Page 91 of A Game So Reckless

I know it’s true. Darragh already killed someone just for grabbing my arm and threatening me.

I can’t imagine what he’d do if someone else married me now.

He bought me a ring…

“Darraghwon’t let it happen?” Papà sounds like he’s in utter disbelief. Too shocked to even bother hitting me again. “You think I answer to him? He’s the one who will have to answer to me! He killed your previous fiancé, the only son of my ally, and then arranged for your marriage under false pretenses. He betrayed my trust and he-”

“He fucked me.”

A vein in Papà’s forehead pulses.

“We had sex.” I say again, my voice sounding oddly flat and calm. “I’m not a virgin. So you can’t just send me off to marry-”

Papà interrupts me with a question that bludgeons like a hammer.

“Are you pregnant?”

“What?!”

“Based on this video, you’ve obviously had contact with Darragh for more than a month, now. So answer the question. Are you fucking pregnant?”

“No. I don’t think that’s possible. I-”

“Then you will shut the fuck up about this. Now. I’m done with all your failed fucking engagements and your reckless fucking decisions. You are a liar, you are out of control, and you are Salvatore Di Mauro’s problem now. And if Sal cares about virginity, then you’d better find a way to fucking fake it for him, you understand me, Valentina?”

I understand. I understand everything all too clearly.

The walls are closing in.

My purse feels hot in my lap. Like Darragh’s ring might burn a hole right through it.

Just like my papà’s eyes feel like they could burn a hole right through my head. Incinerate skin, blood, and bone. Until there’s nothing left.

Those eyes don’t leave mine as he leans in one more time. He orders me to pack my bags so we can leave for Montréal.

Tonight.

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