Page 12 of Bound in Vengeance
The room stills. Alessandro doesn’t hesitate.
“I’ve already met her,” he says smoothly. “I prefer her.”
My heart stops.
That prick!
Heat rushes violently into my face as my eyes snap to his. He looks right back at me, dark amusement practically dripping from him. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
He knows I snuck into that party.
God.
My stomach twists so hard I feel nauseous.
Massimo’s brows pull together sharply. “Met her where?”
He doesn’t respond. Massimo looks between us slowly, suspicion creeping across his face.
“You’ve only been back in New York for two months,” he says carefully. “And my daughter does not attend social events alone. In fact, she hasn’t attended any in recent times.”
Alessandro simply smiles. He doesn’t even try to answer. The silence says everything. Oh, my God.
Massimo’s head snaps toward me so fast it’s almost animalistic.
“Where were you?” he thunders.
My sisters shiver at his tone. Their eyes widen. They don’t know what I did. No one knows. Except Alessandro.
I lift my chin.
“Out.”
Massimo’s face darkens.
“Out,” he repeats softly. “Outwhere?”
I say nothing.
And somehow that enrages him more.
“I know what you are,” he spits suddenly. “I tolerated your disgrace once. I tolerated the humiliation you brought to this family with that pathetic boy. But debauchery? Sneaking around like a whore?—”
“Go to hell.”
The words crack through the room before I can stop them.
Dead silence follows.
Even I hear the danger in my own voice. But humiliation burns too hot in my chest for caution. My face feels hot. My throat tight.
Still, I refuse to crumble in front of them.
Especially him.
Massimo stares at me in disbelief.
I stare right back.
