Page 116 of When She Tempts (The Fallen)
“What the hell are you saying, Polo? Let me get this straight. You want to work for Sal? Whatever peace your mother made with what happened to her, I don’t think she’d ever want her son to idolize the man who raped her!”
It happens so fast. One moment I’m shouting at him, and the next my cheek burns from his slap. It’s more shocking than it is painful, but it tells me something that makes my blood run cold.
He has no qualms about hurting me.
Polo grips my chin, his fingers digging into my flesh, and leans in. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, so shut the fuck up.”
He tries to drag his nose over my cheek. I jerk away, and he snickers, finding my resistance amusing.
“When I realized Giorgio would never help me get in contact with my father, I took matters into my own hands. I found a way to reach Sal, and I told him all about who I was, how I ended up with Giorgio.”
He lets go of me and drops his hand back down to the table. “It wasn’t easy getting in contact with the don of the Casalesi. I sent letters to the church in Casal, hoping someone there would get my messages into the right hands. Eventually, someone did. I went to the post office whenever I could get away, and one day, a reply came. It was beautiful, Martina,” he says, a sick smile playing on his lips. “My father wants to see me. He told me he’s angry that Giorgio kept us apart, says he’s never trusted Giorgio fully, and trust is important to him, especially now. Turns out my father is at war with your brother. I had a feeling Giorgio was doing something behind the don’s back. I told Sal I might know where Martina De Rossi is hiding, and he was very interested to learn more. I’m going to do even better. I am going to earn Sal’s trust by bringing you directly to him.”
My stomach plummets.Dem. If Polo gives me to Sal, Dem will do everything he can to save me.
Everything, including giving up on his claim.
I can’t let that happen.
“Polo, don’t do this,” I beg, clutching his shirt with my hands. “My brother will give you whatever you want.”
But he’s not listening. He takes my wrists into his hands and tugs me into him. “Giorgio has everything I’ve ever wanted, and it’s clear he has no intention of sharing.” His nostrils flare, and then his gaze lands on my necklace, the one Giorgio gave me. “So I’m going to just have to take it myself.”
I have to get away.
Not wasting another second, I shove him as hard as I can, but all I manage is one step before he flings out his hand and wraps it around my wrist. He tugs me back, takes my other wrist, and holds me with an iron grip. Breath fanning against my face, he demands, “What do you see in him anyway? He’s a sick man. I thought you’d understand that when you went inside the cottage.”
A shaky breath leaves my lungs. That’s why the lock on that door was broken.Polo.
“The only sick man here is you,” I hiss.
Somewhat miraculously, I realize I know how to get out of my current position. Giorgio taught me. My training clicks into place, and I push my wrists deeper into Polo’s chest before sharply jerking them back.
He doesn’t expect it, and his hold on me breaks.
Not wasting a second, I run around the kitchen island, putting it between us.
His eyes flash with excitement. “Are you going to put up a fight, Mari? You’ll only make it worse for yourself.”
I sprint toward the door leading outside and make it halfway before he tackles me to the ground.
Shit!
My kneecaps connect with the hard floor, and pain shoots up my legs. I gasp as he rolls me onto my back, but just as he’s about to straddle me, I pull my legs in, bending at the knees, and shove my feet against his chest.
He falls, grunting in pain.
RUN.
I do. I nearly make it to the door when he gets to me next, gripping my biceps and spinning me around.
My back collides against the door, and he wraps his hands around my neck.
Eyes wild and terrifying, he squeezes and says, “After I give you to Sal, he’ll reward me generously. I’ll ask him to make you my wife.”
The spike of nausea is so sudden that for a second, I’m sure I’m going to throw up.
He presses me into the door and rocks his hips into me, his erection obvious. “I’m going to fuck Giorgio out of you. I’m going to make you forget you ever touched him.”
