Page 145 of King of Obsession

It took a good hour of dry heaving and shaking on the tiny cot in the room before I shook off the disgust of the assault.

Through the night, I tossed and turned, mind racing, wondering when Alessio would come for me.

For I was certain he would. Thinking of my man’s unyielding, brawling spirit was like oxygen, giving me life and filling me with hope.

Hours later, footsteps echoed in the corridor beyond, and the lock on the door to my cell jiggled as a key was rotated.

I braced as the metal entryway was pushed open.

Franco stepped with a cold sneer on his face.

He fuckin’ made my blood boil, and I rushed him with a hook and sidekick, ready to hit the fucker once more.

Rocco, who’d eased in behind his father, ducked around Franco, encircling my waist.

I thrashed harder against the lean as a whip man, heedless of his blows and slaps.

‘You fucking bitch,’ he called out, slamming me onto the far wall.

I cried out as my head bounced off, stars exploding in my vision.

Rocco seized a fistful of my hair, wrenching my head back, eyes glittered with malice as he shoved me to my knees before him. ‘Not so tough now, are you, whore?’ he sneered.

Franco stepped in, lifting a hand. ‘Don’t call her that. Not when she’s about to be my bride.’

Rocco backed off with a scowl as I sliced my eyes away from the pair of them, blinking back tears of agony.

I would not let them fall, for they’d never see my pain.

‘The ceremony is at 8 a.m.’

‘Fuck off.’

Franco ignored my spirited response, instead tossing a package on the bed.

‘Dress, shoes, veil, wear them.’

He turned to leave.

I glared at him, then opened my mouth, needing answers. ‘Why? Why are you so obsessed with me? Why go into all this trouble? All these years?’

Franco laughed, the sinister light in his eyes fading to my surprise, revealing a desperate, almost love-sick expression.

He raked his strange, dark, glittering eyes over me in a mix of affection and viciousness that was downright creepy.

‘Cleo Michele, you’re the one female I’ve never stopped thinking about. Call it a wild attachment I’ve never been able to let go of. I knew we were meant to be since I first noticed you as a child. I’m obsessed with you. I craved your attention. Iprayed for any glimpse of you. I even forgave you the previous two times you escaped from me and for your attack last night. Because I am convinced that with you in my life, I will be a better version of me and someone you will cherish.’

Silence fell as I regarded him, feeling my anger ebb a little, replaced by scorn for his loathsomeness.

‘Never, ever will I love a pedophile, a pervert, a kidnapper, and an outright sadist. One who’s fuckin out of his mind thinking he’s joined a pantheon of dad-bodded, middle-aged creeps and their lissome, millennial lovers. Who fantasizes and fetishizes about the glory and admiration that he imagines will be in my eyes when I look at him. To be real, I’d rather kill myself than be with you.’

Franco’s eyes dilated, his mouth contorting, before he lowered his voice into a feral whisper. ‘You’ve no choice, Cleo. The rings are set to be exchanged, and they’ll bind you to me and grant us the life I’ve always wanted. With you.’

His eyes glittered with madness as he swept aside his vest to show me his gun.

‘I also have ways to compel you to give me what I want,’ he crowed on. ‘So please be ready when Rocco comes for you.’

The older man’s fingers reached for mine, fumbling for my hand, the roughness of his skin scraping against mine before I snatched it away.

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