Valeria

I balled up my fists under the blanket, digging my nails into my palms that were sore already. I clenched my teeth so hard. But I said nothing. Not a word. I dropped my head, looked at the end of the bed, pushed my head into the mattress pad and tried hard not to even look at him. Not that I was about to give it to him. Dante stood at the end of the bed, like he owned the floor there. As if my suffering was his show.

“Now you’re quiet,” he said lazily, his voice laced with a ...