Page 18 of Massimo

"I've learned what I could about several criminal entities in the States."

"Why? Gathering intel for your father?" His nostrils flare.

"No," I croak and clear my throat. "Because I knew I'd be used as a way for him to make alliances and I wanted to know…"Who my new monster would be, I finish in my head.

"I don't believe you."

"I don't know what else to say to make you believe me." The words could be viewed as defiant, so I lower my chin and tamp down the fire and fight that's flaring back to life.

"What have you heard about me, princess?"

My head snaps up.

"Oh, don't be shy or concerned about my feelings," he taunts again, toying with me and testing me.

It's all a test and a game to men like him and my father.

But unlike with my father, I don't have the lived experience or lessons learned from navigating him and handling the situation to minimize my risk as much as possible. My default to the meek and mild seems to piss Massimo off, and with a massive man like this, the last thing I need is for him to be more pissed off.

"You're… You're newer to your role," I say with a parched throat. "You're the oldest of three sons."

"Oh, surely you can do better than that, princess." He fists his big hands.

I close my eyes and shudder a breath. "They say… You're gruesome when you get your hands dirty," I whisper. "That you're a monster."

When I open my eyes, his smile is malicious and cruel. "A monster. Imagine the feel of my teeth sinking in deep."

My stomach flips, then my heart stops.

He stalks toward me, taking a step with each threatening word. "I am exactly what they say I am."

Chapter 9

Massimo

Eachofmywordsare punctuated with a footfall, which makes Nova paler and paler as I stalk closer.

I am exactly what they say I am.

Well, not entirely. In the gruesome department, when I do get my hands dirty, yes. But in the rest of my rule, I'm not a monster. Not to those who know me, at least.

But the princess doesn't know me. I'll use my notoriety and reputation to get what I want from her—the truth of who and what she really is.

I'm losing patience with her antics and the walls she's trying to hide behind.

She's Silvestro Mancini's daughter.

Mancini's sons are just like him—spawns made in his image—and gaining their own reputation in our world.

Mancini himself was involved with the Czech mafia, who we have caught several times transporting women through our territory—women who had been heinously violated and had died from their injuries.

The Mancini family is a den of vipers, venomous and deadly.

And Nova may be the worst one—with her innocent looks, feigned demureness, and false meekness. How many has she led, or helped to lead, to their destruction?

Rage fills me at the thought, and I don't mask it.

Nova sees it, and shefinallyreacts. Finally drops the mock persona of the weak, compliant, and meek princess. She tries to run.

---