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and reached for my hand. “No. That's not why. But, it would please me all the same.”
    “What if I never get pregnant with your child, Bruno? Will you get rid of me?”
    He put the washcloth down and kissed my hand. “That's the thing, Bambina. I'm afraid it matters very little to me in the long run whether that happens or not. I'm perfectly content to have you by my side for the rest of my life.”
    I propped myself up on my elbows. “Because you love me?”
    He didn't answer, instead, he closed his eyes. “You know my thoughts when it comes to that. However, there are exceptions to every rule.”
    “You won't ever tell me you love me. Will you?”
    “No.”
    “It's because I'm the one person who makes you feel vulnerable, isn't it?”
    He opened his eyes and they narrowed. “Yes.”
    Well, hell that was just as good as a declaration of love as far as I was concerned.
    Bruno DeLuca was never vulnerable.
    I tilted my face to try and kiss him once again but his hand wrapped around my throat. “But don't you ever forget who holds the power in this relationship, understood?”
    I couldn't respond because he was cutting off my air supply.
    “The day you do is the day I make you wish you were dead and I show you what I'm capable of doing to you. Got it?”
    I nodded and he finally released his hold on me. “Answer me.”
    “Yes,” I choked out.
    “Yes, what ?”
    “Yes, mio amore.”
    He smiled and nuzzled my neck. “Good. Now you may sleep.” He kissed my cheek and I closed my eyes. “I'll never let anyone hurt you again. You're mine forever, my beautiful Lucianna.”
     
     

    I stormed into the room where Bruno was holding a meeting with his men.
    I couldn't believe he would do this to me.
    I'd been good to him for the last 3 years since I gave him my virginity. I fucked him when he wanted, kept every single one of his secrets, and loved him deeply without abandon.
    And still, he was doing this .
    The men in suits looked uncomfortable when they saw me coming but Bruno paid me no mind.
    I marched through the wooden doors of his conference room with my hands on my hips. “How could you?” I screamed.
    He rubbed his temples and leaned back in his chair. “Can't you see that I'm busy? I don't have time for your shit.”
    I stood over the conference table and jabbed my finger into the wood. “Make time, now.”
    The men stared at me wide-eyed but I steeled myself and lifted my nose in the air.
    Bruno's jaw worked and he looked me up and down.
    No doubt, he was pissed at the fact that his almost 21-year-old girlfriend was not only interrupting a crucial meeting, but making him look like a downright fool in front of his men.
    Had the matter not been so important to me, I would have known better.
    “No. Not now!” he barked as he stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.
    I matched his stance. “Yes now,” I hissed. “Or I will walk right out that fucking door and never look back, you shit head.”
    Some of the men gasped but I ignored them.
    His eyes became tiny slits and his nostrils flared. Now I'd done it.
    I was playing with fire, but I welcomed it.
    “Everyone out!” he boomed. “With the exception of the little bitch standing in front of me.”
    The men quickly dispersed and closed the door behind them.
    Bruno advanced toward me and bent me over the conference table.
    “What the hell are you doing?” I screamed as he began lifting my dress up.
    “Checking out the set of balls you acquired between last night and this morning.”
    He then tore my dress off me but I didn't care, I needed to confront him about this. “My father's running for Mayor. I just saw it on the news. How could you do that to me? How could you help him ?”
    His grip tightened around me. “ That's what all this is about?”
    “Yes,” I said. “You betrayed me!”
    A cruel smile spread across his face. “I didn't betray you, Lucianna. Your father has kept up with his end of the deal for the last 6