Chapter 3

The air in Luca’s private underground casino was thick enough to choke on.

"So, this is the Alexander family's loyal bitch? Not bad to look at."

Luca swirled the amber liquid in his whiskey glass, his laugh echoing off the walls. "Go on then. Take off that Kevlar vest. Give the Capos a little show. If you keep everyone entertained tonight, I might just let you see your sister."

My nails dug into my palms until the skin broke.

I wanted to snap his neck. But then I thought of Lily.

I forced my hand to unclench.

"Fine," I said, my voice dead and cold.

The room went quiet, dozens of eyes sticking to me like tar. I reached for the buttons of my tactical shirt. One by one, they came undone.

I stood there in nothing but my black lace lingerie. The cool air bit at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the burning humiliation.

I could feel their gazes crawling over my skin.

"More," Luca commanded, his eyes darkening with lust.

I reached behind me to unclasp my bra. My hands shook, but I let the straps fall. I was about to be completely bare.

"Wait. Watching is boring." Luca stood up abruptly.

His hand reached out, aiming for my breast. "I want to taste what the Don of Cosa Nostra plays with."

Every muscle in my body coiled tight. I wanted to grab his wrist and snap the bone. I could do it in a second.

But if I fought back, Lily died.

I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath, waiting for the violation.

Just as his filthy hand was about to graze me—

Crash.

The heavy, carved oak doors of the private suite were kicked open with violent force.

Alexander stormed in. Behind him, two rows of Soldatos in black suits flooded the room, Thompson submachine guns raised. The pressure in the room dropped instantly, suffocating everyone.

Silence fell like a guillotine.

Luca froze, then forced a greasy smile. "Don Alexander, I was just helping you train your—"

He never finished the sentence.

Alexander strode forward, snatched a heavy crystal ashtray from the table, and smashed it directly onto Luca’s kneecap.

"Aaaargh!"

The scream tore through the room, drowning out the opera music playing in the background.

Alexander’s face was a mask of stone. He placed his handmade Italian leather shoe on Luca’s shattered leg and ground his heel down.

"I said you could look. I never said you could touch. Do you think my words are just the wind blowing over Sicily?"

Before I could even exhale, Alexander ripped off his long black trench coat and wrapped it tightly around my body.

He scooped me up into his arms.

The drive back to the estate was silent. The moment we entered the master bedroom, he dragged me into the bathroom and shoved me into a tub filled with ice-cold water.

The freezing temperature shocked my system, seizing my muscles and stinging my open wounds.

"Boss..."

"Shut your mouth! Have you forgotten Omertà?"

Alexander grabbed a stiff-bristled horse brush from the shelf. He began to scrub the skin where Luca’s fingers had hovered.

"Did you enjoy that? Are you that desperate for a man's attention?"

Cold sweat mixed with tears on my face. "I didn't... I did it to save Lily..."

"Don't you dare talk back!"

He scrubbed harder. "If this skin is so dirty, then scrub it until it's clean! You belong to me. Who gave you permission to carry the scent of another man?"