Page 5 of Mafia And Maid

“Where the fuck are you?” he slurs as I rush toward the kitchen.

Dread makes bile rise in my throat. Dinner has been under the warmer in a foolish attempt to keep it warm for him.

“Stop hiding, you pathetic excuse for a wife!” he yells.

I’m in the kitchen in the next instance, my gaze at my feet.

“There you are, bitch.”He may look on the outside like a gentleman with unlimited wealth, a refined voice, and impeccable manners, but it took only the duration of my wedding night to discover that he’s really a drunken predator with a hair trigger.

I tremble but don’t say anything.

Because nothing I say will do any good.

“What the fuck did I say about keeping the house clean?”

A small sound escapes my throat despite how hard I squeeze my lips together.

“And what the fuck is this? Chicken, again? I thought I told you I don’t want to eat that dry shit anymore!” he roars. His yells echo around the kitchen before his large hand clamps onto my arm and drags me out of the room.

My blood roars in my ears and blocks out any other sound except the terrified thump of my heart.

“What the fuck is this?”

He shoves me forward into the banister as I frantically search for what he’s talking about. It’s polished just the way he likes it. The wood gleams with not a single speck of dirt on it.

“You’re a useless piece of shit!” He shoves me harder into the banister.

And I see it. On the wooden stairs is the large paperweight from his study. Ethan must have been playing with it on the staircase earlier in the day.

“I-I…” I try to find my voice as his harsh grasp squeezes my jaw.

“You what?” His breath reeks of alcohol as it brushes against my face. “You’re a fucking waste of space. Can’t cook. Can’t clean. You can’t even keep yourself in shape, you fat bitch.”

I whimper as his hand squeezes harder.

He grabs my hip and pulls me into him. “Who would want to fuck someone like you? It makes me sick every time I even think about your naked body.”

He releases me. And for a second, I think it’s over. I think the worst has passed.

Grayden bends down to pick up the glass paperweight. When I see it clutched in his fist, I brace for the impact, cursing myself for flinching.

Nothing.

I blink. And I see fury ignite his eyes as he stumbles down the hallway.

I’m rooted to the floor, trembling, before my mind can process what’s happening.

A strangled sound lodges in my throat as I scramble forward.No. No. No!

He lumbers into the living room.

And I can just about see the paperweight raised in his hold before it sails through the air, smacking into the wall just behind Ethan and shattering.

I hear the snarl in his voice. But it’s the tiny whimper that spurs me into action. He’s never gone for Ethan like this before.

Desperation flings me down the hall behind Grayden. And love causes my arms to wrap around Ethan, bowing my body over his.

He picks up the paperweight again and hurls it at me.

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