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Luca’s step the bed “Luca,” Nina said with feigned indignation “Did nobody tell you to be gentle to your virgin bride?”

That actually got her a few eh I wanted to scowl at her Luca did a fine job of that, then he flashed her a wolfish smile that raised the hairs on my neck “You are married to my father Does he strike you as a entle to anyone”

Her lips thinned but she didn’t stop s I could feel everyone’s eyes on me and squirmed under the attention When I risked a peek toward my family, I could see shock and pity on many of their faces

“Let h!” ca her way through the gathered women and avoided Mother who tried to stop her Gianna wasn’t even supposed to be here But when did Gianna ever do what she was supposed to do? She shoved a very thin woered into the bedrooust when she spotted the sheets Luca’s step over Cosima’s outstretched arms

Her eyes foundon my swollen lips, disheveled hair and my arms, which were still wrapped around my middle I wished there was a way to let her knoas fine, that it wasn’t as it looked, but not with all those women around us She turned to Luca, who at least didn’t have a boner any Luca raised his eyebroith a smirk

She took a step in his direction “Gianna,” I said quietly “Will you help et dressed?” I let my ar to wince now and then as if I was sore and hoping I wasn’t overdoing it I’d never seen a bride, or anyone else, after they’d supposedly lost their virginity The moment the door closed behind Gianna and me, she threw her arms around me “I hate him I hate them all I want to kill him”

“He didn’t do anything,” I murmured

Gianna pulled back and I put er to my lips Confusion filled her face “What do you mean?”

“He didn’t force me”

“Just because you didn’t fight him doesn’t mean it wasn’t rape”

I covered her in”

Gianna stepped back so my hand dropped from her lips “But the blood,” she whispered

“He cut himself”

She stared at me in disbelief “Do you have Stockholm syndrome?”

I rolledthe truth”

“Then why the show?”

“Because nobody can know Nobody Not even Mother or Lily You can’t tell anyone, Gianna”

Gianna frowned “Why would he do that?”