Episode 4

As soon as the driver opened the limousine door, Vicenzo stepped out and offered his hand to Amanda, but she ignored him and walked out alone. Standing in front of the luxurious and immense mansion, surrounded by security guards on all sides. Vicenzo let out an irritated sigh, grabbed her arm roughly, and practically dragged her inside.

When a middle-aged woman came to greet them, she immediately assumed she was the housekeeper, as she greeted Vicenzo in a serious and respectful manner, welcoming him and addressing him as Don Salvatore. But he didn't respond to the greeting, dragging Amanda until they reached a door at the end of the corridor, which he opened and pushed Amanda inside.

Vicenzo then locked the door and approached her, grabbing her by the hair and pressing her against the nearest wall with his strong body against hers.

"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Because it will be the first and last time," he said, with his mouth close to her ear, and once again, that deep and rough voice left Amanda unsure of the warmth that spread through her body.

"Never ignore me again like you did in front of my soldiers," Vicenzo continued, angry but also very excited, feeling Amanda's firm and curvy backside pressed against his hips, and she surely noticed it too. She tried desperately to maintain some distance, but being trapped between him and the wall made it impossible.

"And if I don't want to obey your command? What will you do, kill me?" Amanda defiantly asked, challenging him.

"I've already told you I won't kill you. I wouldn't kill my future wife," he said, releasing her and stepping away, leaning against the door with his arms crossed.

"But I warn you, if you keep up this rebellious behavior, instead of making you my wife, I won't hesitate to leave you to your own fate in one of my father's brothels, and you'll have so many men going in and out between your legs that you won't even have the strength to walk. So, what do you prefer?" Vicenzo asked, seeing by her wide eyes and frightened expression that he had managed to scare her this time.

Vicenzo was right; Amanda was truly afraid that he would follow through with his threats. She might not have much life experience, but she had heard many stories at the club where she worked about how women were treated in such places. Many of them had committed suicide because they couldn't bear the harsh life they lived, or they were murdered by aggressive clients, and no one did anything about it. So, the best thing to do was to at least pretend to agree with him until she could escape his clutches.

"And are we clear?" Vicenzo asked, approaching her and caressing her face with the back of his hand.

Amanda nodded, gesturing yes with her head.

"I want to hear you say it," he said, enjoying seeing her docile like a little lamb, because her rebelliousness sometimes made him want to do things to her that he didn't want to. He always had to control his violent side when dealing with those who challenged him.

"Yes," Amanda said, looking down and lowering her head so he wouldn't see that she hadn't actually agreed to anything; she just wanted to avoid a fate worse than being the wife of a mafioso she didn't even know.

"That's it, good girl. You must be exhausted from all these events and eager to take a bath and sleep," Vicenzo said, unlocking the door and allowing her to pass.

"Now I'll call Mrs. Helena to take you to your room and arrange a relaxing bath for you. Wait here," Vicenzo said, leaving her alone in the luxurious corridor.

Everything in that house exuded wealth, from the Persian carpet in the corridor to the numerous artworks by famous painters hanging on the walls. But she would trade all that luxury to be back in her humble home in the suburbs of London with her brother Alex. Just the thought of him made tears well up in her eyes.

Amanda wondered how her younger brother had become consumed by the vices of gambling and drinking, ultimately destroying his life and taking his own.

She had always warned that his obsession with greatness would lead him down a dark path, and the worst part was that it led him to his death.

As for her, she would have to live on and try to escape the clutches of Vicenzo, especially now that she was starting to feel things she didn't want to for him, like physical attraction. This was extremely dangerous because he may be handsome and masculine, but he was still her enemy.