Crucified by Marita A. Hansen Read Free Book Online

hope crossed her face. “Can I use your phone to call them?”
    “That’s the Don’s
decision to make, not mine.”
    “But I don’t want
to be here! Jagger hates me!”
    “He’s upset. Maybe
once he calms down, things will blow over. You seemed close to him yesterday,
and he was leaning on you for support.”
    She went still,
her expression brightening. “That’s true. He turned to me and let me hold him,
so he might have just said those things because he was upset.” She leaned in
and hugged me. “Thank you so much, you’re much nicer than I thought you were.”
    “I’m a very nice
person for a slave trainer.”
    She pulled back
and looked at me, her expression telling me she wasn’t sure whether to take
what I said as a joke or not. But, it was a joke, because I didn’t think I was
a nice person, hell, I was a bastard, but this woman was sweet—despite being an
adulterer. Still, I didn’t have a right to judge her, considering I fucked any
woman who didn’t have a ring on, regardless of whether they had a boyfriend or
not. And then there were the slaves; I had no idea whether they were married or
single, because none of them had ever spoken of a husband. Though, I didn’t
tend to pry into their past; I just told them what I expected of them and what
their future masters would expect.
    “Um…” Honey
said, “…about tonight.”
    “Yeah,” I said, my
mind going to her sleeping in my bed.
    “Do I still have to
sleep in the same bed as you?”
    “No, I’m not interested
in seducing a married woman.”
    Her face saddened.
    “Why are you
saddened by my words?” I asked. “I thought you would be relieved.”
    “It’s not that,
you keep reminding me of my husband.”
    You shouldn’t need
reminding . “Do you still love
him?” I said instead.
    She nodded.
    “Do you want to be
with Jagger more or your husband?”
    She wiped her
eyes. “I wish I could say my husband, but it’s Jagger.”
    “Then wait until
Jagger calms down and go to him.” I frowned, remembering Jagger getting his
suitcase out. “Actually, don’t wait too long, because he mentioned wanting to
go to New York.”
    She sat up
straight. “ New York? That’s where
I was taken from. Maybe I can go back with Jagger.”
    “Then ask him. It’s
worth a try.”
    She nodded,
looking ecstatic.
    I took a hold of
her hand and kissed it. “If I don’t see you again, it was nice meeting you.”
    She smiled at me as
I let go of her hand. “You too, despite our first rocky meeting.”
    “ S ì .
I apologize for that; I get carried away sometimes when I see a beautiful
lady.” I pushed to my feet. “Anyway, I shall
take my leave now. I’m afraid I have work to do, plus I’m sure you will have a
lot to think about.”
    “Yes, and thank
you, Alessandro, you are truly a lovely man.”
    “As you are a
lovely signora .” I bowed, then left the room, closing the door behind
me. I nodded at the guard, then headed down the passage, stopping as another
Landi guard helped an injured woman up the staircase. She had bandages covering
most of her face, only her blonde hair, pretty mouth, and pained eyes visible.
She stopped just before the top and looked up at me.
    I held out my hand.
“I am Alessandro Santini. And you are?”
    “Bianca D’Angelo,”
she said, looking at my hand.
    I retracted it,
just noticing her hands were wrapped in bandages. “What happened to you?”
    “I married Alberto
D’Angelo,” she said, her words enough to tell me he had caused her injuries.
First Jagger, now this woman—Frano had been right to kill his brother.
    I moved my gaze to
the solider helping her. “I will assist her to her room.”
    “That’s not
necessary,” Bianca said. “I will see myself to my own room.” She took the
remaining step and limped past me.
    I followed her.
    She stopped and turned
around. “Why are you following me?”
    “A lady should
have the door opened for her.”
    She stared at me, appearing
surprised.
    “Which is