Page 42 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

His top lip curled into a sneer. “You think to refuse your husband, little girl? Your body is mine by right.”

“Not according to the law.”

He threw his head back and laughed, the tendons in his thick neck shifting as the sound continued. “The law does not apply to me, even less so to you.”

“What of Fausto and Enzo’s laws? Because they will learn of this one day.”

“I can’t worry about your brothers-in-law. And none of this changes our responsibilities at the moment.”

“And what are our responsibilities?”

“To get pregnant in three months’ time. I don’t like it, either, but we are left with no choice.”

“There are always choices. You need to talk some sense into Don Virga.”

He leaned closer, and I could smell the clean scent of his citrus soap, see the whiskers on his jaw. Each long lash that rimmed his eyes. His expression was anything but patient as he explained, “Don Virga has disappeared. He is on his yacht in the middle of the ocean. I can’t find him. No doubt he plans to stay hidden until the deadline to remain alive.”

“You were going to kill him?”

“Iamgoing to kill him. The first chance I get—and I promise it will be painful.”

A shiver worked its way along my spine at the softly spoken vow. I didn’t doubt him for a second.

I stared at the black marble countertop. How long would I be stranded here? I thought of my father lying in bed, wasting away as cancer ate away at his body. I wanted to spend time with him, soak up all the minutes and seconds before it was too late. Whatever it took, I had to get back to Toronto as quickly as possible.

But I didn’t want to have a baby with this man.

I concentrated on my breathing in an effort to stay calm. There had to be another way out of this. We needed more time. Virga would show up eventually. Like, he’d need to gas up the yacht in port somewhere, right? Then Giacomo would find him and kill him.

This was so messed up. Was I really hoping for the death of another human being? It went against everything I believed, everything I was working toward.

But what choice did I have?

This was spiraling too quickly. I closed my eyes to avoid my husband’s too-intense gaze. I wasn’t ready to have sex with anyone today, let alone with a stranger. I wanted a man who cared about me, who loved me, to be my first. Not someone doing it out of obligation.

I looked up, resolved to tell him no, but the words died on my tongue. He did not appear in the mood for a rational conversation, not with his wild eyes and intimidating posture.

So I went with a lie instead.

“I’m on the pill.”

The lines around his mouth deepened as he frowned. “You are on birth control.”

“Yes.”

“You? A virgin? Why would you be on birth control?”

“First, I’ve admitted to nothing in regards to my sexual experience. Second, many women take the pill for reasons unrelated to preventing pregnancy.” I didn’t, but I knew this to be true.

“What does this mean?”

“It means I can’t conceive until I stop taking it.”

“So stop taking it.”

“Even if I do, you’ll still have to wait until I ovulate after my next cycle.”

He pushed off the counter and jammed his hands into his pockets. “And how long will that take?”

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