Page 4 of Savage Union
Sofia backs away, her face pale but her chin raised defiantly—a flash of the fire that's been growing in her as she's gotten older. When one of Vito's men reaches for her, she doesn't cower like she would have at twelve. Instead, she slaps his hand away and steps protectively in front of our mother.
"Don't touch her," she snaps, her voice carrying more steel than I've ever heard from her.
My mother tries to pull Sofia behind her, but my sister stands her ground, glaring at the soldier with a fearlessness that's both admirable and terrifying.
A man grabs me from behind. I fight back, adrenaline surging through me, but Vito closes the distance between us. He grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. His dark chocolate eyes are penetrating, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be, bambola," his voice drops to a low, seductive rumble.
But I'm not stupid.
He doesn't want me for any good reason.
He's here to ruin everything.
And worse—he's stolen the revenge I'd planned, the freedom I'd bargained away my future to secure. The Irish will never understand why I disappeared, why I couldn't keep my end of the deal. All they'll see is betrayal.
Between Vito and Liam, I don't know which devil is more dangerous.
CHAPTER 2
Rina
"Don't touch me."I jerk my face away from Vito's hand, the words sharp as broken glass.
"Vito, we have to go," a man says from somewhere behind us. Vito stares at me like I've sprouted a second head, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"What do you want from me?" I demand. "If you're worried I'll tell someone you murdered my father in cold blood, don't be. He got what he deserved." The defiance in my voice surprises even me.
My mother's desperate plea cuts through the air. "Please, Don Vittore, I beg you. My daughter is correct. We won't tell anyone." Her voice cracks with fear where they're holding her and Sofia.
I struggle against the iron grip on my arm. "Let them go." The man's fingers dig deeper, bruising. "You're fucking hurting me, asshole."
"Let her go," Vito orders, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The pressure vanishes instantly. I rub my arm, glaring at him.
"If you're waiting for me to thank you, it will never come," I spit out.
He steps forward. "There is no escaping me,bambola," Vito warns.
"I'm not your doll." My chin lifts defiantly.
"Vito, we have to go now," the same man repeats, urgency bleeding into his tone.
"Time to go,bambola," Vito commands as if I hadn't spoken.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
His gaze shifts to my mother and sister, expression hardening. "Take them to the Greenhouse."
Panic claws at my throat. "Don't you dare touch them. They've done nothing to you."
"Then I suggest you walk," he replies coolly, unmoved by my desperation.
"How do I know you won't hurt them?"
"You don't."
