I’m dragged into the church via a side entrance, and when I try to yank free again, Alessandro hauls me over his shoulder and carries me up a set of stairs.
“Let me go!” I scream, pounding my left fist against his back.
He carries me into a room and throws me down on the floor. Excruciating pain splinters through my right arm, numbing my shoulder.
I quickly climb to my feet, but he shoves me back, then shuts the door behind him.
I slam my left fist against the door. “Let me out! You can’t do this.”
Frantically, I glance around the room for a way to escape, but there’s not even a window to climb through. I start to look for anything I can use as a weapon, pulling open a cupboard that’s filled with arts and crafts.
I grab the biggest paintbrush I can find, my breaths exploding over my lips.
Hearing footsteps, I hold the paintbrush ready in my left hand, my eyes glued to the door.
When it opens, Alissa comes in, followed by Alessandro and Tommaso. The guards are carrying a wedding dress.
“I won’t marry Mr. Greco,” I say, my voice trembling with frustration and panic. “I’d rather die.”
“Don’t fucking tempt us,” Alessandro grumbles. “Get dressed.”
I shake my head, taking a step back. “No.”
Tommaso comes at me, and I try to stab him with the paintbrush, but he easily swats my hand away. He moves behind me and grabs my arms, yanking them behind my back.
I let out an agonizing cry from the jarring ache in my right arm.
“Stop,” Alissa cries. “You’re hurting her.”
“Get out,” Alessandro snaps at her.
“No!”
The guard grabs hold of her and shoves her out into the hallway before shutting the door on her. To my horror, he locks it to keep her out.
With a menacing look, Alessandro stalks to me. Tommaso tightens his hold on me as Alessandro takes a knife from his pocket and cuts my shirt down the front.
Feeling borderline hysterical, I scream, “Stop!”
“You had a chance to dress yourself,” Alessandro sneers at me. He unbuttons my jeans, and when he pulls the zipper down, intense fear slams into me.
My breaths sound ragged, and my heartbeat is erratic.
Alessandro yanks the jeans down my legs, and I start to kick and thrash in Tommaso’s brutal hold.
Alessandro slaps me hard between the legs, pressing his face close to mine. “We can’t fuck you, but we can hurt you.”
Paralyzing shame and horror rip my soul to shreds. Bile churns in my stomach from the disgust filling every inch of me.
My eyes are wide on the monster in front of me.
His middle finger rubs over my slit.
Overwhelming anger and humiliation have me gritting out, “S-stop.”
“S-s-s-stop,” he taunts me with a cruel smile curving his lips while he pushes my panties aside. I clench my legs hard, but his arm stops me.
When his finger touches my skin, it rips a hopeless cry from me.