Page 10 of Broken Crown

I sighed. "You know he won't."

She rounded on me, fists clenched. "You're not God, Sebastian." Her voice shook, but not with fear—with fury. "Maybe you're used to playing with people's lives like they're nothing, but you don't get to pull this kind of crap with me."

Struggling to keep my patience, the fabric of my tailored pants tightened uncomfortably over my hardening cock as her rage inflamed my desire. “Is that so?”

Her chin rose. "I'm not some nameless girl who's going to disappear without anyone noticing. I'm the daughter of Judge Marzio Delluci. My father is a powerful man. So, if you don't let me go⁠—"

I lashed out.

Wrapping my fingers around her neck, I dragged her across the smooth leather seat until her thigh touched mine, her body heat seeping through the fabric between us.

With my mouth almost touching hers, I rasped, "Are you threatening me, mia piccola?"

Her wide gaze shifted from my mouth back to my eyes, her breath a caress on my lips.

Her pulse raced beneath my thumb as she dared to whisper, "Yes."

Part of me admired her courage as much as I despised her for it.

She was willfully putting herself in an extremely dangerous position.

I didn't take kindly to threats. Period.

Regardless of how I may feel about the person giving them.

The tyrannical beast inside of me rose to full height. Blood rushed south, my body hardening with her continued defiance. Ready for a fight.

It wouldn't be a fair one, more like a lion swatting at a little mouse. But life wasn't fair.

I hadn't helped my family build the Diamanti dynasty into one of the richest, most powerful families in the world by playing fair.

Rome wasn't built on fairness, and neither was my empire.

I knew I shouldn't.

I knew she was still in shock over what had just happened.

I knew it would forever damage what little hope I had in convincing her to willingly stay by my side…

I smirked. "It was your father who just tried to kill you, babygirl. Not me."

CHAPTER 4

SABRINA

Sebastian thwarted my effort to shift to the farthest side of the back seat and pulled me back to his side.

Twisting my Bvlgari band rings around my fingers in agitation, I seethed.

I knew shock and trauma would come later, when I was alone.

For now, I held tight to my anger.

There was no denying it. When I'd stared into the eyes of that monster, I prayed that Sebastian would rescue me in time.

My soul had cried out for him.

Even now, as much as I wanted to be annoyed at being forced to sit close to him, deep down I was relieved. I craved his reassuring strength and warmth. Part of me wanted him to lift me onto his lap so I could bury my face against his chest, use the steady beat of his heart to calm me.