Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I’m a woman, but I’m not a fool.
De Lucas and Russos have feuded for generations. I don’t even know why they did, and to be honest, I’m starting to think they don’t know either.
So, he keeps me prisoner.
There are nights he comes to my room, and even though he doesn’t touch me, he tells me to scream. He tells me to beg him. I don’t understand why he is doing this, but each time he orders me, I do as I’m told.
I guess my father’s teaching has been good for something.
Not once has he raised a hand to me. There is no hatred in his gaze. No anger. Sometimes, he will bang his fist against the door, throw precious items. He broke a lamp that was so beautiful, it surprised me. The room would always look a mess, and then he’d come to me, tell me to cry, and as I started to weep, he’d tear at my gown.
When his maids came, I looked a mess. It looked like … he raped me. I don’t understand it.
Milah stopped reading and frowned. “What the fuck?” Was Valentino mental? Why had he acted that way?
Blowing out a breath, she read on.
Valentino kept Alicia prisoner for days, if not weeks. The only solace Alicia had was to sneak her writings into this book. To tell of the time she spent.
The irony was not lost on Milah that even though kept as a De Luca prisoner, Alicia found a sense of freedom.
As the day wore on, Milah had no choice but to put the book away and make her way out of the attic. She hadn’t put the catch on the stairs, so she was able to lower it and to climb down.
No one had found her.
Leaving the bedroom, she put her hand on the door and wondered if this was the very room where Alicia Russo was kept. There was so much about her family history she didn’t know. Tomorrow, she’d find time to hide and to read more.
She needed to know what was going on between Valentino and Alicia.
Why would the mad De Luca pretend to rape Alicia? Why go to that extreme? She had heard Valentino was mad beyond understanding.
Milah rounded the corner and gasped as she came face to face with Damon. “Crap, fuck, Jesus.”
“Wow, not what I was expecting.”
“Do you have to go sneaking around everywhere?” she asked, putting a hand to her chest.
Her heart raced. She felt like she’d stumbled onto something important. Something forbidden that she shouldn’t have been privy to, and yet, it also felt good to finally read something from an aunt she never got to know.
“This is my house,” he said.
“Of course, it is. It is your right to go sneaking about wherever you want.” She forced a smile. “Did business go well?”
“Better than expected. Would you like to go out with me tonight?” he asked.
She frowned. “Where?”
“I want to take you out to dinner.”
“Why?”
“Can’t a man and a woman enjoy each other’s company without all the troubles that come with it?”
She pursed her lips and watched him. “I don’t know. I guess it depends on what you’re hoping to achieve.”
“I’m not hoping to achieve anything. I just want the pleasure of your company, that is all. We’ve got a family to enjoy, Milah.” He reached out and pressed his palm flat against her stomach, taking her completely by surprise. This was the first time he’d openly touched her like this.
Her mouth went a little dry.
Staring into his dark gaze, she had to wonder what he was thinking. What was going on in that head of his? Did she even want to know?
She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, already knowing the answer was yes. She did want to know what was going on inside his head. He was a mystery to her. One she hoped to take the time to uncover.
“Okay,” she said.
“Glory’s waiting for you to get changed. She will be helping you. You’ve got half an hour.”
Milah didn’t need that long to get changed. With Glory waiting for her, it kind of sucked the wind right out of her sails.
Glory.
The woman who was only pretending to be her friend.
She kept a smile on her lips even as she followed Damon down the main stairs, heading to the bedroom they now shared.
Glory waited inside.
“Mr. De Luca has bought you a beautiful dress,” Glory said.
“Yes, of course.” She didn’t know what else to say to her, so she followed the other woman into the bathroom. Glory stayed close by while she took a shower. She tried not to be affected by the woman’s closeness, but it was kind of hard to ignore her.
She wanted to order her away, but that would have been cruel.
“Are you excited about tonight?” Glory asked.
“Yes.”
“It sounds nice.”
Milah agreed. She washed her body quickly and then rinsed her hair with some conditioner before stepping out. Glory was there with a towel, rubbing at her hair. “I can do that.”