“I shouldn't have hit you, tesoro. I don't know what came over me,” he murmured against my skin, sending my mind into overload. “It won't happen again, I promise. Can you forgive me?”
For a few moments, I was stunned by his words, as he stared at me expectantly. After a while, he arched his eyebrows in a silent gesture to repeat his question, and I found myself nodding for no other reason than to please him.
“Are you sure?” he asked in a light whisper.
Once again, I nodded my reply.
“Good,” he murmured and smiled, wiping off droplets of water from my collarbones. “You don't know how happy that makes me.”
The next thing I knew, I was lifted into Alessandro's arms and he whispered it was time for me to go to sleep. I could tell we passed Broderick as Alessandro was extra attentive toward me. It was his way of sending the other man a message that I was his, and he should stay away if he knew what was good for him.
He brought me to my bedroom and gently laid my body on the bed. I gulped, wondering what was next. Alessandro sat on the edge of the bed, but he made no further attempts to touch me or come closer. Over the years, I had developed an instinctive sense that picked up on tension and predicted when Alessandro was about to turn nasty. At that particular moment, he didn't seem threatening, and the fact baffled me. Was this really it? Would there be no further punishments, no more reprimands about my conduct with other men? Has he just gotten even better at hiding his true colors?
Alessandro smiled as though he could understand what plagued my mind. “Don't look so worried,” he said softly. “Everybody makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect. Tonight, both of us made a mistake. Isn't that right, tesoro?”
“Yes,” I breathed, wondering what he was about to say.
“You were kind enough to forgive me, so I will show you the same kindness on this occasion, but there will be no repetition of such mercy on my part in the future,” he warned. “I won't fire your bodyguard because I know he has your safety in his best interest, and he would be very difficult to replace. For your sake, I’m prepared to pretend nothing happened. But if I see him touching you again, I’m going to cut off all of his limbs and feed the dogs with what's left of him. You get one pardon...one reprieve, but that's it. You understand me?”
“I understand,” I choked out with haste. “It won't happen again.”
He smiled, relaxing again as he lowered his head to lay a soft kiss on my bruised cheek. “Shh...I know. You're a smart girl. It's one of the things that makes you so very fascinating. You walk the edge of the line, but never quite manage to cross it, don't you, Olivia?”
Desperate not to provoke him, I offered a small smile and simply held his gaze, praying he would go away and leave me in peace. After a few long moments, he rose to his feet and finally granted my silent plea.
“Buona notte, piccola,” he called from the door, and disappeared into the dark hallway.
As the door closed behind him, I released a deep sigh of relief, but the feeling of uneasiness wouldn't leave my system. I expected Alessandro to reappear at any moment and say it was all a trick. I stayed awake for the rest of the night, vigilant of every movement and every sound, but there was nothing.
By all accounts, Alessandro was truly going to be merciful enough to let me have this one reprieve.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The Past (4 months prior)
Pinpricks crept up my neck. I couldn’t move. The doctor's words echoed in my mind, and I felt the color drain from my face. I shot her a glance filled with unprecedented apprehension. “Are you sure?” I demanded in a tremulous voice.
“We are sure,” she confirmed.
“Absolutely sure?” I hoped against hope. “There is no chance you made a mistake?”
For a short moment, I thought a glimpse of pity flashed in her eyes. “We ran multiple tests. I’m sorry. Sometimes birth control fails. It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen. You’re just one of those unlucky women.”
Unlucky women? Unlucky wasn't even beginning to cover it. When I arrived at her office, I was convinced my fears had been unfounded; the doctor would reassure me everything was all