I nearly choke on my wine. Excuse me?
He stares at my breasts. “I still remember how Clarissa bled on our wedding night. She was too embarrassed to look at the sheets the next day.”
His words are like a bucket of cold water. Whatever effect kissing Rafaele had on me disappears in a blink.
Forget it. These people are disgusting, and so is Rafaele for following this sick tradition. I can’t ever let myself forget that.
“Maybe I can share a few tips—”
“That’s enough, Uncle Julius,” Rafaele interrupts, his voice cold. “I don’t need any tips, and if I were you, I’d reconsider the direction of your gaze. ”
The creepy uncle’s eyes jump to Rafaele. “Don Messero, I wasn’t—I mean, I meant no disrespect.”
“Your daughter is calling you over. You better head back to your table.”
No one was calling him over, but Rafaele must have noticed me reaching for my steak knife.
The old man hobbles away, and Rafaele puts his hand on my thigh. “Ignore him. He’s practically senile.”
I shove his hand off me. “Something tells me he wasn’t any less disgusting when he was all there.”
Rafaele turns to me, but I pointedly look away. I don’t know how I’ll make it through the evening. I’m not afraid of having sex. In fact, I think I’d enjoy it very much under the right circumstances. But what’s supposed to happen tonight is sick.
I hate the idea that I owe my virginity to Rafaele. That I have to let him take it. And that I have to be okay with displaying the evidence of the act to his entire family.
Does Rafaele think he can make me forget all that just because he knows how to kiss? I said I’d marry him, and I did. But I never said I’d just accept my new life with no questions asked and no resistance.
If he wants to make me into his obedient wife, he better be ready for me to fight him at every turn. Let’s see who throws in the towel first.
Vale gets out of her seat and tips her head in the direction of the bathroom. I stand up to go meet her, but before I can even take a step, Rafaele grabs my forearm.
I glare at him. “What?”
“Where are you going?”
“I need to use the restroom.”
His gaze jumps between Vale and me.
If he tries to stop me from talking to my sister, I swear I’m going to lose it. I’m already on edge. Maybe he sees that in my eyes, because after a moment he lets me go.
“Don’t take too long.”
I march out of the room. Vale is waiting for me just outside the bathroom. I rush over to her and give her a tight hug. “How’s Gem? Is she feeling okay?”
My sister presses a kiss to my cheek before she pulls away and looks me over. “She’s fine. We took her to a doctor as soon as she and Ras got to Italy, just to make sure everything is alright.”
“Ras and her are good? He forgave her for leaving him in Greece?”
Vale smiles. “Of course, he did. He’s completely smitten with her. Can’t stop talking about how excited he is to be a father.”
A grin pulls at my lips. It’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. “Thank God. Fuck, Vale. I’ve been so worried about her since we said goodbye. No one would tell me anything. It wasn’t until I met Vince to walk me down the aisle that I heard Gem got away all right.”
“God, it must have been awful being kept in the dark.” Vale squeezes my hand. “But you don’t need to worry anymore. Gem is safe with us, thanks to you.”
We step inside the bathroom, and I lock the door behind us.
Vale’s expression falls. “Cleo, I wish there was something we could have done to prevent this from happening.”
“There wasn’t,” I say. “What’s done is done. I’ll take care of myself, but you have to promise you’ll take care of Gemma.”
“Of course we will. She’s got me, as well as Ras. But I’m worried about you. You have no one here to support you.”
“It’s fine. Maybe I’ll convince Rafaele to let the two of you visit.”
“Are you going to be okay living with him?” She brushes her palms down my arms, her eyes filling with tears. “You’ve always craved independence and now…”
And now I’m a prisoner. Expected to serve at the will of my tyrannical husband.
I hide my devastation from Vale because there’s no point in upsetting her. What’s done is done, and most importantly, Gemma and her baby are safe.