Page 93 of Maddest Temptation

“So you can do what you are supposed to!” he shouted, taking another step towards me. “You’re my daughter and you’ll do what I tell you to.”

Daughter. Now he remembered I was his daughter.

“You mean spread my legs and bear children? Well, father, I’m already doing the first, maybe I’ll end up accomplishing the second.”

For someone so fat and old, he moved incredibly quick; before I could even blink, his hands were around my neck. I grabbed his hands with my own, trying to fight him in case he decided to squeeze.”

“Open your eyes, Francesca.” He shoved me back, making me stumble on my dress and hit the wall with force. “Cassio only wants one thing and that’s not you. He has given me permission to marry you off as soon as I wish to.”

“W-what?”

“I told you, cara mia,” he chuckled. “Cassio is a man of business. So am I, when the time is right, I’ll marry you off to a boss’ son.”

He let go of me. Instantly, my legs gave out, and I fell to the floor with a crunching bang. I didn’t feel the impact, there was nothing inside me. In that moment, everything came crashing back. The pictures Marco showed me, Donato’s meeting with the Russians.

“That’s…that’s betrayal,” I looked up.

He lifted my chin and held it with force. “If you open that mouth of yours, dear daughter, I will make sure everyone you care for is punished for your sins. I won’t be so inclined to be nice. That little friend of yours, what a lovely woman. It would be a pity if she was killed.” He let me go, the threat lingering in the air. “Oh, and before I forget.” He pulled something from his pocket, and I froze.

I felt something hit me and then fall to the floor. I picked it up and looked at it, the Ziplock was filled with a whitish powder. Not just any powder, I knew it just by looking. Coke.

“Who says I’m not a caring father?” He left me there and left.

I reached the parking lot on trembling legs. My entire body shook, and I couldn’t seem to control it. Everyone who passed me by looked like blurry figures; I couldn’t make out a single face. The doorman opened the door for me, and I finally reached outside, breathing in the chilly night air. I leaned against the stone rail and took one minute to focus.

“Francesca!” I looked back.

Oh God.

“Francesca,” Gianluca called out to me as he quickened his pace to reach me.

Looking back at the parking lot before me, I didn’t see anyone else and I didn’t really have a way to leave, so I couldn’t just run from him. I had seen Gianluca earlier at the party and he even came to talk to me as though nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t forced himself on me.

“You’re leaving?”

“That was the plan.” I looked at the cars again.

“You okay? You seem off.”

“Couldn’t be better.” I looked back and smiled again, trying not to force it.

He shrugged. “Wanna go clubbing?”

My jaw dropped slightly, and I scoffed. Was he that delusional? A shiver raced down my back. I didn’t want to be alone with him, but returning to the party wasn’t an option either. “Thanks, but I’m leaving.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun.”

“Gianluca,” I warned. “Just leave me alone.”

“I heard you used to be fun,” he said in disdain.

“I used to be high most of the time.” I snapped wishing he would leave.

“I can see you still are.” He looked at my hand.

I instantly put it back behind my back. Fuck. How long had I been holding it like this for everyone to see? I looked around, but again, there was no one but us out here. Gianluca laughed out loud as if he were having the time of his life.

“No need for innocence now.” He went to touch me, but I moved away. “How long are you going to pretend, Francesca?”

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