Page 107 of The Mafia's Bride

The only way to get out of this, to get the knife, is to allow Dom to mark me.

The idea makes my head spin and my stomach churn. A brand. Like a fucking cow. A piece of property, meant to be a sign of status, of raw ownership and nothing more.

The poker waves in my face again. Sweat drips down the nape of my neck, my body freezing even as I know I can’t stay rooted.

Then I see Lex, in the corner, unconscious. He came to rescue me. Now, it’s up to me to rescue him.

I don’t want to do this, but I know I have to do it. Because Lex would do it for me.

For Lex, I can endure this.

Locking eyes with Dom, I smirk, mind made up, even though fear punches through me with a viciousness I don’t expect. “You don’t have theballs, little boy.”

That’s the right move. Attack his manhood and he’ll react, classic if not totally unimaginable. At least Lex could take a few hits.

He snarls something obscene, throwing his body forward. The poker touches my skin and the pain is immediate. Flesh melts and sizzles, blood boiling under the heated touch. My whole body reacts and I scream, unable to hold back.

It hurts, everythinghurts. Nerve, shock, pain. All of it. It collides together and I push pass the urge to pass out, holding on to my consciousness by the tip of my strength.

I reach for the knife and hold on.

The branding feels like it goes on for an eternity, but in reality, it's only seconds. When he pulls away, I can feel my skin tear with it, peeling off like wet tissue paper. My body starts to tremble, and I know I’m going into shock, but I breathe through it, long hard puffs. At least listening to Collins prattle on about her medical texts counted for something.

The knife slips into my hand, as Dom turns back to his father. I don’t waste time in sawing into the bindings.

“See? She’s tough. I own her now.” He clicks the safety off and holds it to Nico’s skull. He presses so hard the old man winces. “I’m your only son. That spot was mine. She was mine.”

Nico shakes his head sadly. “No, Dom. This wasn’t your family to lead. Sloane was never met to be yours. You don’t own people. You don’t own families. They choose you. The family chose Alessio.”

Dom smiles ruefully. “They’ll choose differently when you and Lex are dead, and I’m the only true De Luca left.”

His finger twitches as the rope snaps. I plunge the knife into Dom’s thigh, using what little strength I have left. It won’t kill him, but I hope it fucking hurts.

He falls with a wet cry, and I leap from the chair.

Nico wrestles for the gun with his son as the poker is forgotten. I drop to the ground, cradling my purse to my hands and take out the little black revolver.

A shot rings out and instinctively, I throw my body over Lex, praying that he’s still alright.

I won’t lose him now. Not like this.

Glancing up, Nico is on his side, a red rose of blood forming through his white dress shirt. Dom is standing over him, all his pressure on his good leg. The knife is still protruding from his thigh, stuck in him as blood drips onto the cream carpet.

“Don’t,” I say, shakily, rising to my bare feet. My shoes are long gone, my height abysmal next to these men. “Don’t kill him.”

Dom looks back at me, face completely discolored in unhinged rage.

“Who are you to command me?” He sneers. “As a wife, you don’t control me. I controlyou.” He turns back to his father. “I’ll be with you in a minute. Someone needs to teach a bitch how to heel.”

Chills break out over my arms but I hold firm. It’s the same thing my father would have said. Raising the weapon the way Lex taught me, I stare at my target the way Nico instructed. Take a deep breath. Calm my thoughts. Let my finger lightly touch the trigger.

Dom laughs and my finger twitches.

The bullet cuts through his shoulder and the gun drops, a straybullet flying into the air. It hits the fireplace, an explosion rocking the stone. Debris flies out, ashes and small sparks landing on the curtains and carpet without warning.

Flames rise and the entire room turns into a vortex of heat. The dated home goes up without much thought, everything feeding the fire.

Nico stands, and we lock eyes, even as Dom screams in pain at our feet.