil years ago. It’s why he’s so successful, but that comes at a price.”
I attempt to turn my head away, but he grips my face hard and whispers, “Your billions are drenched in the blood of the people your father stepped on to bank it. The price for that is total allegiance to the cause and the Dark Lords own his soul and now yours. You are to marry me to give me respectability.”
He traces a finger down my face, making me shiver. “With you beside me, I will rise like a phoenix from the ashes of hell and take my place at your father’s side. I will be powerful, rich and perfectly placed to ensure the organization prospers. Jefferson is on a similar path but must now marry another. Someone who can elevate him to the biggest position in the land.”
“You’re mad.” I hiss and he pulls me roughly against him and laughs like a sadistic demon.
“Mad for you, baby. You’re just lucky I haven’t fucked you already. Make no mistake, I will. With or without your cooperation.”
“You’re disgusting. Let me go.”
“Never in a million years, baby. You’re mine to play with at will, and I like to play a lot.”
He grabs my dress, and the sound of tearing fabric fills the room as he rips it from my body and groans. His hand holding my hair in a tight grip as he pushes his tongue in my mouth. I almost retch as he grabs my breast hard, causing a bolt of pain to shoot through my body and then he growls, “Did I tell you I’m a sadist, baby? I’ll enjoy watching your skin turn to fire under my touch. Prepare yourself for the pain because you’ll have to live with that. My preferred pleasure being the bullwhip while I hunt you from room to room.”
He slaps me hard around the face and I fall to the ground, receiving a sharp kick in my stomach for my sins.
“Now listen up, baby, because I’ll say this only once. Do everything I tell you like a good girl because I have a short fuse. When I tell you to do something, you never question it and after the ceremony tonight, I’m going to enjoy hunting you.”
“What do you mean?” I spit some blood on the floor, and he laughs like a maniac.
“I have a basement that doubles as a playroom. It’s a maze of tunnels that I will let you explore in a bid for freedom. There is one way out, the rest leads to dead ends and if I catch you, you will wish the dead part referred to you. So, eat your food and strip naked for me, before putting on this robe. You have one hour to prepare yourself for a ceremony that will change your life. Our wedding.”
He directs another sharp kick at my ribcage and, as I double over in pain, I am relieved when the door clicks shut behind him, leaving me wondering how the hell I’m going to escape from this nightmare.
CHAPTER25
MATTEO
Diana’s smile lights up her pretty face and she can’t disguise the victory flashing in her eyes.
“You will.”
“What do you need?”
I keep my tone casual, but I am burning up inside. It’s obvious I’m not dealing with a sane person and one false move could end badly for Abi.
She sits beside me and places her hand on my leg, and I want to push it away so badly. The thought of her touching me makes me shiver, and she obviously takes that as a good sign and whispers huskily, “Fuck me, Matty. I have been dreaming of you ever since you left.”
Her fingers rest on my limp cock and, shifting, I say with a sigh, “Not until I rid your world of that cockroach Bachini.”
She nods, apparently accepting my brush off, and she leans in and fastens her lips to mine, her tongue edging inside in an act I dreamed of many times since I left her.
Kissing Diana is like a Judas kiss because it’s as if I’m betraying Abigail by just breathing the same air as Diana. That alone surprises me because when did I play the loyal lover? Only once, with Diana and since she broke my heart, I have fucked women with no emotion at all.