ssi

ugh the suffocating sile

A thin line of crimson bloomed across the ruined silk of her dress. The opulent hall, with its g

ntrance, as still and unreadable as a marble statue. He didn't flinch at the scream or the sight of blood. He w

g agony, she scrambled away from the maids and threw herself toward the only man she thou

ed out, her bloody hands hovering inches from his

devoid of any human warmth. "This is Rinaldi family business. I am merely an observer." He slowly lifted h

s testing me. He was handing me the executioner

ontinue," I ordered, my voice ringing clear

was almost imperceptible-touche

gged her back to the center of the floor. Before the whip could f

ared to what my husband will do to Bianca in his cells," I whispered, ensuring only she could hear. "Every soun

r lower lip so hard it bled, swallowing her screams into muffled, pathetic whimpers as the leather struck h

you mad? Stop

r, his face a mottled purplish-red. He didn't even glance at his bleeding mistress on the floor. Hi

t even grace hi

wrath on me. "And you, Alessia! You come ba

id, my voice carrying effortlessly over Carina's suppressed sobs. "Your other daughter, Bianc

lor draining from his

cleaning house to appease my husband. If she doesn't, Don Moretti will. And his methods... are far less clean. Th

bsolute horror, then slowly turned his terrified gaze toward the man standin

e commanding the room as he walked to my side. He wrapped his la

"(my queen), he murmured, his deep

strength, but I didn't take a step toward the door.