Page 31 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

“What did he say?” I ask eagerly.

“Your father sold you off to one of his rivals.” He says, his voice tight with anger.

“Lenny Malone?” I say, putting the pieces together. “Why would he ever do that? That man is the darkest type of monster known to man.”

Nevio nods, his eyes drifting over my body.

“Your father told your brother that the family was in some kind of trouble and he had to make a deal with Malone to keep them safe. He sold you - you were the deal.”

My chest feels so tight it’s getting harder to breathe. I sit up in the bath and press my hand against my heart.

“My father sold me to that man - “ I whisper, trying to process what it means. “But Mas — “

“Mas bet you in that poker game on purpose. He thought that if he could drunkenly ‘lose’ you, then at least you would end up married and out of Malone’s reach.”

I nod, but the tears are streaming down my cheeks. I understand why my brother did what he did - it was the only thing he could think to do in that situation - but the idea of my father trading me off like I was stock - it makes me sick inside.

How can someone do that to their own family?

He could have asked me. He could have told me what was going on and I might have gone willingly. But to do it behind my back as though I meant nothing. And he still hasn’t spoken to me since then. No explanation, no words of comfort -

“Where is my father?” I snap, feeling heated anger flood me and replace the self-pity.

“No one knows. He is in hiding. Or - or Malone found him.” Nevio shrugs.

I sink back into the water, needing the warm embrace again. My thoughts are racing.

“I want to speak to him. I need to know why. I need to know what was so worth it for him to sell me to a man that he knew would kill me. My life. He traded something for his own daughter’s life.” My words choke in the back of my throat and I can’t speak anymore.

Suddenly I am sobbing, heart wrenching, painful sobs of misery that flood out of me in loud cries.

Nevio hesitates, unsure what to do, but then he leans into the water, lifts me back into his arms and pulls me onto his lap, dripping wet, soaking his clothes.

He wraps a warm, soft white towel around me and rocks me back and forth as he sits on the bathroom floor.

I cry until I can’t cry anymore. Nevio doesn’t stop comforting me.

Finally, when my tears are no longer falling, he stands up, lifting me with him, and carries me to the bedroom.

He finds comfortable clothing for me to wear and dresses me, his hands brushing against my naked skin, his eyes wandering over me the entire time he is moving and my heart beginning to pulse with a new fever.

I grab his wrist.

He pauses, looking concerned or confused.

Then, without warning, I slam my lips against his and start pulling his wet clothes off.

Layer by layer, I strip him down because all I want to do is feel his skin against mine. I want the touch of his body. Nothing between us.

He lifts me and throws me onto the bed when we are both naked again.

He grabs the blankets and wraps them over both of us, lying his body over mine, his hands beginning to explore me.

Chapter Sixteen

NEVIO

Iam doing my best to treat her with respect, to comfort her, to take care of her despite this untamed urge I have at the sheer sight of her naked skin.

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