Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride novel Chapter 7

Gianna’s POV

“Do you think I’m going to poison you?” Dante asked suddenly, his voice much calmer than it had any right to be.

My fingers shook around the glass, then, slowly… I nodded.

A dry chuckle left his lips, as though he was mocking my response. “If I wanted you dead,” he said coldly, “you’d have been dead the moment you passed out in my car.”

When I didn’t respond, he let out an irritated sigh, grabbed the glass from my hand, and took a sip himself. Then he pushed it back toward me.

“Drink it, now. You’ll need your strength. And you’ll need to stay hydrated… for what I have planned tonight.”

I wanted to ask what he meant, but changed my mind. The less conversations I had with this man, the better for me.

So I tipped the glass back and gulped down every drop. Only then did I realize how thirsty I was, how dry my throat had been as the cool liquid slid down my throat. I drank like I hadn’t seen water in days.

When I was done, he took the glass from my hand and set it on the side table.

Then, without speaking, he retrieved something from the tray the woman had brought in earlier. A small tube.

He opened it, dipped his fingers inside, then sat beside me once more.

I tensed.

“Relax,” he voice was low and reassuring.

His fingers brushed against my neck again, this time with cool gel between them.

The tenderness of it made my skin shiver.

My body jerked involuntarily at the contact, but he pulled me closer, holding me steady with his other hand.

“Stop moving,” He commanded. “Or else you could smear it all over your body.”

“Alright.” I replied softly.

He moved slowly, carefully, applying the ointment in soft, circular strokes into my skin.

And I hated that it felt good.

That his touch was gentle and soothing sent little sparks dancing beneath my skin.

Once he was done, he let his fingers linger just a second too long before pulling back.

“Does it feel better?” he asked.

I hesitated, my voice thin and brittle. “…Yes.”

“Good,” he said, his tone shifting again, colder. Distant.

As if whatever part of him that showed me kindness… had already vanished.

And the monster I feared was back.

The contradiction of this man was enough to make me dizzy.

Then he tilted my face up with a rough, confident grip, forcing me to meet the cold darkness in his eyes.

“I expected you to be a little shaken,” he said, his tone flat, almost amused. “But not this damn stubborn. Or downright obnoxious.”

How dare he call me stubborn?

After everything he’d put me through, threatening to sell me, shattering what little life I had left, he still expected me to just nod and obey? What kind of delusional world did this man live in, where no one challenged him?

His voice was laced with irritation as he continued.

“I thought, knowing your life was at risk, you’d be grateful and accept my offer willingly. Knowing that I'm the best option you have.”

I folded my arms across my chest, more to hide how badly I was shaking than to look defiant. “How am I supposed to be sure you really are my best bet?”

His eyes narrowed. “Well, for one,” he leaned closer, “you can be sure I would never auction you off to another man. I’m the only man you’ll ever belong to.”

I couldn’t help it, my eyes rolled before I could stop myself. The way he said it, like I was supposed to feel grateful that only one man would own me. How sick was that?

He caught it. Of course he did.

His stare hardened. “Can you say the same about those vile men at Vincenzo’s club?”

I matched his gaze. “Maybe you should let me go so I can find out for myself.”

Dante's mouth curved into a tight, mocking smile. “I’ve given you more grace than most, firecracker. But you’re bent on making this harder than it needs to be.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” I replied, my voice shaky. “I know you don’t have a conscience, but if there’s even a piece of one left in you, then try to understand… all of this is new to me. My father is dead. I was sold to the man who killed him, like an object. And now I’m supposed to just… adjust to the mafia world overnight? I don’t even understand any of this.”

He didn’t speak. Just looked at me.

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