Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Every muscle in my body quakes, I’m so fucking angry. Angry with her for taking his side. Angry with her father for killing my mother. And angry with myself for letting all of this happen. Unfortunately for Elena, she is the only one here to direct my anger at.
“You can say just about anything you fucking want to me, but do not fucking compare me to him! I’m nothing like your father,” I say through clenched teeth. My hands are balled up into fists so tight, my nails dig into my palms painfully to ebb some of the rage away.
Her beautiful face goes ghostly pale, and her mouth pops open like she is about to say something, but no sound comes out. There is nothing for her to say, and even if there was, I’m past the point of reasoning.
“I don’t care what you say. I will kill your piece of shit, father. I will marry you, and you will be mine. You will obey me and do as I say, or I will chain you to the bed for the rest of your fucking life. Don’t tempt me, Elena. If you want to see how big of a monster I can be, then just try and stop me.”
Grabbing my pants off the floor, I slip into them and storm out of the room, slamming the door with a ferociousness that makes the walls shake. My fingers shake, and rage boils over as I slide the lock into place and walk down the hall and away from her. I need a breather to get away before I do something I can’t take back.
After pounding my fists against the punching bag in the gym for an hour and taking a cold shower in the guest room, I feel somewhat composed.
I was harsh with Elena earlier, maybe too harsh, but I needed her to see her father for who he truly was. I need her to accept that I will be the one to end her father’s life, and I refuse to feel bad about that. She should hate him for leaving her lying limp against the floor at the bottom of the stairs, for selling her to me, but it seems she is far more loyal than I ever expected her to be.
In time, she will understand.
Before I go back to the room, I stop at my office and call Father Petro. It’s late, and I know my call might wake him, but I don’t have the patience to wait until tomorrow morning to call and discuss our union of marriage.
“Hello?” he answers after it rings for what seems like a long time.
“Father Petro, this is Julian Moretti. I apologize for the late-night call, but I need you to come to my estate tomorrow morning. The wedding you were to perform three weeks ago is going to be taking place. It can’t wait any longer.”
“I understand,” he murmurs, and I can almost see him nodding his head through the phone. “I’ll be there at nine in the morning, is that good?”
“Perfect. Have a good night, Father.” Ending the call, I feel a little bit lighter than before. Scribbling on a sticky note, I head back down the stairs and stop in the kitchen and leave a note for Celeste and Marie to be prepared for a ceremony on the terrace right before breakfast. I already informed Lucca about the changes, which means everything is set in place.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow Elena will become my wife.
She’ll be bound to me until death, bound by an unbreakable vow.
I hold onto that thought, letting it calm me when I enter our bedroom a short while later. Elena lies on the bed, the lamp on the nightstand on. The soft glow illuminates the entire room. My eyes move without will to her form, which is wrapped in a blanket.
The washcloth and handcuffs are on the floor next to the bed, a reminder of what I did to her earlier—my cock twitches in my shorts at the memory. I didn’t expect her to come from anal, especially since it was her first time, but fuck me if it wasn’t the hottest damn thing. It’s nothing more but another reminder of how perfect she is.
No other woman will ever be able to compete with her, which is why she will be mine. Forever. Starting tomorrow.
“I know you’re not asleep,” I say as I strip out of my shorts and T-shirt.
“I never said I was,” she snaps without looking up at me. “What else am I supposed to do besides lie in bed if you lock me in the room?”
Smirking at her response, I slip into the bed beside her. Her body stiffens as I pull her into my chest. She actually tries to push me away, but that only makes me hold her tighter. Burying my face in her hair, I breathe deeply, letting her succulent scent ease the rolling hills of anger away. Every time I see her, I think of her father, and I’m reminded that he is out there still living, breathing, and that I have failed to make good on my honor to my mother.