Chapter 3 3-What did he want from you

[ IRIS'S POV ]

Bend me over ? Did he just say he would bend me over? Fear crashed into me. So much that I did not want anything than to escape . From him . From the estate and all other things.

He watched me , a low smile crossed his face like a flash and it was gone. " Relax . Iris. I would take you raw. Not now . And definitely not here. That would be in my house . My place, where you actually belong."

He leaned down , his face so close to mine that our noses almost touched ." I know everything about you .Iris . I know you hate the taste of champagne but liked tea. I know you sneaked out to the garden at 2:00 AM when you couldn't sleep. And in the afternoon when you're bored .I know you have a birthmark shaped like a star in the small on your back."

My blood ran cold ."you've been watching me ? In my room ?"

" From the trees . Through the lens of my camera . From the back of the cars you never noticed. "He confessed, his voice devoid of shame. In fact he sounded proud . Obsessed, like he's done a good job. In watching me,invading my privacy.

" I watched you grow from a girl into a woman. I watched men try to approach you at school , men I had too ..... discouraged from ever speaking your name again."

The realization hit me like a physical blow . The boys who had suddenly moved away . The teacher who had mysteriously resigned after being too friendly with me . It wasn't back luck . It was him. Sofia. Am so sorry for ever thinking of taking him away from you. He's all yours.

I looked at my back for an escape route but found none . Behind me are shelves full of books and if I try to run, he would catch me and who knows what the devil would do to me. So I stayed.

" you're insane ," I whispered, tears of frustration and fear pricking my eyes .

" I am obsessed," he corrected, his hand moving from my hair to my throat , his thumb resting over my thudding pulse . He wasn't squeezing, but the threat was there ." There is a difference . Insane men lose focus . But with you , I have never been more focused in my life . Every move I've made , every war, every war I've fought , everybody I've buried , was to get to this moment . To this house,"

" Why not just ask for me ?" I cried ." If you wanted me so badly, why marry Sofia ?"

Salvatore's eyes darkened , a flash of genuine rage crossing his handsome features ." Because your father would never have given me his precious youngest daughter.

" If you know me like you truly claimed, you would know I am not his precious daughter . I have no interest in the kind of world and businesses he runs . My sister does. So if you want a queen to your dynasty. It's her .

" He wants you for a political trade later . He thinks you're a hidden ace . He used Sofia as the bait , thinking he could keep you for someone else ."

He brushed his lips against my ear. " But I didn't play by loreanzo Rossi's rules. I took the bait so I could burn the whole trap down . By the time this wedding arrives, Sofia would be the least of my problems. And you . Will be in my arms. You belong to me , Iris. Every fiber in you is mine."

I tried to push him away ,my hand landed on his broad chest . It was like trying to move a mountain . He didn't budge instead, he grabbed my wrists, pinning them behind the arms chair . He didn't hurt me but the display of strength was absolute.

" Can I kiss you? Iris ?" He asked his mouth almost on mine . I could feel his hot breath on my face.

" Let me go, Salvatore."

" Not until you understand," he said , his voice dropping to a low command." You're going to play the part of the dutiful sister . You are going to help Sofia plan her wedding . You are going to stand at the altar as her bridesmaid.

I won't ,"I sobbed." I won't do what you just asked . You belong to my sister . To Sofia .

" you will ." He countered , his eyes burning into mine ." Because if you don't , I'll start taking things away from his family. First , your father's business. Then , your sister's reputation. And finally your freedom . Do you understand, Iris? You are mine .

You have been since the moment I saw you five years ago standing in the rain outside your school, looking like you wanted to set the world on fire , only that it's me you light it on, and I can feel it burn, deep inside my veins. No one can set it off, not you , not your father or even a fire extinguisher."

He released my wrist and stepped back , the sudden loss of his heat made me whimper. Lowky . He looked perfectly composed again, as if he hadn't just admitted to stalking me for half a decade.

"Go to sleep , little mouse ," he said, glancing towards the door ." And keep the locket . It looks better on you than it did in the box.

Without another word ,he melted into the shadows of the library. I stayed in the chair for a long time, my heart racing , the scent of jasmine and sandalwood clinging to my skin like a brand.

I looked at the locket in my hand. It wasn't a gift anymore , it was a leash.

Salvatore Moretti wasn't here to marry into my family. He was here to colonize it . And it was the territory he had achieved.

What did he want from you? I heard a voice from the door of the library. And standing there was Sofia . Mrs Moretti to be .