Page 31 of Broken Saint

"I'm sorry, Nova. I didn't know. I didn't mean to ruin your birthday." Lana looked close to tears, but my sympathy was at an all-time low. She was a troublemaker through and through.

"Just go. But make sure you go to the bathroom first and get yourself straightened out before Gabe or Nina see you. They aren't stupid, they'll know exactly what you've been up to."

"Okay," she agreed as she slipped from the door.

How in the hell was I supposed to handle this? Delicate situations with underage minors were not my thing. Gabe was going to lose his shit when he found out about this.

"I didn't fuck her, if that's what you're thinking."

"You're an idiot and an asshole," I spat, uncaring about a single word he had to say.

He casually zipped up his pants and pulled himself together, walking toward me as if he didn't have a care in the world. Although his eyes spoke volumes and that was a different story entirely. His smirk had disappeared, and instead it looked like a storm was brewing.

He stopped in front of me and grabbed my chin. "Careful, Nova. I still hold all the cards in this relationship. And I don't tolerate disrespect."

"You should have thought of that before you came back here with a teenager. At my party no less. You'll be lucky if we both make it out of this alive. Gabe is going to freak the hell out."

"You're assuming he is going to find out. I'd bet little Lana isn't going to say a word. She came on to me, lied about her age when I questioned her and then gave her consent when she brought me back here."

"You're a pig."

He tightened his fingers. "I'm not going to warn you again. One more outburst like that and I'll have you stripped, tied down, and taking my belt across your ass until you can't sit down again. I don't know what your father taught you, but my wife will have manners and show respect for her husband, one way or another."

"You're not my husband, yet." Despite his threats, I couldn't stop myself from continuing.

"You have been bought and paid for already. That deal is done. A little piece of paper that decrees us married is simply a formality. I own your ass, your pussy, your tits. Even this pretty little head of yours belongs to me. That means I control what you do with your mouth, not the other way around."

"I'm yours?" I asked, ignoring the pin prick of tears at the backs of my eyes. I wasn't going to give this man the satisfaction of my tears. He'd take them and throw them back in my face every chance he got.

"Damn right, and I expect you to remember that."

"Is that why you were back here with another woman?" I only cared because it was Lana, I reassured myself. There was no way in hell I would ever marry him. I didn't care how much he paid for the privilege.

"That's the difference between you and me, Catherine Cullotta. I have the freedom to do whatever I want. You do not. You were chosen to serve at my will, and serve you will." He released my chin with a hard jerk."Now go say goodnight to your friends and your lover. It's time for you to go home."

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