joke.
I wished for a reprieve from the lecherous son and his overbearing father. Well, at least I’d be free of one of them. But did that mean Valeria had to entertain Roberto through the night?
I hated the idea of the Rossi son forcing himself on her as much as I despised the thought of sleeping in a bed next to Sabato.
I waltzed into the bedroom ahead of him, because he shuffled along at a slow pace with the aid of his cane. Sprightly he was not.
“You may get ready for bed,” he uttered in reedy gasps as if each breath pained him.
I wasn’t surprised—but I was amused—to see he traveled with a sleep apnea machine.
Perhaps I could just tempt the doddering old fuck to the balcony. Throw the ancient asshole off the edge and make a run for it.
Then I noticed bulky dim shadows lingering out there too. With his soldiers patrolling the balcony, Sabato left nothing to chance.
“I suppose you’ve picked out my nightwear as well?”
He waved a hand toward the vanity. “Sì, I have provided your trousseau.”
Sucking in my cheeks, I rolled my eyes.
Whereas Arkady’s gesture—even though he’d broken into my apartment—had almost been touching, the fact that this geezer had bought me a whole new wardrobe was nothing short of gross.
Atop the bench of the vanity a revealing, sheer negligee had been laid out.
Outright defiance wouldn’t do me any good at this point. He couldn’t keep me under lock and key forever. I just had to bide my time.
Inside the bathroom, I removed the slut gown and strumpet heels.
I checked the cuts on my thigh carefully, tamping down the urge to take up a straight razor to inflict more damage to my body.
It seemed only Arkady alleviated the need to harm myself.
He wouldn’t want me to hurt myself. Never. No matter what.
I held onto that bit of strength he’d given back to me, putting on the provided negligee, gagging down the bile creeping up the back of my throat.
Lord willing, Sabato was too old to get it up.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, he sat propped up on top of the bed in silk pajamas buttoned up to his waddle of a neck.
How pathetic.
How unmanly.
I muffled a snort.
“Let me see.” He seemed to know only rudimentary English, preferring to speak in Italian for the most part.
I wandered closer.
He certainly wasn’t the Big Bad Wolf wearing slippers with his oxygen mask at hand. Yet that crack across my face still smarted and, I knew with one word, he could have soldiers swarming all over me. Not to mention his foul son.
His dry lips opened, and he licked them grotesquely. His rheumy eyes dropped to my bosom and, most disturbingly, a small tenting began at his groin.
“Turn,” he ordered.
Fuck you.
I turned.
He groaned, but it sounded more pained than pleasured.
Good.
Let the old bastard die right here and right now.
“Get in bed, amore mio,” he wheezed out.
Flopping on my side beneath all the covers, I pulled blankets up to my neck.
Maybe he couldn’t get hard all the way, but that didn’t stop Sabato from running his knobby, liver-spotted hands up my front to my breasts.
I sucked in a breath, hoping to minimize his touch on my flesh.
I needed my wits to fend the goat off, so I slanted my head toward his wizened face. “We should wait. Don’t you think? It would be more special on the wedding night.”
I faked a moue of a smile. “You are planning on making this official, aren’t you?”
“Sì.”
His hand moved to my hip, and I tried not to shudder.
“Yes. You are right.” Thankfully, he agreed.
I only exhaled the slightest bit when the light turned off. My eyes cranked closed. I wouldn’t find sleep tonight; I was so tense I could barely draw breath.
If what Roberto said was true, even when Sabato died, he’d take ownership of me. He’d salivated throughout dinner and not because of the food. He couldn’t wait for his father’s demise so he could have his revolting way with me.
I had the feeling Roberto would begin his rapings as soon as we reached Italian ground.
While I mused on my fate and future, trying to figure a way out of this madness, Sabato’s tongue reached out. It slithered at my ear, reminding me of slugs, worms . . . leeches.
He could leech the life right out of me if I let him, but I wouldn’t.
I knew better now.
Sabato’s thin arm ringed around me. “I knew you’d choose his life.”
He spoke of Arkady,