Page 14 of Rise To Power

“Are you jealous?” I inched back and stared into her eyes.

“No. They can have you.”

Fuck, my cock hardened with her defiance. Fire sparked in her eyes. Words dripped with accusation, but her mouth hinted at seduction. “Not only will you be a good wife.” I spoke so only she could hear me. “But you’ll be a good girl and get on your knees for me. However, this will be the only time I get on my knees for you.” Proving I was a liar. She’d have me on my knees often just for a taste of her pussy.

I pulled the velvet box from my pocket and dropped to one knee.

Allegra

I was so screwed…or at least I would be. For a moment, I’d forgotten this was Marco Bruno—The Enforcer. His strong fingers held mine in a firm grip. Those surrounding us wouldn’t see my fingers tremble or my heart race. They couldn’t feel the veiled threat cloaking me in insecurity.

His lips were moving, making promises he’d never keep. I couldn’t hear past the rushing of blood through my ears.

Would I become his wife? I acted as if I had a choice, but I didn’t. The agreement for my marriage couldn’t be broken without making an enemy of Marco. I had no choice.

“Yes.” The word tasted bitter on my tongue. Marco was everything I remembered, but so much more that I hadn’t understood. When I was fifteen, he’d been beautiful, and my innocent heart had believed in fairytales.

I’d spent five years dreaming he’d come to sweep me off my feet and into his bed, where he would do wicked things to me.

He’d come for me. I wasn’t going to be swept off my feet but shoved to my knees.

I salivated at the vision in my mind of this beautifully brutal man forcing his cock between my lips. My mother was right. Knox was right. I would be a whore with a ring on my finger.

A ring that was supposed to represent love and commitment, but for me wouldn’t be a promise but a prison.

He slipped the diamond onto my finger. With the unfamiliar weight of it on my finger, he could’ve been closing his hands around my neck. I tried to breathe in through the pressure building in my chest.

He rose to his feet. The uncomfortable heat of his stare caused a kaleidoscope of suicidal butterflies to swarm to their death inside me. I couldn’t speak. Dark brows arched over intense whiskey-colored eyes. The eyes of a lion. Powerful, intimidating, and darkly hypnotic.

“Marco,” I whispered, the same way I whispered his name when I touched myself. He tunneled his fingers into my hair. His lips, warm and soft, barely touched mine. His palm held my neck as his thumb caressed the flutter of my pulse.

Applause sounded around the table. My world reduced to a pinprick of awareness. The man next to me was officially my fiancé. Stubble darkened his strong jaw. His eyes crinkled at the corner as he smiled and accepted congratulations.

Tingles slipped over my skin where his hand rested on my lower back.

“My princess,” my father said as his arms circled me. I focused on his face. His eyes glistened with pride. His beefy hands held my cheeks as he smiled and kissed my forehead. My brother shook hands with my fiancé.

“Allegra, my beautiful daughter.” Tears fell from my mother’s eyes, and I rolled mine. She smiled at Marco. “You have a rare treasure in Allegra.”

His hand tightened on my hip. “As I’m just discovering.”

“A beautiful ring.” She held my hand and gushed over the size and brilliance of the monstrous ring on my finger. I was an embarrassment an hour ago. “You’ll be draped in diamonds.”

I was already draped in regrets. I stared at the huge diamond. The stone had to be at least five carats. Smaller baguettes circled the cushion-cut center. It looked ridiculous on my thin finger.

My father shook hands with Marco. Time seemed to slow. Words blurred with faces.

“Ally?” Deidre grasped my hands. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said. Staring at Deidre, I realized with perfect clarity, I’d done this to myself. I’d been the prim and proper mafia daughter. At least as far as they knew. I’d hid my truths, and it was too late to reveal them now.

Everyone took their seats as the soup was served. Knots coiled in my stomach. Marco dipped his spoon into his lemon chicken soup. Instead of tasting the soup, he held the spoon out for me.

“I’m not hungry.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. His gaze focused on my lips.

He leaned in. “I would like you to taste the soup.”

Our gazes held. He waited as I accepted the first taste of my future. I couldn’t tell him no.

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