Page 15 of The Mob Boss' Pet

I bolt for the stairs.

“Stephania!” I hear his roar, but my feet are still moving. I jump off the last three steps onto the landing. A pain shoots up my calf. In a second, I find the front door and take off toward it.

In all my panting and running, and my panicked heartbeat in my ears, I don’t hear Vincenzo’s movements. I grab the door handle, twisting the knob with both hands and yank it toward me. Light from the front porch pours into the dimly lit entranceway.

Freedom is right there, within my grasp.

But I’m yanked away with a strong arm wrapping around my middle. I scream as I’m lifted off my feet and captured in a bear hug. I can’t flail. Kicking my legs out and pummeling the arm around me, I fight for my freedom.

“You’re in enough trouble, stop it.” Vincenzo’s dangerous tone fuels my panic. Another kick of my leg, and I knock on the door, slamming it shut.

“That’s enough!” He slams me down to the floor. My ass hits the marble flooring, and I scramble back. Maybe I can still get away.

He sinks his fist into my hair and yanks me back to my feet. I grab at his hand, trying to free myself of the painful grip, but he only tightens his hold.

“I said, enough.” His eyes have gone wide with fury, but it’s his voice that sends hot fear coursing down my spine. Calm. Controlled. Dangerous.

“Let me go!” I try to raise my voice, but my throat clamps around the words, making it sound more like a whimper.

He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me as though he’s calculating the next move. Decisions are being made. And finally, with a curt nod my fate is fixed.

Without releasing my hair, he turns us and starts walking back up the steps. In order to keep from falling, I keep up with him, trying to release some of the pressure on my scalp. It burns, but he’s not relenting.

It’s easier once we’re back in the hallway to keep up with him, but he won’t let me straighten up. He’s walking me bent over. When we get to the corner, I expect him to turn, to take me back to my room, but he doesn’t.

Instead, he goes to the room beside mine. The corner room. Vincenzo shoves the door open and drags me inside, kicking it shut once we’ve cleared the doorway.

I can barely look at my surroundings, but I get a glimpse of where he’s taking me.

A cage.

“No!” I grab his wrist and struggle to get free of his grip.

He ignores me. Or isn’t fazed.

A metallic creak sounds and then I’m shoved further down on the floor.

“Get in.” He releases my hair only to push me forward. I stumble and fall to my knees.

“No.” I shake my head, but my voice cracks with the single word. I can’t go in there.

“Stephania, get in your cage or I’ll rip your clothes off, punish you, and shove you in there anyway.” He’s not acting out of fury or uncontrollable rage. Worse is how at ease he sounds. Like in this moment, he’s showing me who he really is. This man, standing beside this metal cage, forcing me to crawl inside is the true Vincenzo Manetto.

I swallow back another plea and shift to my hands and knees. With only a quick glance ahead of me, I start moving and crawl inside. Solid flooring lines the bottom, but the rest is metal bars. Similar to the crate we had for my childhood dog, Basher.

As soon as I get inside, the door slams shut behind me. I maneuver myself around to face the door, gripping the bars as Vincenzo squats before me, slipping the lock in place. A padlock. It clicks in place and I bring my tear-filled eyes to meet Vincenzo’s.

There’s a calm in his expression that wasn’t there before.

“I knew you’d look good in there,” he taunts me. “Like it was made for you.” He slips one finger through the bars and catches a tear on my cheek. Bringing it to his lips, he smiles as he licks away the drop. “I’ll be back once everything arrives. Try to behave while I’m gone. You already have one hell of a punishment coming your way before bed.”

“Vincenzo... wait... I’m sorry!” I call out to him as he stalks to the bedroom door. “Please!”

The door shuts quietly, a moment later the lights in the room go out and my breath dies in my chest.

I had one chance.

And I failed.

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