Page 43 of Wicked Games of Desire

“No, you just had me believe my brother was dead.” I push past him, so sick of the bullshit. My plan has already gone out the door. I can’t control my anger toward him.

“It wasn’t supposed to go down the way it did,” he growls out like I’m pushing him to the verge of losing it completely.

I spin back to face him, a fresh wave of anger coursing through my veins. “Oh yeah? Then what was supposed to happen?” My hands fly to my hips defensively. He can’t talk his way out of this. I would never treat someone the way he treated me.

“We never intended to hurt you. If you’d listened to Ricky instead of taking off, you would have been safe in our hands, not scared and on the run all this time. You would have known your brother was alive and well, and we could have taken care of you until he returned.”

He paints such a different picture to the one I know to be true. How dare he turn this all around on me! “Why scare the shit out of me first? You could have just told me what was going on. Any of you could have. That night haunts me in a way I’ll never get over, even now that I know my brother’s alive. Can you even fathom what that would be like?” Angry tears prickle in my eyes. Memories flash through my head. The utter terror I felt hearing them kill my family. Thinking I was next.

“For six fucking months, I thought you could be dead,” he roars. “Thought the fucking D’Amicos had you. I know exactly the pain you experienced. I had to go on every day thinking I would never see you again and it was all my fault.”

Our eyes lock, and I find myself mesmerized by the darkness I see. His pain, the longing. He was really worried about me; he just has a fucked-up way of showing it and that pisses me off even more. “You don’t give a fuck about me. Don’t pretend you do. I can marry you knowing what this is, knowing I’m doing it to protect my brother, but don’t lie to me and tell me we’re something we’re not. That you care about me when I know you don’t.” My words shake out as my fists clench, my body so tight with anger I’m ready to lash out at him.

“I’m not lying about this, Harley. After your papa sent you away, I did everything I could to get you back.” He shakes his head. “You were back home because I wanted you here. What happened at your papa’s house was all a setup to eliminate a larger problem and send a warning. If anyone had known what we had planned, it could have compromised the entire operation. It’s why Marco couldn’t tell you until it was done. You never should have run from us.”

“My papa?” My voice trembles with pain understanding the realty of his words. “You thought I would tell him? You and Marco don’t trust me?”

He takes my hand, lacing his fingers with mine and I let him, feeling some of the tension lift from my body instantly. “I know he was your beloved papa, but Stefano was a lying piece of shit. He double-crossed us and got involved with the D’Amicos. Thought he could work on both sides, undercutting prices and siphoning product, and who fucking knows what else he was up to with them. He started a fucking war, one I intend to put an end to, but first we had to deal with him, without him knowing what was coming.” He strokes my hand softly, as I stare back at him wishing he just told me all of this in the first place. “That included you, princess.”

“But Marco, why did you make it look like he was dead?” His hand skates up my arm cupping my chin, I suck in a breath, his touch having so much dominance over me. His hand travels into my messy hair, stroking it off my face gently.

“Marco was the one who worked out what your papa was doing. He overheard a conversation between him and Carlo D’Amico, Geovani’s father. Then later, he witnessed the contract the two of them had drawn up. He needed to disappear until it all settled down, and fast, so we got him out of the country.”

He has an answer for every question I throw at him today, and that surprises me. But the more we talk, the more questions I have. “What contract?”

His lips turn up at the sides and I know that question was what he had been waiting for. “Your papa arranged your marriage to Carlo D’Amico’s son as compensation for his mistake. He basically sold you to Geovani.”

Stepping away from his hold, my body becomes rigid and my heart races uncontrollably. My papa was planning to hand me over to that family because of the messed-up shit he got involved in. “He wouldn’t. My papa loved me.” My voice breaks as I try to get the words out, afresh wave of pain radiating through my chest. Hearing what he let happen to my mother last night was devastating, but I never thought he would betray me like this. I was his little girl, his precious little princess. He always said he would do anything for me. Even Marco said he sent me away to keep me out of this trouble. He wouldn’t have done this to me, I just know it.

Alessandro shakes his head like he can read my thoughts. “Your papa is no different to any of the other greedy, money and power-hungry men I meet every day. Always searching for the fastest way to earn a buck, it’s a harsh reality to learn Harley, but it’s better you know it now. You were just a pawn to him, a negotiation tool to get him out of the shit he was in with Carlo.”

A sob escapes me, and he pulls me in closer. I let him hold me, because I have no idea what else to do, but I can’t soften into his solid chest. He might have come clean with me today, but I still can’t trust him. I won’t, he has proved to me what’s important to him already. Why is he even telling me all this now? Because I found out about Marco? I bet he wouldn’t have otherwise. Eventually I pull back, studying his face because I want to see his reaction to my next question. “And now what? You three are using me the same way. That’s why I’m being forced to marry you, isn’t it?”

I see the flash of hurt, but he knows it’s true. “We thought if you were already married to one of us, their contract would be void. The D’Amicos wouldn’t have any reason to come after you and claim what they believed was theirs. I was trying to protect you.”

A cold laugh escapes me. “You can’t even deny it. Wow, me marrying you isn’t just about protecting me. I’m not stupid. What are you getting out of it, Alex?” I snap back at him, bitterness dripping off every word.

“That’s not for you to worry about.” He straightens his shoulders, the vein in his neck looking like it’s going to pop at my blatant rejection of his excuse.

I take a step back from him, I see how this is going to be, give her just enough so you can keep her happy. Was that fucking direct instruction from his mother fucking papa as well? I fucking bet it was. I wrap my arms around my middle protectively feeling so alone. “No. You’ll just use me and then I will be discarded when I’m no longer needed. I won’t worry about any of it.” My voice is filled with sarcasm. He’s no different from my papa. Or his.

His nostrils flare, a fresh wave of anger settling on me, making me feel small. His hand flies to my chin, forcing me to look directly into his furious glare. I should have known the sweetness wouldn’t last long. “I will never be done with you, Harley.” He utters the words as a promise, one that crawls beneath my skin and fills me with a deep-seated fear. Because I know it’s true.

“Then I will forever be your prisoner and not your wife,” I snap back, not dropping eye contact, even though my body trembles, showing him just how much he scares me.

“Marrying you will solidify my position in my family. I know you don’t realize this yet, but your name is important, and our two families being connected is crucial to me taking over from my papa when the time is right.” His grip tightens. “You think what me and my brothers did to you was a nightmare come to life? The D’Amicos will destroy your soul, that’s if they let you live long enough.”

I blink back at him, taking in his cruel words. He’s trying to scare me, but it’s not going to work. He’s already destroyed my soul keeping me caged up here, destroying my family and demanding I give him my life. “You’re the same as my papa. I’m your meal ticket to the money and power you crave,” I retort, making it damn clear I don’t believe aword that comes out of his mouth. Geovani would never hurt me. I know him. Yeah, maybe he lied to me and told me he was a cop when he wasn’t, but he helped me, he was so kind to me and taught me how to protect myself. Gave me a way of living outside of my family, and sure, it might have been a shitty existence, but it was mine. I was the one in control of my life, not anyone else. He wouldn’t have done any of those things if he was the awful man they all say he is.

“I have a duty to protect my men. You and your brother. Ricky and Maddox. My family,” he growls out, his grip on me biting into my skin. I glare back at him with defiance, his words not changing my mind. “I won’t apologize for doing what I have to, so I can protect the people I care about. And whether you like it or not, that includes you.”

I don’t get it, how he can insist on caring about me, calling me part of his family when he thinks controlling me is acceptable behavior.

Maddox appears in my vision, watching us before announcing, “Breakfast is ready.” I’m grateful for the interruption, and I wonder if this is another way of saving me from his boss. It’s clear that he’s not impressed by the way he’s holding me. That being said, Maddox has been no better in his treatment toward me. That is something I cannot easily forget even if he’s making more of an effort with me now.

Ricky joins him. “Paper’s out. Valentina’s done her part. Your engagement made the second page.” He smirks playfully, holding up the paper with a glaring image of the two of us looking every bit the happy, loved up couple from last night. I don’t even recall the image being taken or ever looking up at him in that way. Like I actually like him.

Alessandro loosens his grip and takes a step back from me, his demeanor changing. It’s as if he has suddenly realized he was hurting me. “Two weeks and you will be my wife.” He utters those painful words with such arrogance that it intensifies my dislike for him. He’staunting me, holding his power over my head, and he fucking knows it.

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