Rosalia's pov
My hand shakes as I cut through the mouth-watering steak. The dining area is dimly lit ,only the soft glow of the chandelier and the fireplace flickering. The fire crackles softly, the only sound in the room besides my own unsteady breathing.
Just eat and leave, Rose, I tell myself. The heels on my feet are already uncomfortable, the dress tight and riding up my thighs. I can feel his gaze on me.
"Tell me, Raven…" His voice booms , low, deep, dangerous.
I flinch slightly, the fork halfway to my mouth. Slowly, I place it back on the plate. I turn, meeting his gaze. His eyes drag slowly from my face to the cleavage of my breasts, then back up again.
He lowers his glass with a sharp click on the table. I blink, wondering why it's taking him so damn long to say whatever he wants to say.
"Why did you run when Julio told you you'd be my wife?" he asks, cocking his head slightly. A smirk tugs at his lips, and the sight makes my whole body tingle.
"Every woman wants to be in your place, Raven. Except you. Why?" His voice drops to a low whisper.
My gaze drifts back to my plate, the wheels in my head turning , thinking of an answer, and fast.What would Raven say .
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, Raven," he orders, voice slightly raised, annoyed.
I've never wanted to slap a man so badly in my entire life. But I obey , not because I want to, but because Raven would obey.
I look at him and sigh a little. He cocks a brow at me, waiting for an answer.
"I… I was scared…" I whisper, my voice cracking. Not from fear , but from how he's making me feel, and how he's not supposed to be making me feel like this.
He's your enemy, for God's sake, Rose. Pull it together.
He chuckles darkly, and it makes my body tighten just from the sound.
Why am I like this?
"Scared?" he asks, leaning forward with a sick grin on his beautiful face.
"Of me? Or who you heard I was? Or what you thought I'd do to you?" He leans back, muscles flexing as he crosses his arms over his chest.
I swallow hard, nervous, and can't stop my eyes from shamelessly raking over him.
"You'll look so pretty when I break you, Raven…" he adds, eyes moving over me. I turn away, my heart beating too fast, sweat beading on my skin.Its the way he drags the name Raven .
"I said look at me when I'm talking to you!" he yells. I physically flinch as his deep voice echoes through the space.
I suck in a breath, and with glossy eyes I meet his.
I've always been a strong woman, but in a situation like this, I don't know what to do. I feel scared ,because of who I'm pretending to be, and because of this man sitting inches from me, talking about how pretty I'll look when he breaks me.
A few hours ago, I hadn't registered how deep and dangerous this was. I thought Raven would have shown up by now and I'd be like, Oh hey girl… here, have your man.
But oh, was I dead-ass wrong.
"There you go… you're learning…" he chuckles, sipping his drink while my gaze freezes on him. Eyes glossy and scared, I see his grin widen.He taps his ringed finger on the glass.
"Tsk. I thought Julio would give me some ugly hoe… but was I wrong," he says under his breath, loud enough for me to hear. I shiver at how he sounds.
"I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you, Raven…" His gaze drags from my thighs to my waist, my lips, and finally lands on my face.
He just stares, and I'm tempted to lower my eyes again, but I can't.
I finally master the courage to speak after the question burns in my mind.
"Why me?" It's barely a whisper.
Why Raven ?Why suddenly choose a girl from a brothel to be a wife .
It takes him by surprise, but he doesn't yell. Instead, his grin widens, leaning back again.
"Hmmm… why you…" he echoes, running his fingers over his chin. I look away, because I have a feeling I'm not going to like the answer.
"I needed a wife. A symbol necessary for my image." His deep voice booms and I look back at him.
"Julio ,your boss ,owed me, and I figured, well… why not get a girl from one of his brothels?" He shrugs, like we're talking about the weather and not about selling women.
"I've always gotten any woman I wanted, Raven…" His voice raises a little and he sighs, leaning forward. Thank God I'm not sitting closer.
"And when I heard you ran away… I got interested. I wanted to see , who is this woman who dares say no to me?" he whispers. The air crackles between us. His gaze sweeps over me again. My throat bobs as I look away, sipping my wine with shaky hands.
"You're right about one thing though…" he says, and I snap my gaze back to him. I'm shaking so badly I might have a panic attack.
"You should be scared."he grins
"Makes it even more fun to break you…" he adds .
A tear slips down and I wipe it away with shaky hands.
Raven, wherever you are, I'm going to kill you.
The dining table falls silent. I try eating , not because I'm hungry, but because I need something to do with my hands.
The sound of heels clicking fills the room. I snap my gaze up. In walks the woman I saw when I first arrived. Lady Red, in a two piece navey blue suit of a skirt and top topped with a blazer .
"Mother," Alessio greets with a slight nod.
"Evening, son…" she says, moving to the seat next to him.
Once settled, her eyes meet mine. I don't look away. I meet her gaze head-on. I'm not about to be humbled by this bitch.
"I see you look more presentable, Raven. The dress makes you look less of a hoe and more of a wife," she chuckles slightly.
I roll my eyes at her.
"Did you just roll your eyes at me, you bitch?" she yells, slamming her fist on the table.
"Just talk to your son, leave me the fuck alone…" I shoot back.
Her eyes widen in shock , and if I'm not wrong, I see Alessio grin in my peripheral vision. The grin disappears when his mom looks at him.
"You're just gonna let her talk to me like that?" she screams at him.
I glance at him and , yeah, out of habit , roll my eyes at him too. I stand, annoyed and pissed off, throwing the napkin on the table. Having had enough of this bullshit.
"I didn't say you could leave, Raven…" he growls.
I scoff, turning around.
I walk upstairs.
The fuck does he think he is? I'm gonna leave this place before they—
My thoughts are interrupted when a strong arm grips my wrist and turns me around.
I gasp when my back hits the wall so hard a few portraits fall to the ground.
I look up at him, his grey eyes a storm...his breath hot on my cheek .
Ohhh boy He cages me , one hand braced beside my head, the other gripping my waist.
"S…stop… leave…" I try wiggling free, but he holds me tighter.
"No. I'm going to teach you why you should never walk away from me, Raven…" he growls in my ear before pulling away and dragging me with him.
Shit.