More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
I caused this. I sent her away and left her a target for my enemies. And, for what? She had only honored my son’s secret. I should have appreciated such loyalty to my own flesh and blood. Instead I cast her out. My love, the mother of my child.
“We cannot go to war over this. It’s bad for business.” “I will start a thousand wars to get her back.”
“If you don’t let me go, I will do everything I can to make your life a living hell.” He closed the distance between us and wrapped a large hand around my arm. “No need because I am already there. I have been since the moment I ordered you to leave.”
“How badly should I make him suffer, dolcezza?” he asked quietly. “Tell me. What retribution will make it easier for you to sleep at night?”
“This could bring down everything we’ve built. Is she worth it, Rav? Is she worth losing the entire empire over?” “She is worth ten empires—and don’t fucking ask me again.”
“But I have you back in my bed. Every night when I pull you close to fall sleep, and every morning when I wake up and you’re wrapped around me like a second skin.” I leaned closer, my mouth hovering above her ear. “What I am trying to do is to get you to ride my dick again, because I miss it, amore. I miss you.”
“Do you need me to tell you how I feel? Is that what you need to forgive me and believe I am worthy of your trust? Because ti amo, cuore mio.”
But the way I feel about you, Francesca? It is a sickness, a cancer. Something that cannot be destroyed or removed. You are a part of me, from now until they put me in the ground.”
“You like seeing the evidence of my work?” “I shouldn’t,” she whispered.
“No, Francesca. Crawl to me.”
I got off on degrading her, and Francesca got off on being degraded.
“You alone have the power to destroy me. I am nothing without you, absolutely nothing. And I will never, ever let you go.” Her hands wrapped around my wrists. “Good, because you’ve ruined me, il Diavolo. Absolutely ruined me, so there’s no getting rid of me now. Which means you and I are going to rule the motherfucking world together.”
“I love you, but if you break my heart again, I will carve yours out of your chest and feed it to your pigs.”
“You might be a good girl now, but you will soon be a dirty, filthy girl for me.”
Her happiness sank into my bones, a balm for all the violence and cruelty I dealt with on a daily basis. It was like the dark clouds that loomed over my soul parted just for her, enough to let in her sassy mouth and resilient spirit.
“My piccola monella, don’t you know that everything I do is for you? I will cheat and steal and kill for you. I will burn down the entire world to keep you safe.”
