Page 70 of The Virgin I Desire

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and closed it into a fist, hitting the insolent man with a punch right in the pit of the stomach. He leaned forward and I threw another punch, causing a trickle of blood to run from his mouth.

“I want an answer.”

“You shouldn't be the Pakhan.”

“Save my time.”

He closed his mouth and blood began to flow before he spat out a piece of his tongue that fell at my feet. The unfortunate man had self-mutilated himself so as not to speak.

I took a few steps back, removed the blade that was embedded in another's chest and passed it across the unfortunate man's neck. My soldiers released him, and he fell to the ground choking on his own blood.

Due to his courage, I had killed him quickly, but I still had no answers about who wanted to kill me and that was already the second attack. I didn't know what worried me more, my enemies or the fact that Pietra had been promised to a man who wasn't me. In either case, I would do whatever I could to get anyone out of my way.

Chapter thirty

I stuck my fork into a caper on the corner of my plate. I threw it in my mouth as I noticed the pink color of the salmon and my mind flew away.

I was gathered at the dinner table with almost the entire family, I felt that this was the perfect moment to present my incredible proposal for an alliance with the Russians. However, I could almost hear Perla's voice saying that I was the only one who thought it was a good alternative.

Italians didn't like Russians and that was the whole story. We had rules that they broke, we honored the families they destroyed. I should have been afraid of Mikhail, but outside of my house, he was the person who gave me the most security. In his eyes I could see how he felt about me. His attitudes spoke more than words.

“Pietra!”

“Hm...” I shook my head, turning it towards Dante and realized that my brother was talking to me. “What?”

“Pass me the oil.”

“Here.”

“That way you'll be left out of dessert.” He laughed.

“Pietra must be very focused on her studies,” my mother said, and I nodded, taking a piece of the fish and throwing it into my mouth, as an excuse to not have to talk anymore.

Even though my distraction had nothing to do with my studies, I accepted the excuse that everyone seemed to handle well.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I grabbed it.

Mikhail:

I will wait for you in the same place.

Pietra:

Deal.

I smiled broadly when I read the message, but soon I had to suppress the involuntary act to avoid attracting any more attention from my family.

“No cell phones during dinner, Pietra,” my grandmother scolded.

“Sorry.” I put it away again.

I didn't even want to imagine what could happen if my father even dreamed about who I was corresponding with. Fortunately, Uncle Mateo shouldn't be spying on me, otherwise they would have already done something.

“I want to have a party,” my father announced.

“Party?” Perla asked, excited.

“To make your engagements official.”

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