Chapter 6

I walk back to Leo.

I crouch so he doesn't have to look up at me.

"I'm sorry I pushed you. That was wrong."

He looks at Serena.

Then he spits in my face.

For a moment, nobody moves.

"You're dirty," he says.

I feel it slide down my cheek.

Serena puts a hand over her mouth.

Dante watches me.

"He's been through enough because of you."

I stand slowly.

There's a box of tissues on the table beside Serena.

I take one.

"Because of me?"

"Don't."

I wipe my face.

"He didn't come up with that on his own."

"He knows you hurt his father," Serena says.

I look at her.

"What else does he know?"

"Lucia—"

"That my mother costs too much? That everything in this house belongs to Dante? That he can spit on me and you'll let him?"

Dante steps closer.

"Watch how you speak to her."

I laugh once.

There's nothing funny about it.

"Of course."

"She's the one who's been here."

"You put my son in her house."

"Because I couldn't trust you."

"Because she told you not to."

Serena's eyes fill.

"I didn't make you go to those hotels."

"No. You just happened to know which room I was in. Every time."

Her face goes still.

Dante notices.

For a second, I think he might ask.

Then he looks back at me.

"You signed the papers."

"Yes."

"Then stop trying to make this her fault."

I put the tissue down.

"Keep telling yourself she's only your lawyer."

The room goes quiet.

Serena touches his arm.

"I don't deserve this."

Dante looks at her.

Then at me.

"You think there's something going on?"

I don't answer.

"You want to see what that actually looks like?"

A chill moves through me.

He turns toward the nanny.

"Take Leo upstairs."

Leo starts to object.

"Now."

The nanny takes his hand.

I wait until they're gone before picking up my bag.

Dante catches my wrist.

"Where are you going?"

"Let go."

"You've spent years accusing me."

"I'm leaving."

He pulls me toward the stairs.

I grab the railing.

One of his men takes a step forward.

Dante looks at him.

"Stay out of it."

The man stops.

I look at his face.

He won't meet my eyes.

Dante pulls again.

My hand slips.

By the time we reach the bedroom, I'm struggling to stay on my feet.

He pushes me inside.

Serena follows.

I turn toward her.

"Tell him to stop."

She looks at Dante.

He shuts the door.

I try to get past him.

He catches my hands and pulls off his tie.

For a moment, I can't understand what he's doing.

Then the fabric tightens around my wrists.

"No."

"Stop fighting."

"Then let me go."

He forces me down beside the bed.

Pain shoots through my shoulder.

I look at Serena again.

She's standing near the dresser.

Watching.

Dante reaches for her.

"Come here."

She does.

"You've put up with enough from her."

Her hand settles against his chest.

I pull at the tie.

The knot only gets tighter.

"Open the door."

Serena looks down at me.

Then she turns back to him.