Page 82 of Sweet Deception
He dried me off, dressed me in a fresh pair of underwear, and carried me to the bed. He draped his coat over me, but my skin still crawled. I felt raw. Dirty.
I curled my knees to my chest, hugging myself, but nothing could make me feel whole again.
He sat beside me, watching me carefully. “Anna.”
I ignored him.
His expression darkened. “Grandma drugged me at dinner. She knew I’d stop her if I was awake.”
I snorted, the sound bitter. “How convenient.”
He exhaled sharply. “You know I would never let anyone hurt you, not even my own family.”
I let out a laugh, brittle and empty. “How am I supposed to know that?”
“Haven’t I proven it?”
“Nonsense.” I lifted my gaze to him, eyes burning. “I’m leaving in three days, and you’re talking about protection.”
His voice darkened. “You’re not going anywhere.”
I snapped my head toward him. “I was stripped naked by those men.” My voice cracked, but I forced myself to keep my stare level.
His jaw tightened. “They’re dead.”
“That doesn’t heal me.” My breath was shaky. “No man has ever touched me like that.”
His expression twisted with pain. “Anna...”
“I’m going back to Italy.”
“No.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “What will you do? Chain me here? You don’t love me, Gleb. You’re just obsessed with me. Your family hates me. Why should I stay where my life is constantly in danger?”
His hands curled into fists. “No one will ever touch you again.”
I scoffed. “Really? You said that after your uncle pushed me down the stairs. After he assaulted me in your house.” I let the words sink in. “You had security everywhere, yet you let it happen.”
He swallowed hard. “I didn’t know he’d come that day. But after what happened, I killed the head of security and fired the rest.”
“Killing people doesn’t heal me, Gleb. Don’t you get that?” My voice rose, thick with anger and hurt. “You chose not to protect me. Maybe you’re capable, but you just didn’t care enough.”
He flinched. “That’s not true.”
“Our marriage is just an arrangement. So let me go.”
He exhaled, his voice softer this time. “I know revenge doesn’t fix this. But I swear to you, I’ve taken steps to make sure it never happens again.”
I turned away. “Your family wants me dead. Will you wipe them all out for a stranger?”
His lips parted, but no words came.
I clenched the sheets. “At least under my father, I was safe. Not happy, not free, but no one ever laid a hand on me.”
Gleb reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
“Please, let me go.”
