Page 59 of Devil's Tulip

“Gianna, love, I–”

“Why are you here?” Another hit, but this time his hand catches mine, his fingers snagging on the necklace wrapped around my wrist as he presses my palm flat against the heat of his chest.

I don’t know why, but my gaze drifts behind him—to Uncle Aldo, whose mouth hangs open, face ghostly pale as he glances between Michael and me like a frantic little rodent.

“Who did this to you, Gianna?” Michael asks again, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

Uncle Aldo slowly shakes his head at me, his eyes flicking to the corner of the room. I follow his gaze and—oh.

For the first time, I see Dario. Cowering.

Not so brave now, are you, cousin?

“Funny story actually,” my uncle laughs unconvincingly. “My niece fell down the stairs. Hit her face on the railing. So clumsy, aren’t you, Gigi?”

Michael places his index finger and thumb under my chin and gently tilts my face until I’m looking only at him. Then, without breaking my gaze, he throws back coldly, “I wasn’t asking you, Aldo.”

I search those vivid blue depths, and despite myself, hope blooms in my heart. Could he be here for me? Does he have the power to take me away? Is that why Dario and Aldo seem so scared? Could this be my chance to get away from them?

I don’t trust Michael. Not anymore.

But maybe… maybe I can use him.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I hold his gaze while pointing straight at Dario. “He did.”

“Thank you,” he murmurs, his thumb grazing the scabbed bruise at the corner of my lips with impossible gentleness—soothing for just a moment. Then, just like that, his touch is gone.

And so is his patience, apparently.

He rolls his neck as he stalks towards Dario, and I watch with morbid fascination as my cousin’s eyes go wide with growing terror. A pathetic little whimper slips out the closer Michael gets to him, and my fascination deepens. So he’s capable of fear, huh? Good to know.

Michael doesn’t hesitate. His fist connects with brutal force, sending Dario’s head snapping back against the wall before he slithers to the floor like the spineless coward he is. But Michael doesn’t let up—he hunches over him, landing blow after blow, the sick crack of bone filling the room until blood bursts from his face, splattering across Michael’s shirt.

He broke his nose.

And it isglorious.

Dario’s terrified gaze finds mine—a reflection of the fear I must have worn last night while he beat me. The sight of it sends a thrill through me, and a dark smile spreads across my face, making him flinch. Or maybe that’s just Michael’s next punch landing on his throat. He doubles over, choking, and my uncle jolts in his chair.

“Micha—Mr. Hart, please,” Uncle Aldo calls out weakly, standing up, though he remains safely behind his desk.

He should’ve stayed quiet.

Michael whirls around to face him, and he recoils so violently he loses balance, collapsing back into his seat with a pitiful thud.

“You let your worthless son hurt her. You have no say here.” He takes out his phone, typing furiously before tucking it back into his pocket. Then he makes his way towards me.

My gaze catches on his inked knuckles, a little bruised from smashing into Dario’s ugly face, the diamond on his thumb stained with blood.He forgot to take it off.Something tender stirs in my chest, and I ruthlessly crush it.

No.I won’t let him in again just because he defended me.

The door bursts open behind me, and I whip my head around in surprise to see a flood of armed men pour into the study, Lorenzo leading them. My brows knit together as they line up like soldiers awaiting orders.

“Take him,” Michael commands, nodding at the whimpering mess that is Dario, who’s still on the floor, clutching his broken nose with one hand and his throat with the other.

“What are you going to do to him?” My uncle gets up from his seat again, watching helplessly as two men haul his bloodied son up by his arms and drag him out of his study.

“I’m going to give him a punishment befitting his crime,” Michael answers, accepting some wipes from Lorenzo—who offers me a small, almost reassuring smile—to clean the blood from his hands and ring.

---