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Behind the doors, silence reigned They had heard us I gripped Gianna’s upper ar Father’s furious face Behind him stood Cesare and Romero, both with their weapons drawn When they saw Gianna and me, they returned them to the holsters under their jackets

Gianna didn’t cry She seldoainst s would have cru for her

“Of course,” Father hissed, scowling at Gianna “I should have known it was you causing trouble again” He wrenched her away froe, raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face

I took a step in his direction to protect her and Father lifted his arht ht hand was still grasping the knife he’d used to cut off Raffaele’s finger The knife and Luca’s hand were coated with blood My eyes widened Father was the master of the house, the ainst my father’s honor

Uun Matteo, Rouns Raffaele was huddled on the floor, bent over his hand, his whimpers the only sound in the rooement?

“I didn’t mean disrespect,” Luca said cale of breaking out “But Aria is no longer your responsibility You lost your right to punish her when you made her my fiancée She’s mine to deal with now”

Father glanced down at the ring on o of his wrist, and the other htly, but didn’t put their weapons back “That’s true” He stepped back and gestured atsome sense into her?”

Luca’s hard gaze settled on“She didn’t disobey me”

Father’s lips thinned “You are right But as I see it Aria will be living underand since honor forbids ainst her, I’ll have to find another way to lowered at Gianna and hit her a second tis, Aria, your sister will accept the punishment in your stead”

I pressedin my eyes I didn’t look at Luca or Father, not until I could find a way to hide my hatred from them

“Umberto, take Gianna and Aria to their rooms and estured at us to follow hi Gianna with me who had her head bowed She stiffened as we stepped over the blood on the hardwood floor and the cut-off finger laying abandoned in it My eyes darted to Raffaele as clutching his wound to still the bleeding His hands, his shirt and pants were covered with blood Gianna retched as if she was going to throw up again

“No,” I said firmly “Look at me”

She drew her eyes away froaze There were tears in her eyes and her lower lip had a cut that was dripping blood on her chin and her nightgown My hand on hers tightened I’m here for you Our locked eyes seemed her only anchor as Umberto led us out of the room

“Wo tone “They can’t even bear the sight of a bit of blood” I could practically feel Luca’s eyes boring intolip as we hurried after Uh the corridor and up the stairs “I hate him,” she muttered “I hate them all”

“Shh” I didn’t want her to talk like that in front of Uh and through