Page 27 of Doll's Eye

Crafty woman.

Dusting myself off, I get to my feet and head back to my office to occupy myself with work. Not carrying even an ounce of compunction with me either.

Chapter fourteen

Alessia

Thank God Monte will live. With some reconstructive surgery, he’ll be good as new in a few months. And I’ll ensure it comes out of Massimo’s pocket to cover the hospital bills.

What the fuck made Massimo go all Hulk on his cousin? I thought he was actually going to kill him. He almost did!

So, okay. I did know that closing my bedroom door with another man inside wasn’t entirely appropriate, and I don’t know why I even did it. Was I so starved for Massimo’s attention that I used my only friend and ally here to provoke him?

Instead of heading to the stairs for my room to hide, I change directions and head for Massimo’s office. We need to clear the air, or at this rate, one of us will end up killing the other. Or another unfortunate soul will get caught in our crossfires.

I give a firm knock on his door, and I am too irate to wait for permission to enter. As soon as I do, I look around the room to be sure we’re alone before slipping inside and closing myself in. He only gives me a short glance from his desk, and I take noticeof the red and purple rings around his neck. I almost laugh, but I don’t because I don’tactuallywant to die today. I was choking the fuck out of him for a while before he even noticed.

“Monte will be okay, by the way. In case you care at all.”Damn, girl. Provoking him even further? You do want to die today, don’t you?He doesn’t bite as he ignores me, and for some reason, that stings. Can’t he just smarten up and see I only want a little of his attention? I take in the dried blood on his knuckles and shirt that he didn’t even bother to clean. “So, is this how it’s really going to be?”

He slams down his pen and leans back in his chair to finally give me his full attention. “If you think I owe either of you an apology, you are a stupid woman.”

My chin hits the floor as I am flabbergasted with his impertinence. “You almost killed your cousin with your bare hands for a closed bedroom door!” I exclaim, and his eyes narrow on me.

“So, youdidknow what you were doing.”Shit. “You purposely provoke me, and you think I am the bad guy here? Yes, I almost killed my cousin, but that is onyou.” He points a scolding finger at me. “You knew damn well what you were trying to do, and that is not the way to get my attention,gattina.”

“Can you blame me!? You insist that I move in here so we could get to know each other, but I still barely know you because of the little time you give me. You remain all business! Is that really going to be our marriage? Strictly business? Or do you think you could ever give me more?”

“I told you that you are welcome in my bed anytime.”

“I don’t mean—” I clench my fists and growl. “I mean, can’t we be friends too? Talk about things that don’t involve money or violence. Go out sometimes? Like a real couple? Massimo, I know this isn’t an optimal situation, but you’re stuck with me. Don’t you want to enjoy what you can out of it? Maybe havea little fun together? Yes, we’ll also have sex. But until you act more like a human being rather than a stolid robot, I will be perfectly fine waiting until our wedding night.”

“And I am perfectly fine with that as well,” he retorts so quickly that it almost feels like a slap in the face.

My eyes dart down to the floor ignominiously. Is Massimo really as apathetic as he’s deemed to be? I knew he wasn’t warm and endearing, but I didn’t think he was this callous all the time. I could have sworn I felt a heart beating inside of his chest. But I guess I was mistaken. The blunt realization has my head spinning.

“Alright then,” I say around the mass in my throat. I am now fully cognizant of what my future is like, and it’s dark and grim. I won’t be a queen reigning at his side. I’ll be the lonely mafia wife like the rest of them. Like his mother. The thought of becoming anything like her puts a big rock in the pit of my stomach. My eyes bounce back up to the passive man. “I’m going to end up like her, aren’t I?” I say quietly, but he hears me.

I can feel the backs of my eyes stinging, and it enrages me. No way in fucking hell will I end up like his mother. An empty shell who depends on pills even to wake up. Holed up in her room alone and broken.Weak.

I amnothis mother. I am Alessia Bonetti. I am a future queen, and I will not let Massimo’s attempts at making my life unhappy succeed. My life was never going to end with a happily ever after, but it will end with me at the top.

“Well, I’m glad we’ve cleared things up. I’ll be having dinner at my family’s tonight, so no need to wait on me.” Spinning around, I leave his office in a whirlwind.

The small trek became a blur. It’s like I blinked and was suddenly in my room, pacing and breathing fire. I'm feeling like I’m going to hyperventilate and keel over. My heart is pounding so loudly, and my vision is blurry, and I feel like it’s gettingharder and harder to breathe. A panic attack. Will my future be so desolate?

Okay, you’ll be okay. You’re strong enough for this. You can handle anything. You’re a Bonetti and fucking mafia royalty. You weren’t born into a life of rainbows and butterflies. It’s guns, drugs, crime, and misogynists. You opted out of love for power. You’ve got this.

I pace my room, trying to get my breathing to slow down, when there’s a knock at my door. “Who is it?” I snap.

“It’s Massimo. May I come in?”

“Do you actually need permission?” Stomping to the door, I pull it open with a little too much force.

“Can we talk?” He shoves his hands in his pockets, and I silently gesture for him to come in.

When he walks to the middle of my room, he turns around, looking somewhat remorseful, but I need to stop being so hopeful. The man is remorseless.

I cross my arms over my chest, automatically feeling truculent and preparing for his subsequent censure. “I don’t want to be like my father.”

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