Page 152 of Monster in Disguise

"What do you mean? Why are you doing this?"

"Why?" She laughs hysterically before slapping me again. A ring catches in my lip, and I feel a rip. Damn! "It's all because of you." Her eyes are manic, her nostrils flaring with anger.

"What did I do to you?" I never understood her attitude. I can even count on one hand how many times we've interacted before, and never was I anything but courteous to her.

"You stole Enzo from me. Don't think I don't know. He's been visiting youweeklyat that fucking convent. No brother, not even a concerned one, would do that. You think I don't know you've been fucking him?"

What is wrong with her?

She keeps on going with her delusions, implying that I'd been staying at Sacre Coeur so I could have illicit assignations with my own brother. What in God's mercy is that reasoning?

The more she talks, the sicker she sounds.

"Enzo is my brother. How can you even say that?" I ask, repulsed by the very thought.

"You..." She spits out, coming closer and jabbing her finger in my forehead. "You are the reason he rejected me. You... you..." Her words are hurried and incoherent. "You made him hate me."

"Allegra, do you hear yourself? Enzo is my brother, for God's sake! There's been no impropriety between us." I try to reason with her, but she becomes even more volatile, her grip bruising as she wraps her fingers around my neck. She's sputtering so much nonsense that I become lost.

"... after he's done with you, I'm going to enjoy breaking you." Her mouth turns into a twisted smile, and I can only see a deranged person acting on delusions. Good Lord, does Enzo know? But then I suddenly catch what she's saying.

"Who's he?"

She chuckles, falling back on her butt and laughing.

"He's going to play with you first. And I get to watch." I don't understand what she's saying, but the more time I spend in her presence, the more afraid I get. She's mad, and that means she's unpredictable. Does anyone know I'm missing? What about Claudia and Luca? Are they at home, or did she take them somewhere too?

Both Allegra and I turn our heads as footsteps echo down the hall. Soon, the figure of a man dressed in a suit appears in the doorway. Allegra jumps to her feet and dashes to his side, wrapping her hands around his neck and peppering him with kisses.

"Enough!" He raises his palm to stop her.

"Why?" Allegra pulls a face, but the man simply pushes her aside, heading straight for me.

"And the girl?"

"I don't care about the brat." Allegra shrugs, her expression bored.

The man turns towards her, his expression murderous.

"What did I tell you, Allegra?"

She straightens herself, probably realizing the displeasure in his voice.

"To get Catalina and Claudia." She lowers her head in subservience, a first.

Who is this man?

"And?"

"I couldn't be bothered looking around the house for her. She was easy to get." She points at me, puckering her lips like a spoiled child.

"You disobeyed me." The man simply states, unbuckling his belt.

"I'm sorry, Master." Allegra suddenly says, getting on her hands and knees.

"You need to be punished." The man's steps are calm and measured. He reaches behind Allegra, and in a smooth swipe, he slides the belt over her back. There's a piercing sound as the leather meets her back, but she doesn't even whimper. In fact, if I look closely, I can see her purring.

What?

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