His Ninety-Ninth Act of Cruelty

They weren't listening. They pinned my arms and poured the hard liquor down my throat. It burned, sending me into a fit of violent coughing. I tried to pull away, but someone shoved me hard from behind. My face smashed into the champagne tower.

Glass shattered, slicing my skin as the impact knocked the wind out of me. A wave of sharp, jeering laughter washed over me.

I finally pushed myself up, my face stinging and wet. I blinked, trying to clear my vision, and froze. Shards of glass studded my face.

Isabella was doubled over, gasping with laughter. One of the men looked at me, his face devoid of remorse.

"Sorry, Alessia. The tower was a bit wobbly, so I had them stick something inside for support. Who knew you'd bury your face in it like a pig?"

"Yeah, a pig rooting for truffles," someone muttered, and a fresh wave of laughter broke out.

I wiped the blood from my cheek, my rage a cold, hard knot in my chest. I turned to leave, but Isabella wasn't finished. She grabbed a fistful of my hair, a triumphant gleam in her eyes, and waved to the others.

"Alessia's still pouting! Let's give her a little wash so she doesn't go crying to Dante."

They grinned, taking it as a cue, and surged toward me. Panic clawed up my throat, stealing my breath.

The memory of being locked in a trunk as a child, of almost suffocating because I wouldn't stop crying, slammed into me. I've had a crippling fear of enclosed spaces ever since.

No matter how hard I fought, Isabella and her cronies dragged me to the estate's fountain. They twisted my arms behind my back and shoved my head underwater.

The icy shock stole my breath. I screamed, but only bubbles came out. They held me down, their laughter a distorted sound from above the surface.

"Scrub her clean! A filthy bitch like her has no place here!"

My vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. Just as I was about to black out, Dante's voice ripped through the chaos.

"Enough! All of you, back the hell off!"

They released me as if they’d been burned. I crumpled to the ground, coughing up water, my body wracked with tremors.

Dante knelt beside me, brushing the wet hair from my face. "I'm sorry, baby. You must have been terrified."

I slapped his hand away, my voice a raw rasp. "I'm fine."

Ignoring his wounded look, I staggered to my feet and headed for the study.