Page 28 of Desperate Decisions

“There’s our woman of the hour.” Bianca crooked her finger, gesturing for me to move closer.

I glanced at Elio.

Bianca tutted. “I see someone needs to learn the hierarchy around here. Come.”

I moved toward her like my feet were made of lead, every step filling me with dread. I didn’t dare look at any of the others, not when her predatory brown eyes were fixed on me.

She nudged her chair back and patted her thigh. "Sit.” When I hesitated, her hand whipped out to grab the front of my shirt and yank me closer. “I said sit.”

With my heart in my throat, I turned and perched my ass on her leg. Panic thrummed through me, so strong I could barely breathe.

Bianca nudged me around so my legs dangled between hers and she could wrap her arm around my waist. “I don’t know what the fuss is about. Barely any scent to her. Bony little ass too. But it was enough for you to betray me?”

Elio looked like he was about ready to light Bianca on fire.

“Can I have her?” Enzo interrupted. “I can tell you what all the fuss is about before I head out to hunt the Cafaro bitch.”

Bianca burst out laughing. “Perfect. She’ll get in the way of me eating anyway. Go sit with Enzo.” She dug her nails into my ass cheek and I yelped, awkwardly scrambling off her lap.

He snared me around the wrist and dragged me onto his lap, facing away from Bianca. His mouth scraped over my ear, a harsh whisper putting me at ease. “Give her a show, little one. I won’t hurt you, but you need to struggle.”

Apparently his definition of not hurting me did not include the sharp bite on my earlobe that had me squeaking and trying to leap away from him. His grip was too strong, my wiggling and cursing doing nothing except entertaining Bianca. Whenever I caught a glimpse of her, she was sipping her wine with the most amused expression on her face. Elio’s hand rested on my knee, a silent comfort.

Bianca grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me back, tracing my cheek with her thumb. “What’s the matter, pet? One underboss should be as good as the others. Maybe they should all sample you and see if you were worth the punishment?”

No one moved an inch. I was frozen, suspended and kept from toppling to the ground by Enzo’s arm beneath me.

“Marco can have his turn when I’m done.” Enzo pulled me back onto his lap and adjusted me so I was facing forward as our plates for supper came through in the hands of multiple staff. He wedged me between his legs and kept a firm hold on my throat, feeding me bites that had me burning with humiliation while Bianca carried on a conversation as if I weren’t being manhandled next to her.

It was at least enough that Bianca didn’t reach for me again, but my mind was still racing with panic. Elio hadn’t told me if Enzo was someone we could trust or not. All I had to go on was his promise he wouldn’t hurt me, but I had no idea how truthful that would be.

Elio looked so tense he might snap in half if he moved. A muscle in his jaw twitched and his eyes were alight with fire, but he stayed still, appearing dutiful.

“Scream,” Enzo whispered in my ear. Before I could ask what I was meant to scream over, he wrenched my knees apart and clapped his hand down on my thigh, gripping hard enough to bruise. I shrieked, cracking my ribs on the table when I jolted forward, trying to get away.

Whatever his promises, Enzo was clearly having fun if the hard cock wedged against my ass and the thick scent of limoncello and sunbaked stone in my nose was any indication. He toyed with me all the way through to dessert, and by then I was sweaty and confused, shaking and aching in multiple ways. What the fucking fuck?

When dinner was over, Enzo scooped me right off my feet and carried me out, calling back, “I’ll let you know how she is in the morning before I go.”

I bucked in his arms, trying desperately to get away, but Enzo was easily the biggest of the underbosses, his strength visible in every inch of his body. I screamed my way through the halls until we entered his suite and he dropped me on his bed, the door slamming shut behind him.

“Easy does it. I’m not planning on raping you.”

“You got pretty fucking close, Enzo.”

He only shrugged. “You’re safer now. Bianca had to be convinced, and Elio had to be able to sit there like a good boy and not intervene so she doesn’t suspect he’ll disobey orders again. Best of both worlds.”

“Fuck you.”

Enzo laughed. “I’m not your enemy here. I may not understand what the fuck happened between you and Elio, but I know he’s not stupid enough to fuck up that hard. He told me he couldn’t control it, and I believe him. Bianca can be unreasonable when she thinks someone’s loyalty is called into question, especially this high up in the ranks. If this soothes her, then I’m happy to play my part.”

“Could’ve played it a little softer,” I grumbled.

“I wasn’t sure how good of an actor you’d be. If it wasn’t convincing, it would’ve been both our hides.” Enzo approached me slowly. “The doors aren’t soundproof enough for you to be silent in here, little one. Apologies in advance.”

He lunged for me and I screamed bloody murder. It didn’t matter that he had told me I was safe; my instincts were freaking the fuck out. Enzo dragged me off the bed by my ankles and scooped me up, pressing me up against the back of the door. I cursed him out and his fist landed next to me, sending me spiraling into panic. With a bit more stomping, screaming, and swearing, he finally let me sit back down.

I curled in a ball, trying not to cry.

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