By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(12)

“I could help you with that,” I said before I could think it through. I didn’t mean it like that. Despite all the teasing, I’d never been daring enough to flirt with Santino in such a forward way. Maybe because it would have given away too much, and probably would have only made Santino annoyed.

Santino’s grip tightened further. “Don’t even joke about it, girl. I won’t get killed because your dad misconstrues your words. And I especially won’t get killed for the unpleasant fumbling of a stuffy virgin.”

I stared at him wide-eyed, unable to believe his audacity. I was used to his rudeness by now, but this took it to a new level. “Do you kill all the women you bang or only the married women to hide evidence?” I hissed.

“She wanted me to grab her throat. Some women get off when their air supply is cut off. You wouldn’t understand.” He finally managed to close his fly, but there was still a bulge in his pants.

“If she tells anyone, I’m ruined,” Mrs. Alfera whimpered, stuffing her silk blouse back into her skirt. Good luck with the wrinkles. I hoped she had a discreet maid who’d iron that for her. “Silence her.”

Santino slanted her an annoyed look. “Return to the party.”

She staggered closer. “You have to silence her. If she tells anyone—”

“Shut up and let me handle it.”

She finally left.

“I hope she didn’t suggest you kill me,” I said sarcastically.

“You can’t tell anyone,” he said in a low voice.

“What will you do to silence me?”

He rolled his eyes. “Stop being a bratty child. You know the consequences if word about this gets out.”

“Banging a captain’s wife would definitely cause quite the scandal. Dad would have to act.”

He tilted his head, eyes narrowed.

“I won’t tell anyone,” I muttered.

Santino nodded, satisfied. His eyes registered my drink. “What is that?”

“Nothing that concerns you. You have your secrets, I have mine, right?”

He stepped back, his jaw flexing. “Don’t overdo it, all right?”

I ignored his warning. The scale had tipped in my favor for now even if he didn’t like it.

I touched my throat with a frown, trying to imagine why anyone would find it pleasurable to be unable to breathe. Santino followed the movement, and he shook his head, looking even more pissed.

“I don’t know what reason you have to be angry at me,” I muttered, getting angrier. “You just made sure I’d have nightmares for months, possibly years. Good job violating my virgin eyes.”

To be honest, I’d probably have several very good orgasms while I imagined Santino doing to me what he’d done to Mrs. Alfera.

Santino searched my eyes. “Don’t take what you saw as an example of how it always is. It can be very different.” His voice had become gentler, almost comforting, which was such a novelty that I must have looked even more perturbed.

“Anna?” Santino murmured, touching my shoulder lightly.

A laugh burst out of me. I couldn’t help it. Seeing Santino concerned for my mental well-being because of his kinky show with Mrs. Alfera was too much to handle.

Santino jerked his hand back, his lips twisted. Oh, someone was grumpy.

The door creaked, interrupting whatever rude thing he’d had to say.

Voices drifted over to us. Santino grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a bookshelf. It took me a moment to recognize the voice as Dario’s, who seemed to be talking on the phone with someone.

I glared up at Santino. “Don’t you think it would have looked less suspicious if you hadn’t dragged me behind the shelf? Now it looks as if we’re hiding something.” Mom would definitely be very suspicious if she found us, or if Dario told Dad, which he’d definitely do.

Santino silenced me with a hard look. We stood close together as we waited for the conversation to be over. Our shoulders brushed lightly and Santino’s heat seemed to scorch me through the silky material of my dress.

I would probably have appreciated the situation more if I hadn’t caught the whiff of a female perfume on him. I leaned away slightly, muttering, “You should probably wash Mrs. Alfera’s stink off before you return to the party. I doubt her husband will be happy if he smells it on you.”

“Thanks for your concern. This isn’t my first rodeo.”

“So you’re making a habit out of being a homewrecker?”

“That home was already lacking a foundation, it would have crashed down anyway.”

I rolled my eyes. “I suppose that’s what they all say.”

“Maybe you don’t realize it but this is none of your damn business, Anna. You better make sure Cliffy keeps his hands to himself, instead of worrying about me.”

What was that supposed to mean? Clifford and I had spoken twice since our family dinner and he’d found out about our future marriage, both times during tennis practice, and so far Clifford had shown as much interest in me as a monk. He was focused on school and college and a future in politics, and I was busy with school, designing clothes and… Santino.





“Do you have anything on her?” Arturo asked, only mildly interested. Human relationships meant nothing to him, which was why I enjoyed his presence. I could voice whatever bullshit crossed my mind without worrying about offending him.