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I smash the bottle onto the counter and grip the sides. Tomasso got a knife in the groin for saying something along those lines; Colten deserves the same, husband or not.

“Are you okay?” Dom asks cautiously.

“Fine. Great,” I huff.

I’m not. I can see the disgust on Colten’s face when he realized he took my virginity. I have an ache in my chest because he is right.

I did use him. Although I did want to have sex with him, too. I’ve wanted him since the first time I sat across from him. Hence why I demanded this damn marriage. And now I’m pissed off that somehow I feel bad. I shouldn’t. Colten Sterling is nothing to me except a marriage on paper to save my family.

I shiver, still feeling his hands on my skin. The way he kissed me. How, even for a few minutes, that man managed to turn my brain off and take control. There was no pressure from anyone else to be something I’m not.

I was just Gianna, enjoying myself and letting go. Even when he had a knife to my throat.

“I’m going for a shower, then I’m going to bed,” I say, without looking at him.

Because Dom knows me well enough to know I’m not okay. I don’t talk about my feelings. And I’ll never admit Colten’s words hurt me.

Words shouldn’t hurt me. I’ve been trained better than that. Even a knife wound wouldn’t hurt me.

But what he said, it touched something so deep inside me that I can’t help it. It solidified all the thoughts I’d had about myself for years. That I’m not someone who is desired. I’m just to be feared. And that I’m going to spend the rest of my life alone.

By the time I get upstairs, I’ve texted my father to tell him the deed is done and the marriage is official.

I peel off what remains of my dress and turn on the shower, leaning against the sink while I wait for it to warm up. The diamond on my wedding ring catches the light, and for the first time all day, I study it properly.

A black gem in the middle, surrounded by tiny rubies, and then a diamond band. I close my eyes, pushing any emotions back. It’s perfect. It’s me. I chose it for myself, because I’m here, marrying that asshole, for me. To prove to my father I am smart enough, powerful enough, to run the family. So, Colt can fuck off. I finally got dicked down, just as hot as the stuff I read, and that’s a win for me. And now, I can take back control and go after what I really want.

I’m a Sterling now. I’m stuck on a ranch in Arizona when my life is in LA. And somehow, I have to figure out a way to prove to Enzo that the Milano family is worthy of power. That’s what my focus needs to be. Like it always is.

Survival. And once I’ve done that.

Power.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Gianna

By some miracle, Colten has left me the hell alone since the failed wedding night. My father and my uncles have gone home, and I’m cooped up in a ranch house with my brother. One minute, I’m plotting my revenge against Colten. The next, I’m trying to figure out how I can avoid betraying his family and keep my father happy.

Dom’s been getting into the spirit of things. Ace took him out to feed the horses, and he came back quite happy with himself. And I’ve had Harper knocking on my door every day; I think she’s checking on me to make sure I’m okay. Who knows what she knows. Colt doesn’t seem the type to gossip, though.

But by day three of my hiding, she was dragging me straight out of my pit. She took me out in her truck to show me some of the ranch. Then we went to town, which was pretty cool. It’s the polar opposite of LA, but that isn’t a bad thing. Everyone knows each other by name. But I didn’t see a tattoo parlor anywhere.

“Are you coming with me? We’ve been invited to drinks at Hunters, remember?” Dom calls up the stairs.

I toss my phone on the bed. “Pass,” I shout back.

As expected, his footsteps follow pretty damn fast. “If a mafia boss is asking you for drinks, do you decline?” he says matter-of-factly.

I cross my arms. “Yeah. If his brother is an ass.”

A smile twitches on Dom’s lips. “What if I told you the ass isn’t coming?”

Now, that has my interest. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t want to face him because I’ll punch him, or if a tiny part inside of me is embarrassed. “Tell me more. And I’m proud of you for making friends.”

He rolls his eyes. “Someone has to.”

I glare at him in response. I did eventually tell him what happened on my wedding night, minus the actual sex details.