Page 6 of Massimo

She drums her long, elegant fingers on her thigh. "Gemma is."

"Well, at least not everything was a lie."

She has the audacity to jerk like I slapped her. Anger flares in her eyes, and her face flushes.

Warning bells sound, and I lower my head and soften my shoulders. Showing any fire and fight had never got me far.

"Stop being a helpless victim," she seethes. She's angry, but she doesn't move to strike me.

For some reason, I want to push her. Fight back.

"Did you kidnap me to teach me how to be a badass, Gemma?" I snark, looking up. Her eyes widen but then she smiles, and I shake my head. "Because if that's the plan, then you got the wrong girl."

Because my father has already broken me of that bad habit.

She frowns. "Your father made a deal with the French mafia. Arranged for you to marry Julien Moreau when you returned from your trip. Did you know that?"

I didn't know that, but it confirmed my suspicions that my father had something planned.

She leans toward me. "Do you know who Julien Moreau is?"

"No."

"He's the heir. A sick motherfucker who has an online shopping addiction—and I'm not talking about clothes or household items. He buys people, Nova…from auctions."

I swallow against a dry throat. Should I be surprised that my father made a deal with a man and family like that? "I guess I should thank you, then."

Gemma snorts and leans back.

I close my eyes, exhausted.

Maybe it's the sedative, maybe it's me reaching the end of my tether. Maybe it's me worrying about what and who waits for me at the end of this flight.

I close my eyes.

"Don't fight the monsters, princess. Because the monsters always win."

I know. Do I ever know.

I stiffen my resolve. Imust notfight back. I can't be anything but the demure, passive, and obedient princess.

The rest of the flight is spent with the memories and reminders of all the psychological torment I lived through in order to learn that lesson.

It does the trick because, by the time our wheels touch down, I have no fight left in me.

Chapter 3

Massimo

Isitinthecar with Gabe, waiting for my captive. I refuse to get out of my vehicle to board the plane myself. I refuse to go to her.

The princess will come to me.

The guards have already put Gemma and Nova's bags in the trunk.

I sit in the back of my armored Rolls Royce with Gabe in the driver's seat,waiting. Gemma and Nova didn't come out when the plane's cabin door had been opened and the stairs put out. Gabe hand-picked six of his most trusted men for this assignment regarding the Mancini Princess, and he sent them to board the plane and bring the princess out. She's likely being a stubborn bitch, railing against her captivity.

"Maybe Gemma killed her on the flight here," I murmur, and Gabe grunts a laugh.

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