Page 14 of Forgive Me, Father (Don #1)

"Welcome to the family," she said, her smile wide. "I was just telling my cousin how your little nuptial rites caused quite a stir back in Italy."

“How do you feel?” Alfonso inquired before I could ask questions.

“Better, I guess.”

“You guess?” His eyebrow raised.

“Fine, I’m still tender.” It barely came out, and I lowered my head.

Loretta spoke in Italian, her words flowing effortlessly, but Alfonso quickly scolded her. She just laughed it off. I wished I understood the language. It was clear there was more going on than I could grasp.

"Lorette was at the ceremony last night," he said, his voice casual. "She was there in my father's place. He couldn't make it and sends his apologies."

I could tell it was a lie by the way his cousin’s eyebrows arched in amusement.

My gaze shifted to Alfonso. He was all smiles, acting so friendly, but we were married now, and I would not let him treat me like this in the open.

"Don't lie to me," I said, my voice steady. "I know your father isn't happy about this arrangement."

His cousin laughed. She said something in Italian again, and Alfonso glared at her. She fell quiet immediately. His gaze landed back on me.

“Enjoy your breakfast.” He stood, and Lorette begged him to come back before turning to me. “You have guts, girl.”

“I would appreciate it if you could speak English in my presence until I’ve learned how to speak Italian fluently.”

“Touche. You are very bold, and I have to admit, I love it. But I don’t think he does. So, if you want to keep that little heart inside your chest, I suggest you ease up around my cousin.”

“I’m not afraid of your cousin. He’s my husband, and he will respect me.”

“You’re dreaming. He’s a Ponticello. The Ponticello men are taught from a young age that males get everything, and females give everything.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not my way. If he wants, he needs to give too.”

I didn’t like how easily she dismissed me, like my thoughts and feelings didn’t matter. So, I stood up, threw a glare in her direction, and walked straight back to my room.

Another day, alone. It was becoming a pattern, and it didn’t sit well with me.

That night, Nico showed up with a sleek black dress and accessories. His face unreadable.

"We're going out," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

It took me two hours to get ready. The dress fit like it was made just for me, hugging my curves perfectly, accentuating my chest and hips.

The studded stiletto heels were nothing short of gorgeous, and despite their six-inch height, it felt like I was gliding on air.

My sister always joked that I had "rubber feet" because I could wear any pair of shoes without so much as a second thought about comfort.

Along with the dress came jewelry, expensive, luxurious pieces that sparkled in the light. There was also a wig, a sleek black one that just brushed my shoulders. It matched my evening makeup flawlessly, giving me a polished, sophisticated look.

Around eight, I met the party. My stomach growled as I’d only had a bit of fruit this morning. I was starving.

Alfonso looked absolutely stunning in a black suit that clung to his frame perfectly. For a moment, our eyes locked, and in that brief exchange, he made me feel a swirl of emotions I couldn’t quite place.

As I walked past him, the scent of his cologne enveloped me, rich and intoxicating. I hated how badly it affected me. And worse, I hated that Lorette was joining us.

We greeted each other, and against my wishes, she spoke Italian again. She had no respect for me, that much was obvious, but I wasn’t the type to repeat myself. She would learn the hard way that I was just as important as they were.

We went out for dinner, thank heavens, because I was starving. But of course, it was all in Italian, and I barely understood a word. Alfonso seemed completely uninterested as we ate, while everyone around us laughed and chatted in a rapid foreign language.

Afterward, we headed to a nightclub.

Alfonso had a meeting; I didn’t like the woman whose breasts were merely hidden by a jacket. She looked stunning but the way she leaned against my new husband and laughed at whatever left his mouth worked me up. He smiled and conversed with her.

My blood boiled as he kept ignoring me. He could’ve left me at the hotel for all I cared.

This is just a business arrangement , I reminded myself. I had to be with him wherever he went, and that agreement hit me all over again, suddenly clear in my mind.

The woman’s shrilly laughter pierced through my thoughts and Alfonso’s gaze flickered to mine.

He just stared at me, smiled even.

I couldn’t quite figure him out. Shaking my head, I turned and made my way toward the stairs, descending to the dance floor, hoping the music would drown out the confusion swirling in my mind.

“Camilla!” Alfonso called but I didn’t stop. I refused to stay and watch him giving all his attention to someone else.

The lights were dimmed, the bass of the music vibrating through my body as I walked each step toward the ground level. I hoped the rhythm of the music would drown out the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind.

Besides, I wasn’t his little slave who was going to obey like a good kitten. I was a human being with feelings and emotions.

Until I realized the giant had actually gotten up from his seat and followed me.

I darted past the patrons, slipping through the crowd like a fish skirting through water, a few inches to the left with ease. Being smaller had its perks as I squeezed through the mass of bodies.

He, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

His presence alone made people flinch, the low growls that rumbled from his chest pushing them into tight little clusters, desperate to avoid him.

I couldn’t help but think he was going to learn the hard way that gentleness had more power than aggression ever could.

I slipped into the heart of the dance floor, surrounded by strangers, the music vibrating through me. After a while, I caught sight of my husband stomping up the stairs. He stopped by the railing, scanning the mass of bodies, clearly searching for me, but his gaze landed in all the wrong places.

That put a smile on my face. Asshole.

I danced my heart out but the loneliness was like a stab in the heart.

His cousin was a snob, and I had no time for people who refused to respect me.

I missed my sister as I partied with strangers, trying to have some fun.

I couldn’t even tell where the VIP area with Alfonso and his fucking snobbish family was anymore.

I took one shot after another and just enjoyed myself.

And then shit rolled into my path in the form of a drunken idiot who refused to keep his hands off me.

He pulled and tugged at me as I tried to get away from him.

“You do not want to do this, buddy. I’m married and to your worst fucking nightmare.”

He laughed. “Yeah, where is your little nightmare?”

“I promise you, he is everything but little.”

The guy laughed, thought I was joking, and kept tugging me, rubbing himself against me.

He assaulted me with his breath, and I had to push him away so that he couldn’t kiss me.

Suddenly, a gun cocked, and Alfonso stood right next to him with his barrel against the idiot’s head.

The guy pissed himself, and I froze, staring at both fucking fools.

I shook my head and rushed away from this crap.

“Camilla!” Alfonso yelled, but thank heavens, no shot went off. A hand grasped around mine, and Nico appeared out of nowhere.

“Stop toying with him.”

“I’m not toying with him. He’s out of his fucking mind.”

“I’ve told you, if you stop defying him, your life will be amazing.”

“Defying him, Nico? He treats me like I’m a fucking idiot. I won’t have that kind of marriage.” Tears welled up in my eyes.

The asshole lifted me over his shoulder, walking toward the exit.

“Put me down, you bastard!” I hit his back but doubted he felt anything.

Alfonso’s hand slapped me hard across my ass, and I cried out.

It burned, and yet my body absolutely loved it.

He manhandled me into the SUV and climbed in behind me.

I couldn’t even sit on my ass because it stung so badly.

Lorette and the extra she’d picked up laughed, speaking in Italian again.

Tears blurred my eyes. If this was how he was going to treat me, fuck submitting to him.

He yelled at her in Italian and when his cousin didn’t acknowledge whatever left his mouth, I realized that he was yelling at me.

“I don’t understand Italian,” I shouted back, and he grabbed me around the throat again. Nobody said anything in response.

He growled in Italian again as tears built up in my eyes. My entire body ached. We were not going to be a great match. He was going to kill me one of these days.

“Alfonso,” Loretta yelled, and he shoved me against the car door. My body slammed into it as I coughed, trying to get my breathing under control. I kept coughing and when I finally had it under control, the SUV stopped in front of the hotel. I got out of the car and darted for the doors.

“Camilla,” Alfonso snarled behind me again.

I didn’t stop. I continued defying him. Tears rolled freely down my face as I could still feel his fingers around my neck and his palm on my ass.

He was a monster, but the worst part was that my body absolutely loved every second of it. I was soaking wet between my thighs.

What did this mean, that I loved his sadistic side, that it got me turned on? I didn’t understand any of it.

I pressed the elevator button as I saw the giant of a man rushing toward me.

I contemplated standing my ground or running for the stairs, just hiding before he really killed me tonight.

I decided too late, and he grabbed me as I went to make a run for it.

I fought him by assaulting him with words, and he tossed me over his shoulder again and walked into the elevator as it opened.

He commanded the others to wait as they tried to enter, and the doors closed with only the two of us inside.

My heart thumped faster, and my fear heightened as adrenaline shot through my body.

He pulled me off his shoulder, and I slid in front of him. He pinned me like a bug against the wall.

“Why do you keep on defying me after I told you not to?” he screamed in my face.

“Oh, but you can treat me the way you want? Is that it? Is that how this business arrangement is going to be, Alfonso? You going to take and take until I’m dry and have nothing more to give? Is that right?”

“Yes, it’s my right.”

“Your fucking right! What about my right? You are not the only one who got raised by a tight hand, you fucking bastard. Ever since I was born, it’s been how to sit, how to please a fucking Don. And this is what I get? Manhandled when I don’t listen? I’m not a fucking dog.”

He roared and punched the wall of the elevator. The elevator shook with us in it. He spoke again in Italian.

“English!” I insisted, and he grabbed my jaw with his fingers.

“Stop yelling at me.”

“Stop treating me like a fucking idiot.”

He planted his lips on me and kissed me hard. I punched him and pushed him away. When he didn’t budge, I bit him, and when he still didn’t budge, I made sure my knee connected as hard as I could with his balls.

That made him stop and release me. He doubled over, and thank heavens, the elevator stopped.

“Camilla,” he grunted as I rushed toward what I refer to as my room.

I could hear his panting behind me as he tried to catch up with me. As I reached my door, he pulled me back and slammed me into the wall.

“You are such an ungrateful little bitch,” he hissed. “You will submit, one way or another.” He was taking off his belt and unbuttoning his pants.

“Oh wow, Alfonso, you are such a fucking man,” I countered as I knew what his last method of getting me to submit was, raping me.

He growled as I taunted him more to rape me. Prove what a big man he was, and then he tore my panties from my body. His hand cupped my mound, and he gasped. His eyes stilled as he stared at me. I closed mine in embarrassment as I knew what he was feeling.

“You getting off on this?” he asked, shock lacing his voice.

“Let go of me!” I pushed at him, and his hand disappeared from between my legs. My feet touched the ground, and I pushed him away and rushed to my room. I opened the door and then locked it behind me.

He didn’t follow, and I thanked my lucky stars that something had stopped that man’s fury he’d had for me tonight.

The adrenaline washed away, and my legs and everything shook. My throat and ass still hurt as shame washed over me like a tidal wave. Why was my body reacting toward him like this? I didn’t understand, but I knew tonight, it had saved my life.