Page 47 of The Last Vendetta

She lifted her hand to slap me, but I deflected it. Before Dario was injured, he and Francis taught me more than the basics of self-defense.

“You should know your fucking place, Giulia.” She flung her arm back, seething.

“I do know my place.”

“Then shut up about this. You won’t get out of this arrangement. You will marry Nickolas and spare me from ever having to put up with your impertinence ever again.”

What about my sisters?

What about Dario?

What about… me?

“He’s a monster,” I told her. Trying to win her sympathy wouldn’t work. She’d made up her twisted mind, but I had to speak up.

“They’re all monsters. Monsters or weak fools, like your father was.”

I shook my head. No. “Nickolas isn’t someone I can marry.”

“It’s not a matter of whether you can. You will.”

“He’s…” I panicked, swallowing down the whining sound that clawed at my throat. Too many memories filed through my mind. All those rumors and stories. “He’s a sadistic asshole.”

She huffed.

“All that stuff about that whore,” I reminded her.

“Luka was with that woman when she died. I heard it was suicide, anyway.”

“Because of how Nickolas tortured her!”

Was this her way of saying she didn’t care if I died after staying with Nickolas?

“Then I suppose you should try to prepare yourself now for what’s coming.”

How can you be so cruel? So heartless and unloving?

“You should know by now that no man who is fit to be your husband will be a soft, pathetic gentleman. That’s not the way this world works. So get your mind off the thought of a ridiculous fairytale ending.”

“I don’t want a fairytale. I want to live without fearing my husband!”

Over her shoulder, I caught a glimpse of Renzo sneaking through the hedges. I should’ve been shocked that he was trespassing—again. That man knew no bounds to taking risks where I was concerned. But seeing him here meant he’d overheard this death sentence.

Exactly what he’d tried to give me a warning about.

“Don’t be such a child,” Mother scolded. “You’re going to marry Nickolas and spread your legs for him to bear him a child. Whether you want to or not.”

My lungs seized. I couldn’t breathe. The mere thought of enduring anything from Nickolas pushed me toward a colossal breakdown.

Never.

Renzo was forceful with me. But I enjoyed it. I felt so full and alive under his forbidden touch, and I yearned for him again. Despite the punishing attitude he’d had when he pushed me to the bed, I knew he’d been doing it with affection.

It would be the opposite with Nickolas.

And I vowed not to find out.

Back by a tall length of hedges, Renzo hid in the shadows.

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