Broken Beauty - Stella Andrews Page 0,41

again. So, fuck off whatever your name is, your job is done.”

I turn away and close my eyes against the bitter tears that threaten to reveal how wounded I am. He can’t see that part of me, I won’t let him.

He has other ideas.

Suddenly, I am crushed against him and he fists my hair and holds my head in place as he kisses me so ferociously it takes me by surprise. There is so much passion behind this kiss. It knocks the breath from my lungs like a powerful punch. He grips me hard and presses me against him and I have nowhere else to go but him. My traitorous body responds like the whore it is, and I kiss him back with a passion that makes a mockery of everything I’ve just said. Then he pulls away and stares at me, his eyes flashing with a possession that makes my blood run cold and yet tells me I have nothing to worry about.

He is not finished with me yet.

He leans down and whispers, “Now shut the fuck up and do what I tell you because I’m going nowhere. You will fucking trust me because all of this is for you. I will not turn my back on you and if it means sacrificing my soul, I would do it in a heartbeat. There will be a way out of this, I just need time to figure out what that is, so put up and shut up and play the game because there is more at stake than your wounded pride. Now, come with me, there’s someone I would like you to meet.”

Grabbing my hand, he pulls me from the room and my head struggles to keep up as we almost fly down the corridor to God only knows where.

I don’t have time to register my surroundings because Maverick is on a mission of his own and I’m along for the ride.

My heart thumps inside me as I wonder who it is and I hope to God it’s not one of his brothers because they scare the hell out of me. It’s too much breathing the same air that is laced with so much intent and I need a moment to settle my nerves but it appears I’m not allowed even that.

However, I stare in surprise as we head into a large kitchen and the woman that looks up as we enter takes my breath away. If I thought those men had power, it is nothing compared to hers because as soon as I lay eyes on the majestic woman looking at me with interest—I am lost.

24

Sophia

“Miss. Moretti, come in and take a seat.”

Her voice is kind with an authority that warns you to do as she says immediately.

She turns to Maverick and smiles warmly. “Mio angelo, you may leave us.”

He hesitates and she laughs, her eyes lighting up with an understanding that she obviously enjoys because she turns and looks at me a little differently.

“I said leave. You will see, Miss. Moretti at dinner along with your brothers. You should change and take the time to settle back into your old room.”

He looks at me with a thousand apologies in his eyes and I turn away pointedly, making the woman laugh even more.

I hear the door close behind him and then feel her hand in mine and turn to look at her in surprise.

“Welcome, Sophia, I am sorry your visit is under these circumstances.”

I try to smile but it’s hard and she shakes her head sadly. “You must be worried, my dear, but you have no reason to be. Lorenzo is a good man and will find a way.”

“A way out of what?”

“Your predicament. We are both women who know only too well what it is like living in a family such as ours. My grandsons are difficult, complex men and are no different to my husband and son.”

I look at her with interest and she smiles. “Allow me to fill in the details. My name is Elena Romano. My husband, Vittorio was the head of the family the entire time I knew him. Like you, I came from a rival family and our marriage was arranged against my will.”

I make to speak and she silences me with a look. “History does have a habit of repeating itself over and over again and this, my darling, is the sad truth of the world we live in. I was the lucky one. Vittorio was a jewel among trash. He made