Page 22 of Her Overprotective Fiance

My stomach starts cramping, but I'm not sure if it's out of fear or something else.

"I'm not sure what Maryse told you," I begin awkwardly, "but—-"

"It was enough."

What the hell did that mean?

"Nonnaand I had wanted to give you time to adjust," Giancarlo murmurs, "and it was why we had chosen to look the other way on certain...occasions."

Oh, so that's how they call it.

School suspensions are butoccasions,if you wish to keep things politically correct.

"What we did not expect, however, was for you to see this as a weakness on our part instead."

Whoa!

"I didn't say any such thing," I protest right away. "I just thought—-"

"We know what you said," Giancarlo says silkily.

"Then surely—-"

"You told your friend Nonna and I werelenient."

He says the last word like it's blasphemy of the worst kind, and I'm completely at a loss. How is being lenient—-

"Acts of kindness, we are not ashamed of. Butleniency?In ourfamiglia,that is no different from one who is idle and without discipline."

Oh.

Well.

Shit.

"If you think uslenient,then it's clear you no longer require time to adjust."

I suddenly feel like I've dug my own grave without meaning to. "Um—-"

"As such, this is how we'll proceed moving forward,signorina."

Massimo is smirking again.This, I gotta hear,the look on his face says, and seeing it has my teeth grinding against each other.

Grr!

I can't believe I was once so stupid as to wish this guy would treat me like his sister from another mo—-

"Everyone knows you are a part of ourfamiglia, and while you may dress as you see fit,Nonnaexpects you to display proper decorum when it comes to your speech and behavior. Disobedience willnotbe tolerated and shall be punished accordingly. Are we clear on this,signorina?"

A part of me wants to give him the middle finger, but instead, I find myself nodding.

What the fuck's happening to me?

"As for your responsibilities to ourfamiglia,you will know soon enough that we all have our part to play, and your training underNonnaherself shall commence once you are of age. For now, however, a respectable academic performance will be appreciated. Are we also clear on this,signorina?"

I nod again.

"Do you have any objections so far?"

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