Page 24 of Massimo

But doubt pushes in. She's petite; there's not much to her. She doesn't look anorexic or anything, but she doesn't look overly nourished, either.

I scan around the room and see the untouched tray and full bottle of water. She's had a few bottles of water since being down there, so she's not so stubborn as to fully dehydrate herself.

But she still isn't fucking eating.

Is this an issue of her trying to control her body size? Is her goal to be rail-thin? Whenever in public, she's always a flawless, perfect princess, so it's entirely possible.

The Mancini Princess. That snake's daughter, his spawn.

My anger has escalated to fury.

I'm so fucking done with her games and stubbornness. I'm determined to break her, crack open her insides, just to prove I'm right.

As soon as Gabe pulls up in front of the house, I'm out of the car.

"Massimo, wait," he calls, but I'm lost to my anger and determination.

Jerome jumps out of the way when I slam open the front door.

"Massimo, don't go down there when you're like this." Gabe says, coming up the steps.

I whirl on him, ready to punch his goddamn face in. "Don't. Tell. Me. What to do."

They don't follow me as I storm like a thundercloud down to the basement, ready for battle.

She wants a battle of wills? She'll fucking get a battle of wills.

She thinks I'm a monster? She'll fucking get a monster.

The cold, the lack of creature comforts, such as a blanket and food, haven't broken her. Then maybe this will. Maybe what I have planned will finally,finallyget her to fight me. To show me that fire. To prove that she's not some meek and mild, somefucking demureprincess.

I unlock the door and swing it open, banging it against the wall.

It has the effect I'm looking for.

Nova jerks on the floor, instantly wide awake. She's on her feet immediately. She sways and catches herself on the wall, then faces me with wide eyes.

"Strip," I seethe.

Her doe-like brown eyes go impossibly wider. "Wh-what?" she stammers, taking a step back.

"I'm not a man, amonster, who likes to repeat himself, princess," I sneer the word. "I said,strip."

Her throat works, and her beautiful face is etched with fear. Her large, luminous eyes fill with tears.

Not. The. Reaction. I'm. Looking. For.

I lunge for her, and she screams.

I want her to fight me.

To stop this fucking madness.

My calm and control have completely left the goddamn building.

Yet she still doesn't fight me. I see that spark of fire in her eyes, but then it's like the oxygen is sucked out of the room and kills it.

"Please," she whispers. "You're not that kind of monster."

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