Page 15 of Claimed
Get out of here. He’s crazy. Go to the police or something.
Fast, I turned around and ran to the door.
An iron grip on my arm halted my escape.
“You're not going anywhere, Bella,” Vito's voice was as cold as ice.
He whipped me around, slamming my back against the wall with a force that knocked the breath from my lungs.
Jesus Christ. He’s strong.
The room spun for a moment, but the cold, hard reality of the situation snapped me back into focus as Vito’s iron grip clamped down on my arm, his fingers like steel vices digging into my skin with bruising force.
I trembled. “Let me go.”
But I knew that pleading wouldn't get me anywhere.
Vito's smirk only widened, and this sick pleasure filled his eyes relishing in my fear.
It was the final straw.
A surge of anger and desperation roared to life within me, fueled by years of suppressed rage, fear, and frustration. I twisted in his grip and swung my free hand toward his face. My fake vampire nails caught the edge of his cheek and left a thin trail of red in their wake.
Vito hissed in pain, but his grip didn’t loosen. “You little bitch.”
But I wasn’t done.
Using the momentum of my twist, I brought my knee up sharply, aiming for the soft spot in his groin.
Vito saw it coming, shifted, and knocked my knee out of the way.
Then, he gripped me even harder.
I could barely deal with the pain.
Like a mad man, Vito breathed me in. “Try that again,sis, and I’ll take my knife out and slash that pretty face.”
I opened my mouth in horror.
So much for brotherly love.
I could feel the cold, hard wood of the door pressing against my back. Still. . .I lifted my view and glared at him. “I'm not going to marry anyone. You two are crazy.”
On the right of us, my stepfather sighed. “I am sorry, Bella, but you must marry.”
“I have my own life and choices—”
“A life that I allowed.”
“Allowed? I—”
“Your life? Your choice?” Now Maximo’s voice was devoid of warmth. “You think you’ve ever had a choice, Bella? You’ve lived in the illusion of freedom for too long. Tonight, you return toyour real family—to your duty. I spared you your duty for a long time just so you could have at leastonememory of dancing. You’ve had it tonight, now you must—”
“I am not—”
“You will.”
“I won't! You would have to kill me!”
