Page 62 of Massimo

It was a mystery to me how Massimo could even look at me, let alone touch me. I should be back down in the basement.

"Not all Mancinis." He lifts my face, his thumb doing that caress thing along my jaw again, which is proving to be my undoing. My battered psyche wants to trust what I see in his eyes, but I've learned too many lessons. "I was wrong about you, Nova. And I'm so fucking sorry for how our story started."

How our story started?

I shake my head to dislodge the hope that's trying its damnedest to bloom. "So, the lack of people here is to keep it secret that you took me. While you put your plan into place to attack my father."

His jaw hardens. At first, I think he won't respond to my statement, but he finally says, "Yes."

Well, at least he's not lying to me.

But this is the cruel reminder I needed: I'm just a pawn and a tool. Of course, I knew this already, however, the admission still hurts.

Which is stupid. Just like the hurt I felt at Gemma's betrayal when I thought she was my friend before she kidnapped me to bring me to Massimo.

I look away. "It makes sense."

"Nova."

I shake my head, trying to get up off his lap.

I'm just a pawn and a tool. I need to remember that, and I can't when I'm physically touching Massimo.

He makes me hope and want things someone like me can never have. Someone like me—a Mancini, one of the vilest, most evil breeds of creatures—doesn't deserve.

He's not releasing me as I try to get off his lap. "Please let me go, Massimo."

"No," he says harshly. "Never."

My anger flares, and I let him see it. "I need some goddamn space right now."

His nostrils flare in surprise, and the right side of his mouth curls with a small smile. Then eases up his death grip.

I stand on shaky legs and move away from him to the far side of the room. The space between us is needed, so I don't fool myself that I can turn to him for comfort.

I don't deserve comfort, not with the Mancini blood flowing through my veins.

The confirmation of my suspicions that my family is involved in human trafficking is a blow in itself. The life of luxury I've lived was paid for by people, literally. On top of it, adeath ringthat also involves sex slavery…

How many lives have my father, brothers, and Mauro destroyed?

I close my eyes as nausea hits me again, cutting off any further thought.

There's a knock on the door, then Gabe rushes into the office. "Mass, Vito is here."

"Shit." Massimo is on his feet, moving toward me.

"The guards let him through the gates, like usual; otherwise, it would've raised red flags for him." Gabe looks at me. "There isn't time to get Nova to her room."

Massimo grips my shoulders. "I need you to go into the room next door, princess."

It's well-known how close and loyal the Santoro brothers are to each other. His and Gabe's reactions mean that my presence here is being kept from Vito—and likely from the rest of Massimo's family. Rather than giving me a boost of courage to fight and use this against Massimo to get something in return, that realization only makes the hurt cut deeper.

"I'm the Mancini Princess. Give me an order, and I'll obey," I say flatly.

Massimo blanches.

"Mass, we don't have time." Gabe looks at his phone. "Jerome said Vito is in the house and on the way to the office."

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