Page 45 of The Beast of London & His Pet

“I kicked her.”

“Did you hear that, Nero? He beat a woman half his size.”

“Yes, Boss,” he said, his voice as cold as my heart.

“There is no mercy for you, Clive,” I said, releasing his hair to roll my sleeves up.

I spent the next forty minutes venting my rage on him, stopping every so often to ensure there were no fatal injuries. A few cracked ribs, his face was a bloody pulp and he lay collapsed on the floor, reminding me of how I found Francesca. My knuckles were bloodied and my shirt covered in his blood.

I stood there and stared at his unconscious body, joyous in knowing that I could do this for months at an end to prolong his suffering.

“Francesca wants his testicles,” I said, wondering if she meant it literally.

“Are you serious?” Nero asked, with his eyes bulging out of their sockets.

“Yeah, but I don't know if she meant it literally,” I said walking to the small sink.

It was covered in grime but I wanted to wash that cunt’s blood off my skin.

“God, you two were made for one another,” he said.

When I glanced at him, he was pulling open the first-aid box.

“Make sure you put the chains on him. I don't want him killing himself,” I said with a smile.

There would be no escaping the Beast.

Chapter 28

Francesca

It was difficult to believe that Armando and Silvio were hardened members of the Mafia when I watched them cheating like children over a game of Scrabble. They had moved onto the bed but there was nothing inappropriate. They were more like the brothers I never had. The bedroom door opened and Alessio stood in the doorway. He wore a black suit with a white shirt, and looked his usual sexy self. I froze when I saw the state of his knuckles.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, placing my hand on my throat at the sight of his blood. “Did someone hurt you?”

Silvio got off the bed, but Armando kissed my cheek, distracting me from Alessio’s injured hands.

“We will be off for now. I am happy to see you recovering well,Sorellina,” he said before he joined Salvio.Little sister.

“Thank you for coming,” I said politely but I couldn't muster a smile.

Alessio walked toward me as the door closed behind Silvio and Armando.

“I paid Clive a visit,” he said, his face inscrutable.

“Why wouldn't you protect your hands? What if you catch some disease from him or your wound gets infected? What were you thinking?” I asked rapidly while holding his hand up to inspect the damage, shaking my head in disbelief. The fleshover his knuckles looked raw, reminding me of how my cuts and bruises felt.

“I wanted to give him a small taste of what he did to you, Kitten,” Alessio murmured before he pulled his hand away, but he gripped the back of my neck and kissed me.

The touch of his lips began soft and gentle, but he groaned before plunging his tongue into my mouth, forcing my lips apart, the motion caused my core to ache and clench for him.

His constant presence helped ease my fear of returning back to where Clive had taken me. The new security measures were extreme, but they made me feel safe. His vow to protect me still made my heart beat a little faster, seeming more significant than our wedding vows. I didn't need to fight my demons when Alessio was here to do it for me. The moment I saw him in the cottage everything changed.

???

Tonight was the night and I wouldn't take any of his excuses anymore. My six weeks were up and I was fully healed. He had no right treating me like a fragile butterfly’s wing. The justified rant in my head was going at full speed while I struggled with the tiny screws on my nipple clamps. How did he make it look so easy when he put them on?

“Baby, are you okay? You've been in there a while,” Alessio said, trying to open the bathroom door. Even though I knew I locked it, I glanced up and expected him to burst through it.

---