Page 62 of Maddest Temptation

All eyes were on me like this was some grand spectacle. My father looked both enraged and annoyed. Enzo and Gianluca were both watching me with interest, the kind I did not want to attract.

“Francesca,” my father said, my name on his lips were offensive.

“We have matters to discuss.”

“Is that how you talk to your father?” he snapped. “Have you learned nothing?”

“Yes, father, I did learn quite a few things lately.” I chuckled dryly.

“I see you have finally figured out how to use that brain of yours.” He mocked.

“Took me a while, but better late than never.” I replied.

“I see your husband forgot to teach you manners, I’ll make sure to remedy that.”

“No need, I’m not here to stay,” I pointed out. “You can get off your high horse.”

Gianluca whistled and Enzo shook his head and looked at me like I had committed the worst mistake ever. No one had ever dared talk to Donato that way, at least no woman ever had. But if he thought I was going to cower from him, then he was wrong. Women in the Outfit were taught never to raise their voices to their husbands and fathers. Pity I didn’t give a shit.

I was used to the heavy hand of my late husband. After a while, his threats and beatings lost their power over me. The pain would still linger afterward, but the fear that once gripped me tightly lost its power.

“If you know what’s best for you, you’ll shut that whore’s mouth of yours.”

I chuckled dryly. “That’s old, Papa,” I provoked. “You thought I was a whore when I was five and wore a church dress. When I was fifteen and wore long dresses. It’s time to come up with another name for me, don’t you think?”

“My sharp-tongued daughter,” he smiled murderously.

I smiled.

“What do you want, Francesca? I have better things to do than listen to whatever comes out of your mouth.”

“You disgust me, Donato.” I lifted my head and stared at him down my nose. “You are a fucking asshole; you have no right to call yourself a man. You are nothing but a coward?—”

His chair scrapped against the floor and hit the wall behind him. Donato was up on his feet in an instant coming my way. My sweet little brother got up, too, and stood between my father and me.

“Get the fuck out of my face, boy!” But Marco stood his ground.

“Does he know?” I kept on going, once I opened my mouth I couldn’t stop. It was like opening the doors to a dam. “Does he know you could have given mother your liver, but you refused?”

“What?” Marco looked at me.

“Marco,” Donato warned but he didn’t move. He raised his hand and Marco flinched ready for the blow.

“Go ahead, hit him you coward. Hit your son for being a better man than you will ever be,” I provoked him further, knowing I was poking the bear with a very short stick.

Donato pushed Marco aside and he fell on the floor before he could reach me again. Enzo grabbed hold of my brother and didn’t let go. Donato stopped before me and grabbed my face with his meaty fingers.

“So brave, aren’t you?” He dug his fingers deeper. “So noble.” His putrid breath made me sick. He let go of me, and I didn’t have time to react before he slapped me hard.

I fell to the floor, hitting my knees, pain shot through them causing me to cry out. I clutched my left cheek; it felt like a million tiny needles were entering my skin. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of staying down. I stood up and stared right back at him, making sure Donato knew that in my heart, I carried enough hatred for him that I could fill an ocean.

“Out,” he snapped. “Before I kill you.”

“No,” I shouted. I turned to Marco, my brother had been thrashing in Enzo’s arms, but he didn’t have the strength to break free.

That’s when my father removed his gun from its holster and pointed at me. Air got stuck in my lungs and my heart stopped beating. I stared at the barrel of the gun, the black hole looking back. Donato’s finger was on the trigger. In the distance, I heard someone screaming, but the sound of my pulse was too loud in my ears.

“You won’t shoot,” I managed, my voice calmer then I expected.

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