Page 81 of Brutal Revenge

Her brows knit, but she doesn’t deny my claim.

“Take emotions out of it. I’m not me right now. I’m not your… whatever the fuck I am to you. I’m a threat.”

“Matteo—”

“No,” I snap out. “I’m not Matteo. I am not your friend. I’m someone who wants to hurt you, and I won’t stop until I’ve broken you.” Her cheeks twitch when I say one name I hope like fuck will cut through every hesitation she has. “I’m Antonio.”

Quicker than the flick of a switch, her composure changes. Her muscles coil, and her breathing sharpens as her eyes go cold with hate.

Then she moves. Fast.

As she did earlier, she leaps to her feet, but this time, when I pull her down by wrapping my legs around her thighs and shifting my weight to my hips, she drives her knee down hard—right into my groin. Myerectgroin.

Pain explodes through me, white-hot and blinding, as my hold breaks.

While sucking in a big breath, I roll to my side and fight not to curse loud enough for my foul language to echo off the walls of my family’s mansion miles away.

Chapter 23

Azra

As I walk past the shopfronts of Carlisle, I steal glances at Matteo. His calm yet dangerous composure makes it seem like he’s not hurting. I know better. I see his pain in the tension of his jaw and how he constantly adjusts his stance.

He’s trying to hide how badly I hurt him, but every few steps, pain flashes across his ridiculously handsome face.

I didn’t mean to knee him that hard, or lose control like I did, but the second he put Antonio in the scenario, something inside me snapped.

Don’t give up on me yet. The idea of marrying a man I hate is weird, but it’ll all make sense once I get the chance to explain.

Now isn’t the time.

I thought we were wandering the streets of Carlisle to walk off the pain I inflicted. I didn’t question the motive behind Matteo’s suggestion.

I should have.

We’re standing in front of a bridal shop.

Thebridal shop where I am supposed to have my last dress fitting.

I didn’t realize he was guiding me here. The storefronts didn’t register as familiar because every time I was summoned here, I was a bundle of nerves and anxiety.

Matteo led me here without a single stomach flip.

How?

He shouldn’t know about this appointment. I silenced my alarmduringmy erotic dream. I remember fumbling for my phone, half dreaming, half awake, to shut it off before it could distract him.

Matteo wasn’t present in the same space as me, so how does he know about today’s appointment?

My dream flashes through my mind, vivid and realistic.

Was it real?

Did he… Did we…

No, that’s not possible.

It was a dream. It had to be a dream.