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Nino released me, and I quickly created distance between us, moving toward the bed. Six years had passed, but the memories still woke me at night. I was scared of being close to a man, to any man, especially this man—my husband.
“It’s not like it’s a marriage for love. Nino doesn’t have to feel anything to marry. He only needs to say yes and fuck his bride, perhaps father a kid or two, and keep his wife alive as long as we want peace with the Famiglia. You can do that, right?”
Bruh
Giulia was one of the few who looked at me with kindness and not a superior sneer.
I was still shunned by many, not openly, but I caught their looks when they thought I wasn’t paying attention.
“And I don’t miss him. He wasn’t a good father. I miss my mother, but you didn’t kill her. That was my father.”
I didn’t really have time. I was getting older and being unmarried and a traitor’s daughter would only make people talk more.
Only Father had been in the bedroom with her, and he had killed her. Dead. Just like that. One tiny bullet and she was gone.
Luca wouldn’t hear it, so I stayed with them, and eventually, they learned to tolerate me, and yet not a day passed when I wasn’t acutely aware that I was seen as a traitor’s daughter.
I often regretted that I’d confided in Giulia shortly after it had happened, but I had been broken and confused, and she was always kind.
“I did, and I won’t tell anyone. It’s your decision, but I think Uncle Durant needs to pay for what he did.”
Hell no
Her lips formed a thin line. “My parents never treated you the way they should have. I’m sorry.”
“Everything will go as planned,” Remo said, grinning widely. “Luca better start looking for a wife for my brother. We’re looking forward to meeting her.”
Kiara?
They exchanged a look and something heavy settled in my stomach. “We need to have a word with you,” Felix said.
They had given me shelter and education, but affection or even protection from the harsh whispers of society … No. Never that.
“But you are a grown woman now and it’s time for you to have your own home, to be a wife and mother.”
Wtf bro
“You will marry up,” Aunt Egidia assured me with a tense smile, but her eyes … her eyes still held pity, and deep down I knew that whatever horrors my past held, they would soon be accompanied by new horrors.
Every night I took my pillow and blanket and curled up on my chaise lounge to sleep, and in the morning I returned everything and made my bed so no one found out that I didn’t use the bed and hadn’t in six years. Six years. I was only thirteen.
Omggggg :(
I turned around and recognized my Uncle Durant under the gleam of moonlight. He had come to Baltimore with his wife, Aunt Criminella, to visit Aunt Egidia and Uncle Felix for a few days.
“This is your punishment for being a dirty traitor.”
Wtf. Its not even her fault and shes a literal human sicko.
“Nobody will believe you if you tell them about this, Kiara. And even if they do, they will blame you and nobody will want you anymore. You are dirty now, Kiara, you hear me? Worthless.”
“I will make sure the maids know you got your period, don’t worry. I won’t let anyone find out that you are a worthless little whore.
Wtf
One of the maids, Dorma, stepped into my room. She was one of the younger ones who looked at me like I was a bother. Her eyes moved over me. “Get up,” she said sharply. “We need to clean you up before the others wake up.”
Wtfffffffff
Dorma began gathering the sheets. They, too, were covered in blood. “You better keep this quiet,” she muttered. “Your uncle is an important man and you are only a traitor.
HUHHHHH
“We’ll go to the bathroom now, and if anyone asks, you got your period, right?”
Bitch evil cunt
That night, Uncle Durant came into my room again, and again the night after, and again until he finally had to leave for Atlanta. Every morning Dorma cleaned the sheets and me. A few days after he’d left, she wore an expensive necklace. The price for her silence.
Vile
“So he gives us the daughter of a traitor?” Remo asked in a low voice. “We don’t care about these kinds of things.”
Period
“Come on, you are almost fourteen. When I was your age, I’d already fucked a few girls.” Savio looked at Remo. “Lock him in a room with a few hookers so they can fuck him into shape.”
WHAT
“What’s your problem with the women your brothers and I take home?” He stiffened and his head shot up. “I’m not gay.” I regarded him but his face remained in the shadows, making it even harder to read him. “Remo wouldn’t punish you for it. We are brothers, Adamo. Nothing will change that.” Adamo gnawed on his lip then winced. “I will have to stitch that up.” He nodded. “I’m not gay.”
Aweee
Adamo shrugged. “I don’t want to be forced to sleep with a hooker.” “Remo won’t force you nor will I.” “Really?” “Really.”
Yeah bc wtf like who is doing that
Nino was tall and muscled, and every inch of his torso and arms was covered in tattoos.
I LOVE
I didn’t sleep more than two hours. Every night, Uncle Durant’s face haunted my dreams as he hovered over me and broke me,
So sad
“Very well. Come on. I chose the library for your first meeting. It’s the place Kiara spends most of her time.” I cocked an eyebrow. “She likes to read?”
Aweeeeeee
Felix hesitated. “She does, but she is also very beautiful and demure. The perfect wife despite her intelligence.” Remo rolled his eyes behind the man’s back.
Literally me rolling my eyes too. Like why r u downplaying.
Her movements were elegant and purposeful but underplayed with a hint of a tremor she couldn’t suppress.
Aweeee baby girl :(
“The pleasure is mine,” I replied, and Remo’s smile pulled wider. Kiara flinched slightly, almost imperceptible, but Remo had noticed, twitching his lip, and so had I.
“You shouldn’t forget it either. Kiara isn’t your concern anymore. She is mine.” I showed him the ring, and her eyes flitted toward it briefly. “Today, I will put this ring on her finger, and then my word is the law, not yours.”
YUUPPP
Dilated pupils, accelerated breathing, racing pulse, trembling, Kiara had the telltale signs of terror.
“I think that was the purpose of your appearance, wasn’t it?” I drawled.
Lmfaoaooaao
“Done with your assessment?” Remo said as he followed me to the spread of delicacies on the dining table. “You will definitely enjoy fucking her. I wish I could get a taste.”
Yuck
“You are so very beautiful,” Giulia said quietly. Egidia clasped her hand in front of her stomach, regarding me with more affection than I’d ever seen before. “You are.”
I met Aunt Egidia’s gaze and the guilt I’d seen in her eyes before was back. “Make him treat you like a lady.”
“Kiara is very tense around men,” I said.
A man with a brain
“Her father hit her before he was killed. That might explain her problem with men. But I think there might be more …” “More?”
Omg
I was momentarily startled. He sounded a lot like Nino; maybe he hid his intelligence behind his layers of violence.
Uncle Durant appeared at our side and terror from the past took hold of me. I dug my nails into Remo, clinging to him, undoubtedly leaving marks with my fingernails.
Omg
I clutched Remo tightly, looking up at him. His dark eyes regarded me, narrowing ever so slightly.
Omg :(
The words didn’t leave my mouth. Durant reached for me, but Remo angled us so he was between my uncle and me.
Good
Uncle Durant’s face turned red. His angry gaze settled on me briefly, and I pressed into Remo, but then my uncle moved away. “You can release me now,” Remo muttered.
Omg :(
Remo held onto my hand, not allowing me to go. His thumb pressed against my wrist in a similar way like Nino had.
CHeckin her hr
“Nothing. I don’t like him.” “That was not dislike, Kiara,” he said, still in that terrifying voice.
