Baneful God (Gods of Ravencrest

University #3) Dark College Bully

Romance 1st Edition Trina M. Lee
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 BANEFUL GOD
GODS OF RAVENCREST UNIVERSITY BOOK 3

TRINA M. LEE
Copyright © 2024
Baneful God by Trina M. Lee
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other
electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of
the author.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production
are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased),
places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
1st edition 2024
 FOREWORD

This is a dark bully/enemies to lovers romance where the girl gets all the
guys. Please be mindful of the following possible triggers when reading.
This book contains: abuse, assault, violence, blood, drug use, non/dubcon,
and other dark themes. If you have any questions regarding the subject
matter, please email trinamleeauthor@gmail.com.
 CHAPTER ONE

RAINA

“Gage, what did you do?” I stared in horror at the sight before me. The
bloody knife at his feet glinted in the afternoon sunlight. I couldn’t tear my
gaze from it.
Gage’s head snapped in my direction. “Shit. Go away, Raina. This is
none of your concern.”
I took a few tentative steps across the grass toward him. “Is this why
you weren’t in class? Where were you? Whose blood is that?”
“Go back inside the house,” Gage hissed. “You never saw anything.”
“Like hell I didn’t. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s
going on. Did you hurt someone? Was it the Angels?” Refusing to be
ordered around, I got close enough to get a good look at the knife.
It was long and deadly. Something you’d see a horror movie killer
toting. Similar to the one carried by Ghostface in the Scream movies.
Considering Gage had him tattooed on his arm with the full sleeve of ink,
that made me especially uncomfortable.
“No, it had nothing to do with those dumb fucks. Now would you
please get lost? I’m kind of busy here.” Gage continued to wash his hands
with the hose.
I watched him go about his business like I wasn’t even there. This
jerkhole thought he could ice me out. Hell no. It wouldn’t be that easy. I
still bore the healing cuts and bruises from my time with the Angels. And
those were only the visible injuries. The rest were buried deep inside my
psyche. Gage was directly responsible for that night. This motherfucker
owed me.
“Get lost?” I repeated. “Did you even care when I went missing?
When Maverick buried me alive? Did you even care when the Angels tied
me down and violated me? Or are you really that cold and unfeeling?”
 Gage let out an exasperated sigh. “Jesus Christ, Raina. I’m a little
busy here. Can we save the dramatics for later?”
Once Gage finished washing his hands clean of blood, he carefully
picked up the knife and rinsed it clean as well. What could he have been up
to? I was tempted to whip out my phone and take a photo to send Havoc.
My father had raised me to know better than that. I couldn’t take such a
risky picture on my regular phone. Since I didn’t have a burner phone
handy, I didn’t give in to the urge.
“Dramatics,” I muttered with an eye roll. “Nice to know how you
feel about my trauma. Dick.”
Gage finished rinsing the knife and blasted the grass with water,
doing his best to disperse the blood. He soaked the grass until the scarlet
stains had soaked into the earth. All that remained was a large wet patch.
He dropped the hose and turned to find me still standing behind him.
“You’re still here? What do you want, Raina? I have things to do.”
“Like shower and hide your murder weapon?” I snarked.
“Something like that.” Gage’s hazel and blue eyes traveled over me.
He lingered on my cleavage. “Maybe you should join me. Put that
chattering mouth of yours to better use.”
“Funny.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not going to let this
go. What did you do, Gage? Something is going on with you, and I want to
know what it is.”
Gage took a few ominous steps toward me. A predatory glint filled
his eyes. “Are you sure about that? If I told you, I’d have to kill you. How
bad do you want to know, Doll?”
I scoffed. “Give me a break. You think I’m scared of you? After the
shit I’ve been through, you’re nothing. Do your worst.”
His wicked chuckle slid down my spine like ice. “Spoken like
someone who loves to be violated. Can’t get enough, can you? Careful what
you wish for, Raina. How much more do you think you can take?”
“Try me,” I invited, beckoning him with both hands. “You have no
idea how much I can take. I’m not letting this go, Gage. Not until you tell
me where you’ve been.”
His hand was gentle when he grasped my chin. At first. His hold
tightened, squeezing painfully. “Go back to the dorm. Or better yet, go back
to your dad’s house. You’ll need him if you insist on pissing me off. He
may be the only person who can protect you from me. Although I wouldn’t
bet my money on it.”
I jerked free of his grasp, lifting my chin in defiance. “Of course not.
You’d bet me instead. Like a fucking coward. Just like you did before.”
That did it. Gage snapped. He grabbed me by the throat, choking off
my breath. “Better watch your mouth. After the day I’ve had, I am not in
the mood for your shit. Let it go already.”
When he didn’t let me breathe, I lashed out with a fist, punching him
in the chest. He grunted, his grip loosening.
“I’m supposed to let it go so you can get away with being an
unapologetic piece of shit. Yeah, I get it. You’re trash, Gage. Fucking
garbage. That won’t stop me from finding out what you did today. I will
find out what you’re up to.”
I stormed away, dodging around him. Or I would have if he didn’t
grab a handful of my hair, jerking me back. Gage gave me a shove, pushing
me toward the fence. He snatched up the knife from the grass, pressing it
against the side of my neck.
My back hit the fence. I was trapped. The blade pressed tight against
my skin, ready to break through with little force. Staring into Gage’s rage
filled face, I searched for a sign of the guy I’d once seen soften. The one
who’d leaned into me while I cleaned his wounds. The one who’d shown a
glimmer of humanity.
Nothing. I saw nothing. That guy was long gone. Maybe he’d never
been there at all and I was deluding myself.
“You are going to forget that you saw anything,” Gage snarled. “And
you’re not going to say a word to anyone.”
Unable to keep my mouth shut and take his abuse, I said, “Go fuck
yourself.”
A slow grin spread across Gage’s face. “Yeah, I thought you’d say
something like that. On your knees, Cherry Pie. Open wide.”
With one hand in my hair and the other pressing the knife to my
neck, he forced me to my knees. Releasing my hair, Gage used his free hand
to fumble his belt open. Once he’d freed his cock, he grabbed my hair
again, holding me in place.
I stared at Gage’s hard cock, wondering how something so screwed
up turned him on. I couldn’t help but flash back to the night he’d crawled
into bed with me and made me fight him. It had been hot as hell. I guess he
wasn’t the only one who was screwed up.
This time felt different. I was furious that he had the audacity to
stick his dick in my face under these circumstances. We’d barely spoken
since the night the Angels got their hands on me. We’d been around each
other since but we hadn’t been alone. Gage could barely bring himself to
look at me. Now he was about to ram his cock down my throat.
“Open up, Raina. Be a good little pet and do as you’re told.” He
thrust his cock at my face, rubbing it on my cheek.
I clamped my lips shut, refusing to obey. “I’m not your fucking pet,
asshole. Get your dick out of my face before I bite it off.”
Gage chuckled, a low sound that promised bad things. He released
my hair again, pressing the blade tighter against my skin to keep me in
place. Patting my cheek, Gage gripped his cock and pressed it between my
lips.
He shoved it into my mouth and halfway down my throat, almost
gagging me. Luckily, I had a pretty good gag reflex. I let him pump into my
mouth a few times before clamping down on his shaft with my teeth. I
didn’t bite hard enough to draw blood, just hard enough to stop his motions.
The crazy bastard laughed and murmured, “Taking it easy on me,
huh, Cherry Pie? I know you can bite harder than that. Do it. Let me feel
those teeth.”
Hands down Gage Corwin was the craziest motherfucker that I’d
ever met. He thrust against the pressure of my teeth, groaning in pleasure.
In an effort to call his bluff, I sank my teeth in until I tasted blood. That
only seemed to encourage him.
“That’s right, baby,” he moaned. “Let me feel that rage. God, your
mouth feels so damn good.”
I let him push into my mouth a few more times. Then I took a risk. I
reached up between his legs, cupped his balls in my hand and squeezed.
That seemed to change his tune pretty damn fast. Gage froze. The
knife blade bit into the side of my neck, and I jerked away. Before either of
us could escalate this twisted little scenario further, Knight appeared in the
kitchen doorway.
I imagined the sight of Gage holding a knife and me aggressively
holding his nuts was a tad alarming. Knight launched into motion, crossing
the lawn with fast strides.
 “What the hell is going on?” he barked.
Gage raised the knife in an effort to appear harmless. He placed a
finger over his lips, motioning for me to keep my mouth shut about what I’d
seen earlier.
“Calm your tits, Knight. It’s all good. Just getting a little backyard
blowjob from our pet here. Would you like a turn?” Gage played it off cool
and collected, ignoring the blood that welled up where my teeth had dug in.
He shoved his cock back into his pants and strode toward the house.
Knight watched him go, his brow furrowed. He held a hand out to
me, helping me to my feet. “Are you okay? What was that all about?”
Gage glanced back as he reached the patio, a warning in his dark
glare. I shook my head. “Nothing. Just Gage being Gage.”
That seemed to appease Knight for the moment. He nodded, slinging
an arm around my shoulders. “I picked up some stuff for tacos tonight. How
does that sound?”
I let him lead me into the house. I was relieved to see that Gage had
disappeared upstairs. Forcing a smile, I said, “Sounds great.”
 CHAPTER TWO

HAVOC

My economics class was boring as hell. My eyes kept straying to the clock.
Only minutes had passed since I’d last looked at it. It felt like hours. This
day was dragging. I should’ve stayed home. Unfortunately, I’d fallen
behind since my father’s death. We were so close to the end of the term
before summer break. If I didn’t get my shit together, my GPA would drop.
Not that I really gave a shit anymore. I had much bigger problems
than my grades or attendance. Like the family business I was now obligated
to take over. I’d once wanted nothing more. Now I didn’t know what I
wanted.
Feeling a watchful stare in my direction, I turned to find a petite
blonde smiling at me. She batted her lashes flirtatiously. So not interested.
There was a time when I’d have been all over that. I’d lost interest in the
campus chicks ages ago. Now that I had Raina, everyone else paled in
comparison.
Ignoring the girl, I turned back to my laptop and the notes I’d been
taking. What a half-assed attempt at being productive. I couldn’t wait to get
the hell out of there. Finally, the clock hit the top of the hour. I breathed a
sigh of relief.
I shot out of my seat, hastily shoving my things into my bag.
Slinging it over my shoulder, I bolted for the door. I didn’t realize the little
blonde was right behind me until I was several yards down the hallway and
she touched my arm.
I whirled around in surprise. Finding her there smiling up at me
made me curse inwardly.
“Uh, hey, what’s up?” I continued to walk down the hall, forcing her
to keep up with my longer strides.
 “Not much. Glad that class is over. What a bore. So what are you up
to now?” She skipped along beside me, snapping her gum.
How fucking annoying. I stared straight ahead, barely
acknowledging her. “Heading home. Meeting my girl there.”
Hopefully she’d get the hint. If not, I’d make sure she got it.
“Oh, I see. Well, maybe I could interest you in a blow job first. I
know for a fact that the ladies’ room in this wing will be empty this time of
day. There’s also that back corner in the library. Nobody ever goes there.”
She kept shooting me teasing glances that I did my best to ignore.
“No thanks, not interested.” Who the hell even was this girl? Once
upon a time, I’d have happily let her suck me off just for kicks. The very
thought made my dick shrivel.
My abrupt refusal seemed to throw her off. She was quiet for a
moment before trying again. “How about a quick bathroom fuck then? I’ll
take your cock anywhere you want to put it.”
We reached the end of the hall where it opened into one of the many
large entryways. I jerked to a stop, turning to face her. “Look, I’m trying not
to be a dick here, but the only place I plan to put my cock is inside my
girlfriend. Thanks but no thanks. Find some other schmuck who’s hard up
for random tail.”
She had the audacity to look shocked. “Wow, okay then. Sorry I
offered.”
She stormed away with a bruised ego, flipping me off as she went.
Most of the chicks who hit on me only wanted to say they’d fucked a
mobster’s son. I wasn’t interested in giving them a really lame claim to
local fame.
Jet motherfucking Reinhart strolled out of the hall coming from the
opposite wing in time to catch the girl’s departure. He snickered. “Never
thought I’d see the day you became a one woman man. Damn, Raina must
have a chokehold on your dick. How’s she doing by the way? Did she enjoy
her time with the Angels?”
Maybe it was the smarmy expression he wore. Maybe it was the
cocky set to his shoulders and the tilt to his head. It was probably the fact
that he’d hand delivered Raina right to the Angels that night. Jet was partly
to blame for the abuse she’d endured.
I snapped. Dropping my bag, I threw a punch in Jet’s face. He never
saw it coming.
 He went down hard on his ass. His bag flew across the tiled floor.
Several people walking by paused to gawk.
Jet was up in a flash. “What the fuck is your problem, Havoc?”
He rushed toward me, grabbing me around the middle as he tackled
me to the floor. I got an elbow up between us, smashing it in his face. The
skin across the bridge of his nose split open.
“Your fucking attitude is my problem. You’re the piece of shit that
gave her to the Angels.” My head snapped back as Jet got in a lucky punch.
He pressed his arm to my throat, cutting off my air supply.
“Actually, that’s on Gage. Maybe it’s his ass you should be kicking.
Asshole.”
The worst part was that I couldn’t even argue that. Jet was right. He
was the one who’d goaded Gage into placing Raina as a bet but Gage had
followed through.
I pounded my fist into the side of Jet’s skull, knocking him off me.
Scrambling to my feet, I nailed him in the ribs with a kick before he could
get up. Someone shouted, alerting a few nearby instructors to the chaos.
Three male professors rushed over, yelling at us to break it up.
They pulled us apart, shoving us in opposite directions. One of them
pointed a finger in my face. “Get your ass to the dean’s office. Now. Move
it before I call the cops.”
I swiped a hand over my bloody bottom lip, smirking at the thought
of the cops doing jack shit. I let them shove me along to the dean’s office.
Jet was right behind me. Perfect. What a great way to end a shit day.
Jet and I were shoved into chairs in front of the dean’s desk. We both
sat there in silence while we were read the riot act. The dean took it easy on
me in light of my father’s recent demise. He likely knew that I’d be the next
in line to make his life hell. It was no secret to most what my father really
did for a living.
We were both told that another incident would result in an expulsion
for both of us. Then we were dismissed. I left the school, strolling through
the parking lot to my car. The days were getting longer. The sun still shone
overhead. It wouldn’t be long until classes were out. I could use the break.
During the drive home, I listened to Ghost at top volume. It only
made me want to fight more. Too bad Jet and I had been split up so quickly.
On the flip side, if I couldn’t fight, I could always get my kicks another
way.
 By the time I walked into the house, I was hungry for one thing.
Raina’s sweet pussy. I strode through the house in search of her. When I
found her at the kitchen table working on her laptop, I jerked to a halt.
My gaze locked in on the fresh bruises around her throat. “What
happened?”
She waved a hand dismissively. “Nothing really. Just Gage. The
usual. Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you okay? Do you want me to beat his ass?”
That’s when she glanced up from her screen, taking in my bruised
face and busted lip. Her gorgeous hazel eyes widened. “What happened to
you? Do you need me to beat someone’s ass?”
I grinned. This woman’s willingness to fight always made my dick
hard.
“Got into a little scuffle with Jet on campus. Almost got my ass
expelled. Thanks to the death of daddy dearest, they let me off with a
warning.” Grabbing the back of her chair, I pulled it away from the table.
“What are you doing, Havoc?” Raina frowned, trying and failing to
grab the table’s edge. “I have work to finish before class tomorrow.”
“It can wait. I need a little orgasm therapy. I’m sure you won’t
mind.” Picking her up, I placed her on the table next to the laptop and got
busy taking off her pants.
Raina slapped my hands in an effort to fend me off. She knew damn
well that only encouraged me. I shoved her hands aside, undoing her jeans
and peeling them off. Her underwear came next.
“Jesus, Havoc. Right here on the table? We eat here.” Her protests
were half-hearted at best.
“Fucking rights. That’s exactly what I plan to do.” Spreading her
legs wide, I leaned down and breathed in her intoxicating scent. Then I
dove right in.
I plunged my tongue between her folds, delving inside her. She let
out a gasp that fed my need for her. All I wanted was to feel her come all
over my tongue. I licked along her slit to her clit, flicking it until she
moaned. When she grasped a handful of my hair, I felt a sense of pride. I
got off on getting her off. Sometimes, that’s all I needed.
Once she was good and wet, I went hard on her clit. The first orgasm
always came quickly. When I didn’t let up, she knew where this was going.
 “Seriously, Havoc?” Raina moaned when I sucked her clit into my
mouth. “You’re doing this now?”
“Why not?” I murmured against her. “Let’s see how many times you
can go before you beg.”
“I’m not begging you for shit. Think I haven’t learned that lesson?”
She squirmed on the table in a pitiful attempt to dislodge me.
I chuckled, sliding two fingers inside her. Raina’s head fell back as
she moaned. I pumped in and out of her wet pussy, watching my fingers
disappear inside her. Fuck yes. Satisfying as hell.
My gaze briefly landed on the tattoo marking her thigh. The G that
had been inked there had been sliced through with a jagged A thanks to
Daire Keller. It was almost healed now and would clearly scar. Jet had been
a poor stand in for the man I really wanted to kill. Daire had taken a beating
from Gage that could have killed him. For now, it would have to do.
I kissed the marked up tattoo, wishing I could go back in time and
stop the Angels from ever taking her. When I thought about what they’d
done to her, it was enough to make me crazy. I did my best not to think
about it. Feeling so goddamn helpless to change what happened killed me.
Especially because I knew that it was Gage’s fault.
Raina’s second orgasm soaked my fingers. I still didn’t stop. Her
legs shook, and she whispered my name like a plea. I tipped her back so she
lay flat on the table’s surface. Sliding in a third finger, I swirled my tongue
around her clit while she made a fruitless effort to squirm away.
“Havoc, stop. It’s too sensitive. You’re going to make me scream.”
“That’s a terrible way to convince me to stop. I want to feel this
pussy tighten around my fingers again. I need it, Raina. Like a fucking
drug.” I happily licked her clit while fucking her with my fingers. She
twisted and writhed, giving me exactly what I wanted.
I knew she was close to begging for mercy when orgasm number
five rolled around. Her hips bucked, her chest heaving. It was fucking
glorious.
I was primed and ready to force her to have number six when my
phone rang. Usually I would ignore it. Since my father’s death, there had
been several calls from family and fellow syndicate members. Important
shit. A glance at the screen revealed such a call.
“It’s your lucky day, Bad Girl. You get to stop at five.” I gave her
pussy an affectionate pat before answering the phone.
 “How is everything, Christian?” Nate’s voice filled my ear. “How
are you holding up?”
My uncle Nate had been my father’s righthand yes man. A pathetic
piece of shit who’d had the nerve to shit talk Raina at the funeral. I didn’t
want that stupid fuck around anymore. Unfortunately, I couldn’t kill
everyone who pissed me off.
“Doing okay,” I answered, wanting to get this conversation over
with. “Trying to get caught up at school. What’s up?”
I didn’t ask Nate how he was because frankly, I didn’t care. I
watched Raina squirm off the table and reach for her underwear. Before she
could grab it, I snatched it up, twirling it on a finger. A scowl crossed her
face.
“I think it’s time that we hold a meeting to discuss where the
organization goes from here,” Nate said. “There is plenty to talk about. It’s
time to take your seat at the head of the table, so to speak.”
“Right. Sure. Of course. Let’s do that.” I made a show of smelling
Raina’s panties, grinning when she punched me in the arm.
I listened to Nate go on about how we all needed to take care of each
other now. Making sure our organization stayed strong in the face of
tragedy was the first point of business. Of course, he also wanted to find out
who’d killed my father. I played along, agreeing to everything.
When I finally ended the call, I grabbed Raina’s jeans from her
hands before she could slip them on. “Time for number six.”
 CHAPTER THREE

RAINA

I managed to beat Gage to our first class the next day. Finding a seat in the
back row, I smiled to myself when a guy took the seat next to me. I always
sat on the end if possible so there was no seat on my other side.
“Hi, how’s it going?” The guy next to me stuck out a hand. He was
blond and thin with a friendly smile. “I’m Ryan.”
“Not too bad. Nice to meet you. Raina.” I accepted his offered hand,
trying to keep the handshake brief. I wasn’t interested in small talk, and I
sure as hell had no time or energy for another man in my life.
Ryan beamed a toothy smile in my direction. “It’s a pleasure to meet
you. I hope this isn’t too forward but I’ve been hoping for a chance to
introduce myself.”
Goddammit. He just had to go and make it awkward.
“Um, that’s cool.” I forced what I hoped was a friendly smile.
Trying to deter him from further discussion, I pulled my laptop from
my bag and turned it on. It didn’t help.
Ryan leaned in closer. He smelled of cheap cologne and cigarettes.
“You’re really pretty. I like your hair.”
“Uh, thanks.” I leaned away, hoping he’d get the message. I didn’t
want to be rude, but I was ready to tell him to go fly a kite if he didn’t take
the hint.
“Would you like to maybe grab coffee sometime or something?”
Ryan refused to give up on this dead end conversation.
Before I could answer, a growly voice said, “No, she would not like
to have coffee with you sometime, jackass. Now get the hell out of that seat
before I throw you out.”
I glanced up to find Gage towering over Ryan. The former appeared
ready to bust skulls while the latter seemed oblivious to the danger he was
in.
“I think she can answer for herself,” Ryan said, sitting up straighter.
He looked to me as if I would back him up.
I shrugged. “You should probably move.”
The campus was big. The student body was large. Maybe it was
possible that Ryan didn’t know who Gage was. He was about to find out.
“Seriously?” Ryan’s head swiveled as he glanced between Gage and
me. “Is this guy your boyfriend or something?”
Ugh. I didn’t love that question. There was no good way to answer
it.
“Or something,” I said, knowing it would piss off Gage. “We’re kind
of involved. You should just move. He’s kind of a dick. You don’t want to
tick him off.”
Gage glared down at me. I smirked back at him. Then I turned my
attention to my computer screen, ignoring them both.
Muttering something about people being fucking crazy around here,
Ryan gathered his things and moved to a different seat. Gage plopped down
in his vacated chair. Down in the front of the room, Professor Harper
frowned in our direction. Great.
“What’s your problem today?” Gage asked, pulling his laptop from
his bag.
“Other than you?” I quipped. “Not much actually. Just here to learn.
You know the drill.”
“Damn. You’re ice cold. Still mad about yesterday? Since when are
you easily ruffled? Chill out, Raina.” Gage poked a finger into my side,
nailing a ticklish spot between my ribs.
I slapped his hand away, leaning out of reach when he tried to do it
again. I almost fell out of my chair. “Not just yesterday. Frankly, Gage, I’m
sick of your shit.”
“Oh, boo hoo. Cry me a river.” Gage lowered his voice when
Professor Harper started speaking. “Where’s your fire, Cherry Pie? Make
me burn.”
He had no idea how deep those words cut. Ignoring him, I stared
straight ahead. I wasn’t in the mood for Gage today. The incident in the
backyard yesterday had really gotten under my skin. I hated that it did. I
hated that it bothered me so much. It was more than yesterday though. Gage
had been a straight up dick since the night the Angels assaulted me. Either
he didn’t care or he didn’t know how to show it. I was betting on the
former.
Because Gage was Gage and he couldn’t stand to be ignored, he
leaned over and licked my face. I gasped, shoving him away with a hand on
his shoulder. Using the sleeve of my oversized hoodie, I vigorously wiped
his saliva off my cheek.
While Harper gave the lesson, I did my best to concentrate. I took
notes and even asked a question for clarification. Next to me Gage did a
half assed job of paying attention. Halfway through class, he grew bored
with the material and began surfing porn instead. That tactic to annoy me
was old and played out. It didn’t work anymore.
Gage wasn’t the type to give up or back down. He reached over to
take my hand, drawing it toward him. I tried unsuccessfully to pull away.
His grip was too tight.
He placed my hand on his thigh, inclining his head in a silent
command. My brows furrowed as I shook my head. Hell no. I was not
jerking him off in class.
Since when had Gage accepted a no? He dragged my hand closer,
placing it over the hard on bulging in his jeans. A lover of taking chances,
he’d fingered me in class more than once. One time I even came. I had no
intention of being caught with my hand down this asshole’s pants.
He angled himself toward me, preventing the guy sitting next to him
from seeing my hand on his dick. Then Gage forced my hand down his
pants, shoving it against his hard cock. I had half a mind to grab some of his
short and curlys and give a good tug. Knowing that it would only mean
payback later, I restrained myself.
I decided to do something a little different. Slowly, I wrapped my
fingers around Gage’s thick shaft. Sliding up and down, I paused to tease
the head with my thumb. He sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly as I
glided my hand up and down. I wasn’t sure he’d thought this through. Did
he plan to come in my hand? Did he think I’d hold it for the rest of class? I
had tissue in my bag. Not that I’d brought it with this in mind.
I continued to stare straight ahead at the instructor, paying attention
like a good student. That seemed to irk Gage. At one point, he grabbed my
chin with a hand, forcing me to look at him. What an egotistical prick.
I stared at him with my best bored expression. It was hard not to
crack a smile at the scowl that adorned his face. He could make me touch
his dick. He couldn’t force me to like it. Part of me did though. How could I
not enjoy being able to make Gage squirm in his chair? He clamped his lips
shut in an effort not to make a sound. I knew the feeling. I’d been there
before.
I waited until I felt sure that he was close to coming. Then I stopped.
Jerking my hand from his pants, I turned back to my laptop, icing him out.
The weight of his stare made me nervous.
In my peripheral view, I saw him scowl. He reached for me again
and I turned my body, angling in the opposite direction. I was ready to put
up a fight. The bastard could sit there with his blue balls and suffer for all I
cared.
“You’re a naughty girl, Cherry Pie,” he said softly. “Naughty girls
get punished.”
Pretending to scratch the side of my face, I flipped him a middle
finger. His low chuckle sent a chill down my spine. I tempted danger and I
knew it. And yet, I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted to set Gage off. I craved
it.
Doing my best to ignore him for the rest of class, I took some notes
and made sure to not look at him again. Not once. When class ended, I
gathered my things to leave, taking my sweet time. He didn’t wait around
for me.
On my way out of the classroom, Professor Harper called my name.
I jerked to a halt. If he’d seen me with my hand down Gage’s pants, I would
die of mortification. Nothing could be more humiliating.
Approaching his desk, I forced a small smile. “What’s up?”
Harper waited for the last student to file out of the room before
closing the door. That didn’t feel right. He turned a friendly smile on me.
“Is everything okay?” he asked. “I know you’ve had some issues
over recent weeks. I just wanted to make sure that everything is back on
track.”
That must have been his subtle way of referring to me faking my
own death. Most of my instructors hadn’t said a word about my absence and
reappearance. My father wasn’t the kind of man most people wanted to piss
off. They’d never questioned the memorial service that had been held for
me. I’m sure they wanted to though.
“I’m fine, thanks. I’ve been making sure to get my work done at
home when I miss class. Is there a problem?” I clutched the handle of my
laptop bag, glancing toward the closed door.
Harper sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. He eyed me
up, his expression unreadable. “Maybe it’s none of my business, but are you
having any issues with Gage Corwin? I can’t help but notice that he goes
out of his way to make sure only he sits next to you. Is there trouble with
him that I should know about? Do you need help?”
Goddamn Gage and his territorial bullshit. People were starting to
notice. I could only imagine how many students had noticed his possessive
behavior.
I did my best to laugh off his concerns. “No, there’s no trouble with
Gage. Everything is fine. Really.”
I didn’t offer more of an explanation. Frankly, it was nobody’s
business.
Harper nodded. “I want you to know that you can talk to me if you
ever need to. Don’t feel like you have to protect him. If he’s threatening or
intimidating you in any way, you need to tell someone.”
Buddy, you don’t know the half of it. I sure didn’t say that out loud. If
Harper knew how much I enjoyed Gage’s psychotic shit, he’d think I was
deranged.
“Trust me, Sir, if Gage was a problem, my father would have dealt
with him by now. I appreciate your concern though.” I turned toward the
door, ready to cut this conversation short.
Harper stood up, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I want you to
know that there are people who care. People you can trust.”
His hand moved in a massaging motion. My defenses were
triggered. Feelings of revulsion crept through me when I realized this
middle-aged man with thinning hair and slightly yellow teeth was hitting on
me. Did he think this would work? That I’d succumb to his unwelcome
touch?
“Um, ok. Thank you. I appreciate that.” I shrugged his hand off my
shoulder and bolted for the door. There was no mistaking the meaning in
that gesture.
Throwing the door open, I flung myself into the hallway in an effort
to put distance between Harper and me. Gross. So fucking gross.
Gage startled me by stepping out from an intersecting hallway as I
passed. “Why are you so jumpy? What did Harper want?”
 His suspicious gaze slid over me, like he knew Harper had put his
hand on me and was trying to pinpoint the location. Harper may have been
a creep but I didn’t want to get his hands broken. Or worse.
“He just asked me if I’m doing okay catching up on missed
schoolwork. That’s all.” I continued down the hall, forcing Gage to keep
pace with me.
“You’re lying. Think I don’t know you that well by now? Spill it,
Raina. What happened in there?” Gage glanced back toward the classroom,
like he considered beating the answer out of Harper himself.
“Nothing. I was only in there for a minute. How much could
happen? Geez, Gage. Calm your tits. You’re always looking for a fight.” I
checked the time on my phone, hoping I had a few minutes to grab an iced
coffee before my next class.
“Only from you, Baby Girl. Now tell me what Harper said. Did he
try something?” Gage caught my arm, pulling me to a stop.
His piercing mismatched gaze cut into me. Not in the mood for his
demanding crap, I tried to jerk away. He held tight.
“I don’t have to tell you shit, Gage. You won’t share with me. Why
should I share with you? I told you it was nothing. Now let go of me. I want
to get an iced coffee on my way to class, if that’s okay with you.” I held his
steely stare, refusing to break first.
Finally, he released me. I expected a snarky retort. Instead, he
stormed away down the hall without a glance back.
Gage Corwin was hell bent to test every last fragment of my sanity.
If any of the Gods were going to drive me all the way to crazy, it would be
him.
 CHAPTER FOUR

RAINA

“Do I really have to go? How do I know that Gage won’t try to gamble me
away again?” I shot a dark glare at Gage and leaned back on the couch.
“Of course you have to go,” Havoc replied, not at all giving a shit
that I didn’t want to attend a stupid frat party. “We’re not leaving you here
alone. Go get dressed. Unless you want to wear that.”
I still wore my oversized hoodie and blue jeans. Since I didn’t want
to attend this shitty party, I didn’t much care what I wore. A party at this
time of year would likely be hot. I’d have to ditch the hoodie.
“Nobody is gambling you away. I swear it.” Knight strolled into the
living room in a black button down and chinos. His brown hair perfectly in
place, he smelled like sandalwood and musk.
His look was clean and tidy compared to Gage’s Trainspotting t-shirt
and torn blue jeans. Reclining in the easy chair across from me, Gage
puffed a plume of marijuana smoke above his head and grinned in my
direction. Jerkass.
“Lighten up, Raina,” Gage admonished. “There’s no reason we can’t
go have a good time. Ask Clover to come. You can do your girl talk or
whatever it is you two do.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I quipped with a saucy smirk. “Fine.
I’ll go get changed, but I want to stop for burgers on the way. I could kill
for a bacon mushroom melt.”
“You just keep getting sexier.” Gage rolled his eyes, holding his joint
out to me as I pushed off the couch.
I plucked it from his grasp and took a large puff. “You know that you
love watching me put meat in my mouth.”
I passed the joint to Havoc and skipped from the room. Gage’s voice
followed me up the stairs.
 “Don’t think that I’ve forgotten about earlier. You owe me, Doll.”
Screw that. I had no intention of giving Gage what he wanted. Not
as long as he was keeping secrets. I sure wouldn’t be forgetting about what
I’d seen yesterday in the backyard.
After changing into a cute red tank top and tight black leggings, I
spritzed on some coconut vanilla perfume and went back downstairs. I’d
considered a crop top but decided against it. I wasn’t ready to show off the
knife scars on my stomach from Daire Keller and his fellow Angels. I ran
my fingers through my hair. Good enough.
Havoc looked me up and down before dragging me into his arms.
“Always looking good enough to eat, Bad Girl. I’m tempted to eat that
pussy right now.”
Resisting Havoc only made him want to do it more. I clung to his
black t-shirt when he started pushing me toward the couch.
“Jesus, Havoc. We don’t have time for twenty orgasms. Let’s go get
wasted. You can eat Raina out when we get home.” Gage rose from the
recliner, ready to leave.
“Sounds like you should be licking her pussy, Gage. Pretty sure you
owe our Goddess some worshipping.” Havoc pinned Gage with a pointed
stare.
Gage and I hadn’t touched each other since before the Angels got
their hands on me. Other than yesterday in the backyard and today in class,
though that hardly counted. The tension between us was palpable. Havoc
obviously felt it too.
“Maybe if she actually wanted me to touch her,” Gage shot back, his
gaze sliding to me and then darting away.
“Yeah, well, whose fault is that?” I muttered. “And since when have
you ever cared about what I want?”
The atmosphere grew heavy with growing tension. Knight pulled out
his car keys, loudly jingling them on a finger. “On that note, I say we go
party before Raina and Gage claw each other’s eyes out.”
“You two really need to work out your shit.” Havoc looked from me
to Gage. “Let’s go. After the day I’ve had, I need to unwind.”
“Why? Did you knock Jet’s stupid ass out again?” Gage helped
himself to a handful of my ass on his way to the front door.
I glared after him, hoping he felt it bore into his back. He’d never
shown a shred of remorse for what happened. I doubted he ever would.
 “I wish. Just a rough day in class. My focus is shot these days. I
can’t wait for summer break.” Havoc paused at the door as we left, making
sure the security system was armed.
He hadn’t been taking any chances lately. Since he’d killed his
father, he was more antsy than I’d ever seen him. Like he constantly
expected the wrong person to find out and come after him.
The frat party was well underway when we arrived. I wasn’t really
feeling it. Clover was already there and this time Zane was nowhere to be
seen. I happily flounced over to where she stood in the large kitchen talking
with Lyra and another girl I’d never met.
“Hey, girl. Glad you came.” Clover pulled me into a hug. She
smelled like a fruit cocktail. “I really miss having you at the dorm. You
should come around more.”
“I will. I promise. God, you smell good. Like candy.” I pulled back
to assess her bright attire. Neon green pants and a bright pink crop top made
her look like a fun watermelon. “Loving the fit tonight. You look like candy
too.”
“Thanks. That’s what I was going for.” She playfully batted her big,
blue eyes at me. Motioning to the new girl, she said, “Raina, this is Briar
Lehane. She’s in my sociology class.”
Briar was dressed all in black. She wore a Lolita dress with spaghetti
straps and a puffy skirt. A lace choker adorned her neck. Her eyeliner was
heavy and thick, her lips painted black. What I assumed was dyed black
hair was piled on her head in a mess of curls. She was gorgeous.
“Nice to meet you. Love your dress.” I offered her a hand, doing my
best to be friendly. I wasn’t the best at making friends. Clover made it look
easy.
“Thanks. I like your collar.” Briar nodded to the tracking collar
locked around my neck. “Where did you get it?”
My hand went to the collar, fingering the hard metal. “Actually, I’m
not sure. Let’s just say it was a gift.”
Clover knew that I’d been held down by Gage and Havoc while
Knight locked the collar around my neck. I didn’t plan to tell anyone else
that, especially not someone I’d just met.
Briar and Clover began chatting away about random shit. I nodded
along, sipping the whiskey I’d helped myself to. That’s when I noticed
Lyra’s hand sneak up to her own neck. She tugged on the collar of her
sweater, adjusting it to hide the bruise she didn’t want anyone to see.
I was pretty sure I knew where that bruise had come from. I glanced
around for any sign of Jet Reinhart. He must not be here, otherwise he’d be
hanging off Lyra like an ass. Probably didn’t want to show off the marks
Havoc left on his face.
The kitchen and living room were open concept, allowing me to see
the Gods where they schmoozed in the living room. I had the perfect view
of the brunette that sauntered over to Knight. She placed a hand on his arm
to get his attention. He turned to see who’d touched him, eyes widening
when he saw the girl. Who was she?
She leaned in close, saying something I couldn’t hear thanks to the
mass of noise. Loud rap music boomed through the house. Along with so
many voices, I had to read Knight’s expression to figure out what was said.
The girl tossed her hair, pressing against him. She said something
that made him shake his head. He gave her a gentle push, putting space
between them. She frowned. A moment later, she glanced over at me.
“Who’s that?” I asked Clover, nodding toward the girl.
Clover followed my stare. “Oh, that’s April. She used to have a thing
for Knight. I guess she still does.”
As I watched, April tried harder to hold Knight’s attention. Every
time she spoke, he shook his head. Deciding that it wasn’t my problem, I
resumed my conversation. I forgot all about April until Havoc approached.
He slid an arm around me from behind, pressing his lips to the side
of my neck below my ear. “Sorry to interrupt, Bad Girl, but your assistance
is required.”
A tickle traveled down my neck straight to my groin. The alcohol
buzzed in my veins, making my head fuzzy.
“Why? What’s going on?” I turned in his embrace, aware of how
many people watched us.
Havoc wasn’t known for being the committed type. I still didn’t
really know what we were. I only knew that he’d started off being my
tormentor and then had fallen to his knees before me after killing his own
father to protect me. Havoc had said he’d fallen for me. Although he hadn’t
let me say it back.
“Knight’s old fling won’t get the clue and leave him alone. Maybe
you can do something to convince her that he’s taken. I’m thinking that
sucking his cock should get the message across.” Havoc said this into my
ear so nobody else heard.
I stiffened. “Are you serious right now? You want me to blow him
right here in front of everyone? That’s fucked, Havoc.”
“It doesn’t have to be right here. Take him upstairs or outside. I’ll
make sure she goes looking for him.” Havoc nodded to where a girl
bounced on a guy’s dick on a recliner in the corner. “It’s not like nobody
else is doing it. You can just sit on his cock. Whatever you prefer.”
Annoyed at his insistent request, I shoved him away, almost spilling
my drink. I tossed back the rest of it, drinking it all in one swallow. “Get
bent, Havoc.”
“Swallow Knight’s cock the way you just chugged that drink and
he’ll come in seconds.” Havoc’s self-satisfied chuckle only added to my
irritation. “Come on, Raina. You’re our Goddess. Make sure the bitch
knows.”
“Get the hell out of here.” I shoved him again, turning back to my
friends. What a dick.
Havoc didn’t accept my dismissal. He slid a hand into my hair from
behind, jerking my head back. Next to my ear he murmured, “You can
refuse me now, Raina, but you won’t be able to refuse me later.”
Then he let go and strolled back to where Gage and Knight stood
talking with a group of guys. I glowered at him as he went.
“What was that all about?” Clover asked, shooting an inquisitive
glance in Havoc’s direction.
I waved a dismissive hand. “You don’t want to know.”
Clover nodded knowingly. She’d heard enough about the Gods to
know that it had been something messed up. She inclined her head toward
the back door.
“Want to move this outside?” she asked. “It’s getting pretty smoky in
here anyway. I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes.”
“Yeah, let’s go. I’m grabbing a refill first. I’ll meet you out there.”
While Clover and the other girls headed out back, I went to the counter to
pour more whiskey into my plastic cup.
As I reached the back door, April stepped in front of me. With a hand
on her hip, she jabbed a finger into my chest. “Stay the hell away from my
man, bitch. I don’t like what I’ve been hearing about you.”
 She did not just do that. I laughed in disbelief. “Who the fuck are
you anyway? I’ve never even seen you before.”
“I was on a trip with my family. We got back from Barbados last
week. I’m Knight’s girlfriend. We were a thing before I left. Stay away
from him, unless you want trouble.” April bared her teeth in a weird
grimace she must have thought was tough.
“That’s going to be difficult considering I live with him.” I shrugged,
trying to remain serious and not laugh right in her face.
Her jaw dropped. “You what? I don’t think so. No. That can’t be
possible. He’s mine, slut. Got it?”
I looked April up and down. Her dress was two sizes too small,
squeezing her tight in all the wrong places. She would have been pretty if
she didn’t have such fucking crazy eyes. Total looney tunes.
I sipped my drink, thinking about punching her. Instead, I did
something I’d probably hate myself for later. Whirling on a heel, I marched
across the room to where Knight stood with the others. Taking his hand, I
led him to the couch, shoving him down on a free cushion. Ignoring
everyone else in the vicinity, I shoved my drink into his hand and began to
undo his belt. Thankfully, my friends weren’t in here to witness what I was
about to do.
Pulling Knight’s cock out of his pants, I stroked it until it was hard.
It didn’t take long. Sinking to my knees, I took him into my mouth. A few
guys nearby whistled, making comments that were immature and stupid.
One of them asked if he could be next. Havoc punched him in the side of
the head.
Knight’s gaze was on me as I sucked him into my mouth. Our eyes
met briefly as I swirled my tongue around the swollen head. He let out a
breath on a deep exhale. He glanced to where April stood in the kitchen
watching. This was not the kind of thing I’d normally do. It damn well
better be appreciated.
As I sucked Knight deep into my throat, he pushed my blonde locks
back from my face so nothing obstructed his view. He traced a finger along
the side of my face. Affection shone in his brown eyes.
I knew that April hadn’t left when Knight continued to glance into
the kitchen. She was really going to stand there and watch the whole thing?
What a nutjob.
 I teased Knight with my tongue, licking along his shaft, twirling it
around the head, then sucking him deep again. As his pleasure grew, his
gentle nature slipped. He fisted a handful of my hair, using his grip to pull
me down deeper on his cock. I almost gagged when he was balls deep in
my mouth. Bastard.
If he’d been Havoc or Gage, I’d have given him some teeth. Lucky
for him, I was in a decent mood tonight. Although if he made my eyes water
and got crazy over it, I was done. No way was I letting him bang me in
front of these frat boy idiots. Not even to chase April away.
When Knight’s breath came faster and the head of his cock grew
tight and rigid, I knew he was close. Bracing for it, I was ready when he
shot a stream of cum down my throat. I swallowed, wiping a stray drop
from the corner of my mouth.
I rose to find Havoc and Gage wearing similar expressions of want.
Leaving them both there to stare after me, I plucked my drink from
Knight’s hand and strode from the room. I shouldered April out of my way
as I exited into the backyard. If she still thought Knight was hers after this,
we were going to have a problem.
 CHAPTER FIVE

RAINA

A mild hangover left me with a slight headache and dry mouth the next
morning. Gross. I rolled out of Havoc’s bed and went to the bathroom to
pee and brush my teeth. He was already up and in the kitchen. Why did we
party on school nights? It felt like a good idea until the next morning rolled
around.
I’d been spending most of my nights in Havoc’s bed. Since both his
father and the Angels had targeted me, he’d become obsessed with keeping
me safe. That often meant keeping me close. For the most part, I didn’t
mind. Although a little more alone time would be nice.
After donning a Halestorm t-shirt and tight leather pants, I secured a
spiked bracelet around my wrist and ran a brush through my hair. Silver
eyeshadow and black liner made my eyes pop. Upon leaving the bedroom, I
noticed that Gage’s door was still closed. The sound of his steady snores
indicated that he hadn’t yet risen. Was he ditching class?
That piqued my interest. I wanted to know where he was going
during those times he didn’t show up. After finding him in the backyard
washing blood from his hands, I had a lot of questions. Gage’s secret was
eating a hole in me. I needed to know what he was hiding.
Downstairs I joined Knight and Havoc for coffee and a bagel. There
was a peacefulness around the kitchen table that wasn’t present when Gage
was around. Maybe that was me and the grudge I’d been holding.
“Gage must be too hungover for class today,” Havoc observed when
Gage never joined us. “Will you be okay without him, Bad Girl? Do you
want to ride with one of us?”
I shook my head. If Gage wasn’t going to class today, then neither
was I. “No, I’m good. I can drive myself. You don’t have to worry about
me, Havoc. We haven’t heard from the Angels in weeks. Your father can’t
hurt me anymore. I think we’re in the clear.”
“Can’t be too careful. There’s never a good time to let your guard
down. Text me between classes. I mean it.” Havoc rose from the table,
carrying his coffee mug to the dishwasher for a change.
“Let me guess,” I said dryly. “There will be punishment if I don’t.”
“You know it. I’m starting to think you like being punished. I’ll have
to get more creative.” He paused next to my chair, grasping my chin in his
hand. His mouth was possessive and demanding on mine as he kissed me.
Havoc’s demanding nature sent shockwaves to my groin. I cursed
inwardly, both loving and hating how my body reacted to him. He’d been
the enemy. Now he was my lover and my keeper. My feelings for him were
still conflicted.
I gathered my things, pretending to leave as well. Once I was inside
my SUV, I called Clover. “Hey, this is kind of a weird request, but I need to
borrow your car for a bit today.”
I headed to campus like usual. Instead of going to class, I met Clover
to get the keys to her little blue sedan and went right back to the house.
Parking down the street, I waited until I saw Gage leave. It was almost
lunch time when he finally emerged. Since he’d recognize my SUV right
away, I’d borrowed Clover’s car, hoping to keep him from spotting me as I
followed. When he peeled away in his black Charger, I wasn’t too far
behind him.
With my phone playing Motionless in White through the car
speakers as I drove, I kept a safe distance from Gage’s car. The music
pounding from his speakers was loud enough that I could feel it from
several cars behind him. Damn. Rest in peace his eardrums.
I made sure to keep other vehicles between us. If he glanced in his
rearview mirror, I didn’t want him to see me. For some reason, he was
conducting his shady side activity when the rest of us weren’t around.
When we were in class was the best time to avoid us.
Not this time. I was onto Gage, and I damn well wanted to know
what was going on. I followed him through the city, past downtown, and
into a neighborhood I wasn’t all that familiar with. He turned down a back
alley running between several businesses. I was forced to make a sudden
decision. Follow him down the alley and risk being seen or park and follow
on foot.
 “Dammit,” I muttered, driving past the opening of the alley.
I parked in front of an accountant’s office and doubled back. Worried
that I would lose him or miss something, I quickened my pace, speed
walking down the sidewalk.
Ducking into the alley, I did my best to take silent steps. I listened
for any sounds ahead, hearing nothing. I rounded a bend in the alley, spying
Gage’s car pulled over to one side. I didn’t see anyone inside. Where did he
go?
I ventured further, coming up beside the car. A glance inside
confirmed it to be empty. Deciding to walk to the other end of the alley, I
kept going.
Gage stepped out from behind a large dumpster, scaring the hell out
of me. I let out a shriek. Covering my mouth with a hand, he jerked me
behind the dumpster.
“Why are you following me, Raina?” Gage snarled.
I slapped his hand away. He let go of my mouth but shoved me
against the dumpster, trapping me with his body. I pushed against him to no
avail.
“I want to know what you’re up to.” Placing my hands on his
shoulders, I shoved. He wouldn’t be moved.
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you. Back off, Cherry Pie. Trust me
when I say that you don’t want to push me on this.” He smirked at my
pitiful attempts to move him. “That’s cute. Keep it up. It’s kind of turning
me on.”
“Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to do that now, would I?” I gave up
on shoving him off me. The metal dumpster was cold against my back. In
contrast, Gage was warm against the front of my body.
Gage peered down into my face, his hazel and blue eyes alight with
malevolence. “Don’t pretend you don’t love it. You like to pretend that you
hate me now but I know your pussy still gets wet for me.”
“You don’t know shit,” I hissed. “You left me to be assaulted and
abused. It will be a cold day in hell before my pussy reacts to you again.”
Gage’s expression grew cold and stony. One hand slid around my
throat, squeezing tight. “And I almost killed the cunt who did that to you. I
would have if Havoc didn’t stop me. Did you forget that part?”
Of course I didn’t forget. I’d witnessed Gage in a total rage. He’d
stabbed Daire and beat the hell out of him. He’d have killed him for sure.
That should have been enough to satisfy me, but it wasn’t. I wanted an
apology. I wanted remorse.
“But are you sorry?” I countered, noting the way his eye twitched at
my words.
Ignoring my question, Gage slid his free hand between my legs.
“Let’s see how wet that pussy gets for me, shall we? I’m about to expose
you as a liar.”
“Like fuck you are.” I slapped his hand in an effort to stop him. It
only encouraged him.
“You really want to do this the hard way, huh? That’s fine. You know
how much I love a fight.” Releasing my throat, Gage grabbed my hands
instead. He wrestled them both into his grasp, using one hand to press them
to the dumpster above my head.
He shoved his free hand inside my pants, delving into my
underwear. Eyes locked on mine, he rubbed my pussy, making me suck in a
breath.
“You’re so fucked in the head,” I whispered, unable to force my
voice any louder.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. Is that all you’ve got, Cherry
Pie?” He teased my clit with a finger, sending shockwaves of pleasure
through me.
Why couldn’t I hate his touch? I wanted to. If I had it my way, my
pussy would have remained dry like the desert. But no, it responded exactly
the way he wanted it to. Desire flooded my core. When he dipped a finger
between my folds, he found the wetness there.
I turned my head to the side, refusing to meet his gaze. Gage thrust a
finger inside me. He wasn’t nice about it. His touch was rough. Forceful.
“A cold day in hell, huh?” he chuckled. “Looks like you spoke too
soon. You shouldn’t have followed me. Now I have to remind you who you
belong to, but I think you already know.”
I scoffed, still refusing to look at him. “I don’t belong to you, Gage.
You’re a coldhearted prick who only cares about himself. I will never
belong to you.”
He responded by shoving a second finger inside me. A moan escaped
me despite my efforts to hold it back. He pumped his fingers into me
several times before sliding them out and circling my clit. My legs began to
tremble.
 “Talk all the shit you want, Baby Girl. It won’t change the way your
pussy is dripping down my hand. I fucking own you.” Gage went for my
exposed neck. He bit into my tender flesh hard enough to make me yelp.
Pleasure rolled through me, climbing higher with every stroke of his
fingers over my clit. He plunged them back inside me, working in a third
for good measure. I wasn’t sure how much longer my legs would hold me.
Gage’s tongue was hot on my skin as he licked the place he’d just
bit. He sucked on the bite, leaving it feeling raw and bruised. No doubt
there would be a mark. Damn him.
“Keep telling yourself that,” I gasped out, biting back the next moan
that rose. Although it wasn’t much of a victory, I’d take it. “You have
problems, Gage. You’re a fucking monster. I don’t think you have a shred of
humanity inside you.”
He’d hurt me by refusing to show remorse for what he’d done. I
wanted to hurt him too. If only it were that easy.
“Funny how the closer you are to coming, the angrier you get,” he
snickered. “Hate me. Love me. I don’t fucking care. But you are going to
come for me, Raina. Because you are mine.”
His thumb found my clit while his fingers moved inside me. I made
a sad attempt to squeeze my thighs together to stop the motion of his hand.
No use. Gage kept working my clit, bringing me closer. My breaths came
faster. I wanted it so bad. I hated that.
I came with a small cry that would not be held back. My hips jerked
as I writhed on Gage’s fingers. My knees felt weak, like they may drop me.
I’m sure he’d love that.
Gage withdrew his hand from my pants, holding up his wet fingers
for me to see. He ran a finger over my bottom lip, making me jerk my head
back. There was no place to escape to. I watched as he sucked my arousal
from his fingers with a malicious grin.
“Fuck you, Gage,” I panted, annoyed with myself for not having a
more clever retort.
He inclined his head to one side, taking in my breathy state and the
warmth in my cheeks. “Maybe later. Right now, I have somewhere to be.
Don’t follow me, Raina, or next time I get my hands on you, it won’t feel
nearly as good.”
I opened my mouth to tell him off. My tirade was cut off when he
suddenly picked me up. He lifted me in his strong arms up over his head.
Panic filled me when I realized what he was about to do.
Gage flung me into the dumpster. I crashed down on the mountain of
garbage inside. Cardboard boxes, old food containers, and other nastier
things I didn’t want to acknowledge. I was still trying to stand up in the
mess when his tires squealed as he drove away.
“Motherfucker,” I swore, slapping a sticky food wrapper off my arm.
The dumpster was tall. I stood on an unsteady pile of garbage, trying
to jump high enough to grab the edge and pull myself out. It took several
attempts.
Covered in trash stains, I stormed down the alley back to Clover’s
car. Not caring who saw me, I stripped down to my bra and panties,
throwing my ruined clothing in the trunk. I didn’t want to stink up the
inside of her car.
I drove back to the Gods’ house for a shower and a fresh change of
clothes. The entire drive was spent cursing Gage. He’d thrown me off his
trail for now. It only made me more determined to find out what he tried so
hard to hide. I may destroy a few of his things while I figured it out.
 CHAPTER SIX

GAGE

There was nothing quite as satisfying as Raina’s pussy spasming around my

fingers. The only thing that would have made it better was if it had been my
cock instead. I needed to make her body give in to my demands. She was
ours. Mine. She needed to remember that.
I’d spotted her following me through traffic shortly after leaving the
house. If she’d wanted to go unnoticed, she probably shouldn’t have
borrowed her friend’s bright blue car. It stood out like a beacon. I’d led her
down the alley planning to get rid of her. Tossing her in the dumpster had
been a spontaneous decision. The shock on her face as she’d gone over the
edge had been priceless.
No doubt she’d be mad as hell. I wondered how long it would take
her to climb out. Hopefully it would keep her busy for a while.
I hopped in my car and sped out of the alley, leaving her behind. I
could still smell her on my fingers. God, she made me crazy. My cock was
hard, pressed awkwardly inside my jeans. I reached down to adjust it,
wishing I had time to jack off. Unfortunately, I was on the clock.
Trying not to speed or attract attention, I did my best to reach my
destination on time. I got there minutes before I needed to take action.
Gliding into the underground parking lot of a large building housing several
businesses, I double checked the time on my phone.
I parked between two SUVs, ensuring my car was out of view of the
elevator that opened into the lot. Reaching under the seat, I pulled out a
large knife and a black ski mask. I tugged the mask over my head. This time
I wore gloves too. I’d learned my lesson last time when I went home with
bloody hands.
Goddammit. Raina wasn’t supposed to see that. It had fucked
everything up for me. Now she was determined to find out what I’d been
doing. I couldn’t let that happen. It would ruin everything.
I got out of the car, quietly pressing the door closed. I’d slipped a
hoodie over my t-shirt to help hide the knife. Then I waited in between two
vehicles parked next to the elevator.
The elevator dinged as a woman walked out. She stared straight
ahead as she click clacked in her heels over to a white convertible. I wasn’t
here for her. I stayed out of sight, hoping she’d disappear before my target
came along. She left the parking lot seconds before the elevator door
opened again.
This time a man strolled out. He wore a suit and tie, his thinning hair
cut short. He was the one I’d come here for.
I stepped out from between the two cars, grabbing him from behind.
Pressing the blade of the knife to his throat, I hissed, “Don’t make a fucking
sound.”
Dragging him between the two vehicles, I tightened my grip when
he started to struggle. He was taller than me by an inch or two, but he
wasn’t stronger.
“What do you want?” he shouted, twisting in my grasp. “Who sent
you? Was it Maria?”
I didn’t know anything about a Maria. This idiot was going to
expose me if he kept shouting. I needed to end this now.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s say it was Maria.” I dug the knife into his skin,
dragging it across his throat.
A large gash opened up. Blood poured forth to soak the sleeve of my
hoodie. I’d have to burn it. I held onto the man while he flailed about. He
grabbed at his throat, strangled cries coming out of his mouth as he realized
he was dying. Placing a hand over his mouth and nose, I did my best to
speed up the process.
Once he was dead, I lowered him to the concrete. The elevator
opened again, and I froze. If anyone came this way, I’d have to do whatever
it took to stop them from being a witness. Lucky for them, the two women
that exited the elevator headed in the opposite direction.
When it was clear, I returned to my car, ditching my bloody clothes
in the trunk. I pulled the burner phone from my back pocket and typed a
text that said: It’s done.
After ensuring the license plate was obscured, I drove away without
a glance back. Instead of going straight home, I swung by a carwash with
separate bays. It was a dumpy little place without interior cameras. I popped
some coins into the slot and used the pressure washer to spray down the
knife and gloves. Couldn’t very well take the risk of having Raina catch me
again.
When I made it back to the house, Raina’s SUV was parked out
front. Shit. Heading straight for the backyard, I tossed the hoodie into the
firepit and got a small fire going. This knife business was too messy. I may
have to try good old strangulation next time. When the material was fully
engulfed, I let myself in through the patio door.
Right away I smelled smoke. What the fuck?
“Raina,” I called, charging through the house. “What the fuck are
you doing?”
No answer. I took the stairs three at a time. Jerking to a halt in my
bedroom doorway, I gaped at the mess inside.
The center of my bed was a black mess of burnt sheets and white fire
extinguisher residue. The crazy bitch had set my bed on fire. I gaped at the
mess in disbelief. Was she for real?
“Raina? Where the hell are you?” I stormed into Havoc’s room.
She emerged from the bathroom, running a brush through her damp
hair. The sight of my rage seemed to excite her. A smirk curved her lips.
“I thought about dumping garbage on your bed after you tossed me
in that dumpster, but it just didn’t feel right, you know? I needed to go
bigger. After all, you said you liked my fire.” She tossed the hairbrush on
Havoc’s bed and sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
My gaze was drawn to the tiny shorts she wore with nothing else but
a bra. This girl knew exactly what she was doing. And she thought that I
was evil.
“You’re a fucking mental case, you know that?” I barked. My body
vibrated with poorly restrained rage. I didn’t need this shit right now.
Raina gave a lazy half shrug. “I guess you would know.”
I snapped into action before I’d even thought out what I would do to
her. I grabbed her by the throat, shoving her down flat on the bed. “You get
off on pissing me off, don’t you? You like it. Did you think that I’d find that
goddamn mess and do nothing? No, of course you didn’t. You wanted to see
how I’d react. Now you’re going to find out.”
Climbing on top of Raina, I straddled her body while tugging her bra
straps down. Her tits spilled out. Two glorious creamy mounds just begging
for my cum.
She made the mistake of taking a swing at me. I easily pinned her
arms down to her sides with my legs. She could jerk and writhe all she
wanted. She wouldn’t be able to dislodge me.
I unzipped my jeans and withdrew my cock, stroking it until it was
hard. Slamming her tits together, I wedged my cock in between them. Much
better than jerking off alone in the shower.
With rough thrusts, I pumped my erection between her soft tits.
Clutching one with my hand, I pinched the nipple until she whimpered. The
head of my dick bumped against her chin with each stroke.
“Get off me, you fucking psychopath,” she shouted when I let her
breathe again. “This is a bit of an overreaction, don’t you think?”
I chuckled, pinching both nipples as I continued to fuck her sweet
tits. “More of an overreaction than setting my bed on fire? Not even close.
Better watch it, Cherry Pie. I’m tempted to flip you over and take that tight
little ass of yours. Without lube.”
That seemed to shut her up for a minute. My gaze fell upon the scars
marking her breasts from Daire. He’d carved her up pretty good, leaving
knife marks all over her body. It didn’t make Raina any less beautiful. If
anything, it only made me want her more. I wished that I’d killed him.
“This is all I am to you, isn’t it?” she snarled through clenched teeth.
“A body to use whenever the need strikes you. Do you even like me,
Gage?”
A frown creased my brow. I was getting closer to coming. “I could
really do without the commentary. Are you trying to make this take longer
than it needs to?”
I considered unloading in her mouth but knew I’d get the teeth. This
time she’d probably chew my dick right off. Not a risk worth taking.
Thrusting faster, I watched my cock slide between her tits. Such a
perfect damn visual. I would never get bored of fucking any part of this
woman. She was everything I’d never known I wanted. Needed. Maybe one
day I would tell her.
Because I knew it would piss her off, I shot my load onto Raina’s
face. A stream of cum splattered her nose and cheek. Some of it dripped
down her chin.
“You fucking prick,” she spat. “God, I hate you sometimes.”
 “Oh yeah? Only sometimes? Well, let’s see what we can do about
that.” For good measure, I used a finger to smear my spunk around her face.
Scooping some onto my fingertip, I ran it along her bottom lip.
She tried to bite my finger, scowling when I jerked it out of reach.
“Next time I set your bed on fire, you’ll be in it.”
Laughter rumbled in my chest. I patted her cum splattered cheek.
“I’m going to take a shower. Call someone to get rid of that burnt mattress.”
I climbed off her, leaving her there to fume. I narrowly dodged the
hairbrush that came whipping toward me on my way out of Havoc’s
bedroom. In my room I managed to find some clean clothes that didn’t stink
like smoke. The entire room would need a good cleaning.
Before getting into the shower, I double checked that the bathroom
door was locked. I didn’t trust Raina not to dump a vat of acid over my
head while I soaped up. She sure did keep me on my toes.
The silence from beyond the door was more worrisome than if she’d
been raging about. Needing to relax, I took my time. Thinking about the
man I’d killed today, I reminded myself that I’d done it for Raina.
Nobody made me lose it the way she did. And still, there wasn’t
much that I wouldn’t do when it came to my Cherry Pie.
 CHAPTER SEVEN

RAINA

As soon as Gage left the room, I rolled off the bed and darted for the
bathroom. That bastard jizzed on my face. He was such a damn animal.
Why did I even put up with him?
I vigorously washed my face. The entire time I muttered to myself
about what a messed up jerk Gage was. He loved to mark me with his cum
and blood. I knew that he’d come from a rough family life but that was no
excuse for being such a headcase.
After drying my face, I applied my favorite face lotion. The sound of
Gage’s shower running came muffled through the wall, giving me an idea. I
left Havoc’s bedroom and crept into Gage’s room. It was right next door.
His bathroom door was closed. Perfect.
The room smelled of smoke from my little stunt earlier. I hadn’t
really thought that one through. I’d been so angry. It just kind of happened.
I slid the window open to let some fresh air inside. Scanning the
room, my gaze landed on the backpack leaning against the dresser. I pulled
out Gage’s laptop and sat down on the floor. With my legs crossed, I
propped the computer on my lap and opened it up. I knew his password. I’d
seen him punch it in several times in class. Boobies was the dumbest
password I’d ever seen. He was asking to get hacked.
I searched through the documents on the hard drive first. Other than
party photos and class assignments, there was nothing of interest.
Determined to find a clue regarding what Gage had been hiding, I kept
looking.
When the documents folder turned up nothing, I opened his browser
and checked the search history. Research related to class and way too much
porn for a guy who got off as often as he did. Most of it was the shit he used
to drive me crazy in class.
 Giving up on the laptop, I closed the lid and stuffed it back into his
backpack. I dug through the bag, looking for anything interesting. A half-
eaten banana. Gross. An unopened granola bar. A small wad of cash. A few
receipts for fast food and legal weed purchases. Nothing that gave me any
information. Dammit.
I stood up to scan the room again. That’s when I noticed the cell
phone sitting on the dresser. I’d missed it the first time. Would Gage be
dumb enough to leave important information in a smartphone? It was worth
a look.
I picked it up, worried it would ask for face I.D. to open it. It didn’t.
Although it did ask for a password. I tried the same password from the
laptop. Success.
Gage’s phone was filled with social media apps, email, and photos. I
glanced toward the bathroom, satisfied that the shower was still running. He
sure was taking a long time in there.
I scrolled through his photos first. The album was full of party pics
and a few mirror selfies. What an egotistical jerk. My jaw dropped when I
came across pictures of me. I was asleep in a few of them. Others were
taken on the sly. From behind or when I wasn’t looking. Maybe it should
have made me feel violated or grossed out. I found myself smiling at the
thought of Gage sneaking stealth photos of me.
I never got the chance to look any further. The bathroom door
clicked open, the sound of the running shower growing louder. I whirled
around to find Gage standing naked and wet in the threshold. He looked
pissed.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Hands clenched into
fists, Gage rushed toward me.
Uh oh. Adrenaline coursed through me. I braced myself for the
worst. “What does it look like? I’m trying to find out what you’ve been up
to.”
No point lying. I’d been caught in the act.
Gage snatched the phone from my hand, looking at the screen. The
photo album was still open. He exited out of it and pressed the button on the
side to make the screen go black.
“By snooping through my phone? Do you think I’m really that much
of an idiot?” Gage tossed the phone onto the dresser and grabbed my arm. A
vicious gleam filled his eyes.
 “I don’t know. There was only one way to find out.” My smart
mouth opened and taunting words fell out. I knew it was a bad idea, yet I
couldn’t stop myself.
His other hand fisted a handful of my hair. He threw me to the floor,
climbing on top of me. There was something about the darkness in his eyes
that made me panic. This was nothing like earlier when he’d fucked my tits
on Havoc’s bed. Gage exuded a murderous rage that made me fight for my
life.
I lashed out with a fist, nailing him in the face. That only angered
him further. He wrapped both hands around my throat, choking off my
breath. This was no sexy chokehold. This was the kind of hold that could
easily kill a person.
I flailed beneath him. Another punch in his face seemed to bounce
right off, like he didn’t even feel it. I brought a knee up and managed to
plow his balls hard enough to loosen his grip. Sucking in a lungful of air, I
jammed an elbow into his arm, upsetting his balance atop me. It gave me a
chance to hit him in the stomach, winding him so that I could scramble out
from beneath him.
I didn’t get far. Gage lashed out with a hand, catching a fistful of my
hair. He jerked my head back, making me cry out in pain.
“I warned you, Raina. I told you to stay out of it. You don’t need to
know.” Grabbing me around the waist, Gage pulled me back against his
chest.
My arms whipped about as I tried to fight him off. He struggled to
catch my wrists. I got in a lucky shot when my elbow nailed him in the ribs.
Gage grunted, his arm tightening around my waist.
“Stop it, Gage. Let me go. The way you’re acting proves that there’s
something the rest of us need to know about.” I got a hand up behind me,
blindly trying to poke him in the eye.
“Nobody needs to know a damn thing,” he snarled. “Don’t you dare
say a word to Havoc or Knight. I swear to fuck I’ll make you sorry, Raina.”
He shoved me forward and grabbed at my shorts in an attempt to
yank them down. I slapped his hand, trying to keep my clothes on.
“Fuck you, Gage. You are not dry fucking me on the floor. Get
bent.” I tried to throw another elbow back into his face. Motherfucker
managed to dodge it.
 “That’s what you think. You’re mine, Raina. I’ll do whatever I damn
well please. Don’t pretend you don’t like it rough and a little crazy.” Gage
jerked my shorts down. He fumbled with my underwear because I wouldn’t
remain still.
My next slap landed. It snapped his head to one side, making my
hand sting. I hoped his face felt the same. For good measure, I kicked
behind me, nailing him in the thigh. Close to his balls yet not a solid hit.
While he pulled at my underwear, I whirled around with a fist ready.
He saw it coming and raised a hand to block. That’s when Knight and
Havoc appeared in the doorway.
“What the hell is going on?” Knight didn’t hesitate. He rushed
forward, grabbing Gage under the arms, dragging him off me.
Gage struggled against him, forcing Havoc to step in to help subdue
him. It took the two of them pinning him down and putting him in a
headlock to keep him in place. He still thrashed in their grip, his face
turning red as Havoc applied more pressure to his throat. As Gage’s arms
flailed wildly, Knight took a stray punch in the face.
I tugged my shorts back into place and scrambled to my feet. I felt
bad that it had gone this far. I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of
my snooping.
Finally, Gage began to pass out. Havoc loosened his hold, allowing
him to breathe. He glanced between the two of us.
“Is someone going to tell me what the fuck is happening here?”
Havoc nailed me with a piercing blue stare.
I glanced at Gage, finding murderous rage in his mismatched eyes. If
I said anything to them, he may really try to kill me. I wouldn’t put it past
him.
“Gage pissed me off. I lost my temper and set his bed on fire. That
set him off, I guess. That’s all.” It felt wrong to lie to Havoc and Knight.
Survival had to come first though. I’d never find out what Gage was
involved in if he killed me first.
Havoc glanced at the bed, finding the proof of my claim. “Jesus,
Raina. Was that really necessary? Bit of an extreme reaction, don’t you
think?”
Fixing Gage with a dark glare, I said, “Just a little.”
“Why is the shower running?” Knight asked, frowning down at
Gage’s naked body. “Why the hell are you naked?”
 “I was just getting into the shower when I smelled the smoke from
the fire.” Gage easily lied through his teeth. “Can you guys get off me now?
I’d like to finish my shower.”
Once they released him, Gage stormed back into the bathroom,
slamming the door. I let out the breath I’d been holding. Setting his bed on
fire hadn’t been nearly satisfying enough.
“What are you guys doing home so early?” I smoothed my
disheveled hair back, stifling an exasperated sigh.
Havoc looked at the bed again and laughed grimly. “I checked your
tracker and saw that you weren’t on campus. When you didn’t answer your
phone, I pulled Knight out of class, and we rushed back here. I was
worried.”
Worried? The man who’d dumped beer over my head, chased me
through the woods, and put this tracker on me in the first place was
worried? Funny how things changed. It blew my mind.
“Sorry. I was pissed off so I came home. I didn’t think you’d notice.”
Mental note for next time. These fuckers were checking the tracker more
often than I realized.
“It’s cool. Looks like we came at a good time.” Havoc’s gaze strayed
toward the closed bathroom door. “Gage can get a little crazy.”
“I noticed.” What else could I say? Gage was a lot crazy.
Knight slid an arm around my shoulders, leading me from the room.
“Are you okay? Do you want to go grab ice cream? Whatever you want.”
I had to admire their ability to act like they weren’t as bad in their
own way. Like Havoc hadn’t subtly threatened me when I said no to
sucking Knight’s cock at the party. Knight was all too happy to sit there and
let it happen while everyone watched.
“Sure, just let me get dressed first. How about cupcakes instead?”
After the shit I’d put up with recently, I deserved a good sugar fix.
 CHAPTER EIGHT

KNIGHT

My criminal law class kept me busy reading through case studies and
jotting notes. The time passed quickly. When class let out, I found myself
with an hour to kill before my next class started. The others were still in
class which left me on my own to pass the time.
I gathered my things, shoving them into my bag. Slinging it over a
shoulder, I pulled out my phone, checking for notifications as I left the
classroom. I almost crashed into the woman standing in the middle of the
hall.
I glanced up to find myself face to face with April. Fuck me.
Shoving past her, I kept walking down the hall. What the hell was
wrong with this chick? We hooked up at a party a few months ago. Not long
before Raina walked into our lives. But that’s all it had been. A hookup. We
never dated. There was nothing between us but one night with a lot of
booze and drugs. Why wouldn’t she let it go?
“You can’t just walk away from me, Knight.” April hurried to catch
up. “We need to talk.”
“We really don’t. I have nothing to say to you.” Refusing to slow my
pace, I walked even faster, forcing her to break into a jog to keep up.
“Maybe that will change when you hear what I have to say.” She
grabbed my arm, trying to pull me to a stop.
I jerked my arm from her grasp. “Unlikely. It was a one-time fling,
April. It was months ago. I’m not into you.”
I felt no need to apologize. We’d both made a decision that night. It
wasn’t my problem if she’d developed feelings, although I didn’t know how
she could have. We barely knew each other.
“I’m pregnant,” April blurted. “It’s yours.”
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 LE NOZZE AL CASTELLO
SCENE FEUDALI

PARTE PRIMA.

Sei giorni se n’andò mattina e sera

Per balze e per pendici orride e strane.
Dove non via, dove sentier non era,
Dove nè segno di vestigia umane.
Ariosto.

La campana del solitario villaggio di Arola dava i primi segni

dell’Avemaria, ed il rimbombo di quei tocchi radi e prolungati
spandevasi come una patetica voce per la ristretta valle a cui quel
villaggio dà nome. Il cielo che da un lato erasi fatto d’azzurro bruno
mostravasi verso occidente del colore dell’oro; su tutte le cime
d’intorno e pei rialzi dei valloncelli vedevasi il fogliame imporporato,
e l’ultima luce trapassando pel varco de’ monti scendeva ben anco al
fondo della valle ove faceva apparire d’argento quei tratti di corrente
del limpido Plino che le rupi e le piante non celavano sotto la
nereggiante loro ombra.
Scendevano dal ripido sentiero che dall’erta metteva ai casolari le
contadinelle, mandando innanzi chi le capre, chi un branco di
pecore. Calavano drappelli di donne portando altre le gerla ed altre
elevati fardelli sul capo; veniva di quando in quando un vecchio
montanaro spingendo il somiero che mutava a fatica i passi sotto il
pesante carico delle legna o del fieno. Alcuni di questi entravano
negli abituri di Arola, varj passavan oltre, e procedendo verso
inferiori disperse capanne valicavano il torrente sopra un ponticello
là dove parte dell’acqua, artatamente divertita in altro canale,
correva poco lungi a far girare le ruote d’un mulino.
Era già deserta interamente quella via e null’altro rumore udivasi,
fuorchè quello che ad intervalli faceva la brezza vespertina tra le
frondi, quando alla sommità del sentiero apparve un Pellegrino. Lo
indicavano per tale il cappello a larghe falde circolari, la veste oscura
che tutto l’avvolgeva colla sovrapposta dalmatica sparsa di
conchiglie e il lungo bordone che portava. Camminava spedito, ma
al vedere il gruppo di casolari e l’acuto campanile colla chiesuola
formanti il paesetto d’Arola, di subito s’arrestò e poscia
abbandonando il viottolo calò lungo la balza e si condusse al
ponticello, lo passò, indi fermossi di nuovo ad esaminare il luogo
onde prendere più certa direzione.
Cominciava già più vasta a regnare l’oscurità, chè avanzavasi la
sera e meno rade scintillavano le stelle. Volgendo il Pellegrino gli
sguardi per entro la selva di cui toccava il limitare, scorse fra mezzo
ai tronchi degli alberi splendere un lume che sembrava trapellare da
finestra o porta di non lontana abitazione. Si mise pel bosco, il quale
constando di grossi castani poco stipati, offriva non disagevole
passaggio e s’avviò verso la casa d’onde partiva quel chiarore. Era
dessa il mulino. Dal lato della selva questo rustico edificio andava
cinto da un muricciuolo di pietre che sorgeva a trenta passi di
distanza dal caseggiato e inchiudeva un picciol orto, al quale faceva
parete verso il canale una siepe di bianco-spino. Al centro del
muricciuolo eravi praticato l’ingresso chiuso allora da rozzo cancello
di legno. Là pervenuto il Pellegrino accostossi al cancello e prima di
bussare, udendo dentro la casa parlare con voce molto alta, si
trattenne un momento in ascolto.
Abbenchè la ruota fosse arrestata, lo scroscio che faceva l’acqua,
cadendo per gli ordigni del mulino, non lasciava luogo ad udire
distintamente le parole. S’accorse però che chi parlava era un uomo
il quale doveva trovarsi seduto avanti ad un gran fuoco, poichè
scorgevasi l’ombra della metà superiore della sua figura disegnata
sull’impannata della finestra di prospetto e vedevansi le sue braccia
alzarsi e distendersi con energici e rapidi moti. Al lembo della stessa
impannata stava l’ombra d’un’altra mezza figura, ma questa
rappresentava un bel profilo femminile che si sarebbe giudicato
essere quello d’una statua, tanto era regolare ed immobile.
Dopo alcuni istanti il Pellegrino s’avvedendo essergli impossibile
comprendere sillaba di quanto veniva profferito, percosse col suo
bordone ripetutamente il cancello; nè sembrandogli d’essere stato
inteso pronunciò sonoramente — Date ricovero ad un povero
pellegrino! —
A quella voce cangiarono d’un tratto gli atteggiamenti delle due
figure projette in ombra sull’impannata; quella di profilo si fece ovale
e l’altra si mostrò di profilo inchinando il capo e alzando un dito. II
Pellegrino ripetè la sua inchiesta e allora spalancatasi la porta uscì
un uomo d’avanzata età, che dal casaccone infarinato indicavasi pel
mulinaro, tenendo la lanterna in una mano e un pezzo di
mazzafrusto nell’altra. S’appressò al cancello, sporse in avanti il
lume onde farlo riflettere sul viso dello sconosciuto e guardatolo ben
bene tutta raggrinzando la pelle intorno agli occhi ed alla bocca, con
che dava alla propria fisonomia una singolare espressione di
sospetto e di stizza. — Chi siete voi? — gli chiese in modo iroso.
«Vedete: sono un povero viandante che contava giungere prima di
sera giù alle sponde del lago per recarmi all’Isola di San Giulio e fui
sorpreso dalla notte in questa valle.
«Perchè non vi siete fermato là su ad Arola da mastro Seghezzo
l’ostiere?
«Perdonatemi, non ho pratica di questi luoghi ed avrò oltrepassata la
terra che m’indicate senza essermene accorto, poichè è già qualche
tempo che cammino alla cieca a causa dell’oscurità che mi ha fatto
perdere la traccia. Datemi di grazia ricovero per questa sola notte!
Un giorno sarete ricompensato largamente della vostra ospitalità.
Il mugnajo che gli aveva sempre tenuta la lanterna appuntata al
volto, l’abbassò; e mormorando fra sè alcune parole trasse
dall’imposta la spranghetta di ferro onde il cancello si aprì; entrato
l’estraneo, rifisse la bandella e lo precedette verso l’uscio ch’era
rimasto spalancato.
Nel mezzo d’una camera modicamente spaziosa, fornita di
contadinesche masserizie miste a tramoggie, stacci e sacchi, eravi
un rotondo focolare sul quale ardeva molta legna la cui fiamma
lambiva i margini d’ampio pajuolo; la catena che sostenevalo
scendeva dalle travi coperte di nera gromma e tappezzate qua e là
da qualche tela di ragno imbiancata dallo spolvero della macina. A
poca distanza del focolare stava seduto un villico alto, destro,
nerboruto, di ventott’anni all’apparenza e presso a lui una giovane
montanina di forme assai belle e appariscenti.
«Gli ho dovuto aprire, o Gaudenzo, perchè è un povero Pellegrino
che va a San Giulio ed ha smarrita la strada (così spegnendo la
lanterna disse il mugnajo al villico che balzando in piedi alla venuta
di quell’incognito gli fissò addosso gli occhi con sorpresa e
diffidenza). Nel bujo poteva capitare in un mal passo o precipitare da
qualche burrone. Mi ha chiesto per carità gli dessi alloggio questa
notte, e Bernardo non rifiutò mai di ricettare nel suo mulino un
viandante anche a rischio di vedere sotto il cappello da pellegrino la
testa d’un eretico o d’un bandito.
Lo Straniero a tali detti fece un moto sdegnoso, ma il Mugnaio nel
quale l’amaro di quelle espressioni non era suggerito dall’indole sua
naturalmente umana e fidata ma da un giro momentaneo di acri
idee, di cui il lettore conoscerà fra poco l’origine, quasi pentito
d’avere offeso quell’ospite nell’atto stesso che lo accoglieva,
soggiunse con viso accaparante in tuono gajo: — «Venite qui, qui
presso al fuoco, buon galantuomo, sedete. L’aria della sera è
frescolina ed umida, il calore vi ristorerà.
Il Pellegrino senza profferir parola appoggiò alla parete il suo
bordone e avanzata una panchetta di legno si sedette in prossimità
del focolare. Gaudenzo stando in piedi continuava ad esaminarlo
attentamente. Ma l’incognito non alzando mai lo sguardo egli alfine
gli domandò:
«Da qual parte venite o Pellegrino?
«Da Val d’Antrona.
«Sempre per le montagne?
«Sempre.
«La strada che avete scelta è la più lunga e disastrosa: venendo pel
piano dell’Ossola ad Omegna sul lago l’accorciavate della metà.
«Il piano e mal sicuro poichè vi sono a campo le masnade dei
Ponteschi [8], e d’altronde dovetti risalir l’Anza per toccare Calasca.
«Vi recate a San Giulio per isciogliere un voto o per ottenere favori
dalla Corte del Vescovo?
«Per un voto» — rispose esitando, ma con qualche asprezza lo
Straniero.
«Non foste a Varallo?
«No.
«E dalle parti della Sesia?
«No» — ripetè il Pellegrino con manifesto dispetto, indicando quanto
già fosse infastidito da quell’insistente interrogare.
Gaudenzo tornò a misurarlo coll’occhio da capo a piedi, poi mirando
in volto Bernardo e la sua figlia fece un atto come di chi dicesse:
costui non dev’essere quel che pare. Si riassise quindi sullo sgabello
che occupava da prima e voltosi di nuovo alla figlia del Mugnajo, il
quale s’era posto intanto a versar la farina nell’acqua del pajuolo che
bolliva. — «Torna a sederti qui o Maria (disse battendo col palmo
della mano la seggiola ove essa si pose mesta e taciturna), e dimmi
tu se quelle che ti ho raccontate non le sono cose da far uscire dai
gangheri qualsiasi cristiano? Quel... quasi sarei per dirlo... quel
nostro conte Jago da Biandrate vuol ora introdurre nel paese anche
di queste belle usanze! Non s’accontenta il signor feudatario di farci
pagare doppia gabella pel sale, d’avere imposto il balzello d’un soldo
d’argento per ogni ruota di carro e d’obbligare noi poveri vassalli a
lavorare per lui un giorno ogni settimana, quando la buona memoria
del conte Bonifacio suo padre non c’imponeva altro carico che quello
della decima del mosto e delle legna, egli vorrebbe adesso che tutti
quelli che contraggono matrimonio si sottoponessero a questa nuova
qualità di tributo.
Maria mandò un profondo sospiro e abbassò gli occhi al suolo;
Bernardo, che inginocchiatosi sulla pietra del focolare, andava col
matterello tramestando la polenta: — «Ah il conte Bonifazio,
esclamò, non avrebbe mai fatte azioni di questa sorta! Gran
brav’uomo ch’egli era! veniva soventi a cacciare in questa valle e
qualche volta ho prestato ajuto io stesso al suo scudiero a condurre
a mano i cavalli nei passi più scabrosi.
«Sapete poi (proseguì Gaudenzo) chi mi ha significato il comando
del Conte?... fu Tibaldo il suo falconiero, quella faccia da giudeo col
naso più adunco che il becco degli uccellacci con cui preda le
allodole e le pernici. M’incontrai seco lui a Quarona nell’atto ch’esso
usciva dalla bottega di Zancone il fabbro, ove va soventi a far
acconciare le lasse de’ suoi grifagni. Ne portava uno infatti sul
braccio a cui andava lisciando le penne. Oh perchè non gli è saltato
agli occhi e non glieli ha cavati entrambi nell’istante che s’avvide di
me!
«Ebbene che ti disse il Falconiero?» — chiese con impazienza
Bernardo.
«Gaudenzo di Civiasco, mi gridò egli subito che mi scôrse, appunto
con te ho bisogno di parlare — E avvicinatosi a me con un sorriso
infernale sul ceffo disse: — Corre voce pel paese che tu ti sposi e
prendi in donna la mulinara di Val d’Arola, la figlia di Bernardo, è ciò
vero? — Verissimo, risposi io; mia madre invecchia e voglio darle la
consolazione prima che chiuda gli occhi di tenere un mio bambolo
sulle ginocchia — Ottimamente, soggiunse il ribaldo. Il Conte nostro
padrone m’ha imposto d’avvertirti che vuole che le nozze siano
celebrate a Monrigone nel suo castello. — Perchè nel suo castello?
(dissi io stupito) non ho forse una chiesa nella mia terra? — Non vi
sono repliche: esclamò Tibaldo. Così vuole il conte Jago e tu devi
ubbidire. Se tu ignori i suoi diritti li sa ben esso. Altri feudatarj già da
molti anni gli esercitano e se egli ne ha trascurato l’uso sin’ora
intende adesso di farli pienamente valere, nè spetta a te, vassallo
mascalzone, lo scrutinare i diritti del tuo signore. — Che diritti può
mai vantare il Conte sopra di me (l’interruppi io con rabbia) oltre
quelli di togliermi come fa, quasi tutta la roba e costringermi a
lavorare per lui quasi fosse un suo bue od un cavallo? — Che
diritti?... Che diritti? — ripetè furibondo, l’iniquo Falconiero, e
pronunciò certe parole da stregone che spiegò poi nel modo che vi
ho già narrato. All’udire una tale scelleraggine mi si drizzarono i
capelli sulla testa, mi si oscurò la vista e sono stato filo filo di
passarlo col mio spuntone da una parte all’altra egli e il suo farsetto
di cammuccà crimisino.
«Era senza il giaco e ti parlava così? Oh anch’essi, grazie al cielo,
non possono star sempre vestiti di ferro! (pronunciò fra i denti il
Mugnajo).
«Ah Signore Iddio (disse Maria con timidità ed angoscia), chi sa che
disgrazia sarebbe accaduta se gli mettevate le mani addosso; forse
io non v’avrei veduto mai più!
«Gran fortuna (continuò il giovine), che il mio santo Protettore mi
trattenne in quel momento la mano e m’inspirò il salutare pensiero di
vendere la mia casuccia ed i miei terreni e venire ad abitare con mia
madre in qualche luogo di questa Riviera d’Orta sotto il dominio del
vostro Vescovo, dove Maria non avrà a temere le zanne di quella
bestia feroce del Conte.
«Che anime perverse! (esclamò Bernardo alzandosi in piedi). Ecco
cosa hanno fruttato le massime di Fra Dolcino e de’ suoi iniqui
gazzari, vera peste di questi paesi! Coi grani dell’eresia non si può
macinare altra farina.
«Il conte Jago (profferì Gaudenzo con fuoco) è un gazzaro [9] se ve
n’è mai stato un altro al mondo. Dirlo a me? non ho io stesso veduto
Fra Dolcino e la sua Monaca Margherita entrare più volte nella
Rocca del Conte a Monrigone? [10] e quando l’Eretico stava colle sue
turbe nel piano di Parete-Calva sulla cima di Valnera chi è che
mandava colassù le biade e il vino affinchè quei maladetti lupi non
morissero arrabbiati di fame? È chiaro adunque come il sole che il
Conte era tinto della loro pece sino ai capelli. Ma pure, che volete? I
Valsesiani che strinsero anni sono la lega contro i Biandrati ed ora la
fecero contro gli eretici, obbligandoli a snidare dalle loro montagne,
rispettano il conte Jago. Anche a Zebello egli mandò i suoi arcieri a
soccorrere Fra Dolcino, e se il Vescovo di Vercelli non fosse venuto
a capo quest’inverno di serrarlo con quasi tutti i suoi nella rete,
metterei una mano nel fuoco che esso stesso il Conte andava quivi
in persona a combattere per lui.
«Così San Giulio l’avesse concesso che tu, o Gaudenzo, non saresti
costretto per unirti alla mia Maria d’abbandonare la tua casa ed i tuoi
campi, giacchè egli avrebbe fatta la fine che farà tra poco l’Eretico,
cominciando a provare nelle fiamme di questo mondo come
abbrucino quelle dell’inferno in cui vorrei soffiare io stesso per farlo
ardere eternamente in pena de’ suoi enormi peccati.
A tale fiera imprecazione pronunciata con tutto accanimento da
Bernardo in odio al Conte fecero eco col cuore e le parole i due
promessi. E questa smisurata e violente brama di vendetta, di che
s’accesero simultaneamente, non era indizio in essi d’animo
selvaggio e crudele, ma bensì intimo sfogo d’un oppresso
sentimento di giustizia sancito in certo modo dalle circostanze e
dalle idee religiose dei tempi. Si consideri infatti lo stato delle
persone del popolo e specialmente di quelle che abitavano aperte
campagne, in quei secoli nei quali ad ogni pazzo e criminoso
capriccio di chi comandava, si dava il nome di diritto cui era
necessità sottostare. Non gli averi, non la libertà, non l’onore erano
sacri. Dalla turrita rocca il Feudatario faceva bandire a suon di
tromba i suoi voleri e guai a chi avesse osato resistere! erano strazii
e morte. La forza prepotente, brutale imperava nel mondo pressochè
da assoluta signora. Innanzi ad uomini coperti di ferro e vigorosi
adopratori di spade, mazze e lancie la plebe inerme star non poteva
che pavida e inoffensiva lasciandosi miseramente conculcare. In
tanta abbiezione ritraevano gli infelici valido conforto dalla speranza
che i loro patimenti venivano tenuti a calcolo in una vita migliore e
che terribili castighi attendevano gli oppressori inumani, pei quali
l’Eterno Giudice impugnava più severo e tremendo il vindice flagello.
Il Pellegrino appoggiato il capo ad una mano e tutto raccolto in se
stesso, sembrava non prestare punto d’attenzione ai parlari di quella
gente; ma quando il Mulinaro profferì gli ultimi veementi suoi detti si
scosse, s’agitò e il pallore che coprivagli le guancie si fece più
intenso. Nello stesso mentre Bernardo che esalata la bile,
riprendeva placidamente le sue faccende, volse gli occhi a lui e
disse: — «Pur troppo, eh Pellegrino! vi sono degli uomini cattivi i
quali pare proprio che ci godano nel tormentare gli altri. Di questi tali
non ne mancherà certo anche dalle vostre parti non è vero?
Fortunati noi che per misericordia del cielo qui comanda un Vescovo
sotto di cui certe birbonate non si fanno, e chi prende moglie può
condursela a casa... senza che prima... ma lasciamola lì. Pensiamo
ora a mangiare in pace questa poca grazia di Dio... Galantuomo
(proseguì dopo aver guardato più attentamente lo Straniero) v’è
forse saltata addosso la febbre o avete fatto penitenza tutto il
giorno? siete smorto come uno a cui abbiano data la corda. Bisogna
che non prolunghiate il digiuno, altrimenti perderete le forze di
proseguire il viaggio. Venite qui, sedete a questo tavolo e rinvigorite
lo stomaco dividendo con noi il poco frutto delle nostre fatiche.
Così parlando aveva Bernardo staccato a due mani il pajuolo dalla
catena e lo aveva capovolto sul tagliere stato coperto da Maria di un
ruvido ma pulito tovagliuolo.
Rialzato il recipiente vi rimase una soda e fumante polenta che ne
conservava intera la forma. Il Pellegrino che provava più cocenti
stimoli che quelli della fame, si mostrò sulle prime restìo, ma vinto
poi dalle cordiali ripetute tute offerte, appressò e s’assise a quel
desco frugale.
«Domani se vi risvegliate gagliardo e riposato (disse il Mugnajo
ponendogli innanzi ampia porzione) in un’ora di cammino arrivate
vate giù a Pella dove troverete delle barche quante volete per farvi
mettere all’Isola. Non dimenticatevi di pregare San Giulio per il
povero Bernardo, per sua figlia e per il bravo Gaudenzo ed
invocatelo che tenga da noi lontane nuove tribolazioni.
«Sì buona gente (rispose il Pellegrino con voce che forzavasi a
render dolce), pregherò per voi non solo a San Giulio, ma anche in
Santuarii più lontani e miracolosi, e pregherò di tutto cuore ancorchè
i presenti vostri mali siano lieve ombra a fronte di quelli... (e si
corresse) che opprimono un gran numero de’ vostri pari.
Mentre andavano consumando la villeresca cena, Bernardo e
Gaudenzo continuarono a parlare delle faccende che stavano ad
entrambi tanto a petto, proponendo alternativamente varii progetti
sul modo in cui meglio conveniva impiegare il ricavo che il giovine
contadino avrebbe fatto de’ suoi pochi tenimenti di Civiasco, affine di
prendere stabile dimora nelle terre soggette alla giurisdizione
vescovile, sottraendosi al dominio del prepotente Biandrate.
Dirigevano nel calore del discorso alcuna volta la parola anche allo
Straniero, ma questi, sempre assorto ne’ proprii pensieri, non
rispondeva che motti tronchi ed insignificanti. Dopo molti
ragionamenti protratti in lungo sinchè Maria ebbe sparecchiato,
Gaudenzo sorse in piedi dicendo: — «La notte s’innoltra e mia
madre che sta aspettandomi potrebbe essere agitata da sinistri
presentimenti se non mi mettessi subito in cammino. A passare la
Colma ci vuole il suo tempo; e va e va non si è mai giunti là in cima.
Una volta però che vi sia arrivato balzo giù dalla punta della Croce ai
pascoli e in quattro salti sono a casa.
«Giacchè hai risoluto di partire mio figliuolo (disse Bernardo
alzandosi anch’esso) sì, è meglio che non ritardi di più. L’ascesa è
lunga, e mi ricordo che io pure quando aveva le gambe buone come
le tue a pervenire colassù non faceva mai tanto presto quanto
desiderava... Ora tu, o Maria, che hai versato l’olio nella lanterna,
accendila e dagliela che egli se ne possa andare con San Giuliano
che l’accompagni.
«No, no: non voglio lume (soggiunse Gaudenzo trattenendo il
braccio della fanciulla in atto d’accenderlo). Un Romito con una gran
barba bianca ch’è venuto da poco ad abitare vicino al nostro paese,
ha detto che di notte le anime dannate se veggono un chiaro andare
in volta gli corrono dietro ed i diavoli saltano giù dagli alberi a
graffiare chi lo porta.
«E volete passare in mezzo ai boschi e vicino al campo dei morti
solo ed all’oscuro? (esclamò Maria con amorosa temenza).
«Ho gran pratica di questi luoghi e tu lo sai, Maria; nè poi è tanto
bruno di fuori (in così dire spalancò la porta). Guarda come
risplendono le stelle: se spuntasse la luna non potrebbe il cielo
essere più lucente, si distingue il sentiero a meraviglia — Addio,
addio, state sani, doman l’altro si rivedremo ed ogni fastidio, spero,
sarà finito.
Si pose quindi a spalle la scure, diede la buona notte al Pellegrino
che gli augurò felice il viaggio, e prese la via. Bernardo e la figlia lo
seguirono sino al cancello che fu aperto fra nuovi saluti, e un
momento dopo non si udirono che le sue pedate per il bosco, il
rumore delle quali fu ben presto coperto da quello dell’incessante
caduta del vicino torrente.
 PARTE SECONDA

Dopo il bacio di Giuda il primo è questo

De’ tradimenli umani, ma la fama
Sdegnò pietosa numerar le arcane
Orrende fila onde fu ordito un tanto
Delitto e il tacque alla futura istoria.
Romanzi-Poetici.

Non iscorse che un giorno e fu commesso un fatto esecrando. La

misera Maria sorpresa all’improvviso presso il suo casolare venne
portata a Monrigone e rinchiusa nelle mura del castello del Conte.
Quivi vano è ogni suo grido, vano ogni pianto, poichè quelli che la
circondano non hanno orecchio pei lamenti femminili.
Ma chi è mai colui che nella gotica antica galleria tutta guernita
intorno di ampj oscuri quadri frammisti a corazze rugginose, ad elmi,
ad azze, a daghe passeggia a lenti passi colle braccia incrocicchiate
e gli occhi rivolti al suolo?... Oh tradimento!... Egli è il Pellegrino
accolto sì ospitalmente nel mulino di Arola... lo stesso conte Jago
Biandrate! [11].
Mostra all’aspetto più di trent’anni: è alto, magro, con muscolatura
risentita e nervosa. Ha spaziosa fronte, pallide le guancie che
alquanto sceme rendono oblungo il suo viso. Nerissimi sono i suoi
occhi e nera del paro la capellatura, una ciocca della quale gli sta
ritta sulla fronte essendo nei rimanente fitta ma breve. Una striscia di
barba ricciuta e bruna ma non lucida come i capelli gli contorna il
volto passando sotto il mento bipartito. Nudo, slanciato, tendinoso gli
si scorge il collo chiuso al confine dall’orlo trapunto del giustacuore
color verde-bruno, spoglio in tutto d’ornamenti e che s’informa
strettamente alla persona come i calzoni rossi che riveste, i quali gli
scendono ristretti sino alla nocca del piede. L’unico oggetto che
s’abbia sulla persona, il quale non consuona colla simplicità del
vestimento è un cordone d’oro che lo cinge ai lombi nel quale porta
infisso un pugnale col manico cesellato di argento in vagina d’avorio.
Benchè i suoi lineamenti rimangono quasi immoti, un certo fremito
che gli erra sulle labbra, un leggiero corrugarsi della fronte ad
intervalli, un tener fiso lo sguardo ora in un punto ed ora in un altro,
mostra ad evidenza che la sua mente sta appuntata in immagini vive
che lo scuotono dalle intime fibre.
Ad un tratto fermasi presso una finestra che guarda nel cortile
rinserrato fra le alte merlate mura, al di sopra delle quali s’alza la
torre del Castello. Guarda verso di questa, porge l’orecchio, ed
udendo come il suono d’un gemito soffocato, che parte da quella
torre, si ritrae dal davanzale con moto di dispetto.
Passava in quel mentre in fondo alla galleria il falconiero Tibaldo,
confidente e Consigliero suo prediletto; ei gli fece segno colla mano
d’entrare in sala, rimanendo immobile in prossimità della finestra.
Quando gli fu vicino accennò col guardo la torre e disse:
«Che fa là dentro?
«Piange» — rispose con tutta indifferenza il Falconiero.
«Quel suo miagolare continuo mi annoja.
«Fateci mettere un bavaglio alla bocca e non la sentirete più.
«No. — Benchè sia una villana non voglio usarle violenza... se
venisse a deformarsi colle contorsioni, il suo promesso potrebbe non
volerla più, ed io non ho intenzione di rompere il loro matrimonio.
«Ah!... ah!... v’è da scommettere una moneta d’oro contro un soldo
che al matrimonio non v’è più un’anima che vi pensi (disse Tibaldo
con riso beffardo).
«Oh! perchè credi che non si celebreranno le nozze? lo sposo è mio
vassallo, ed alla fine del conto troverà convenirgli assai meglio
venire a fare gli sponsali nel mio castello, vedersi qui festeggiato e
godere poscia egli ed i suoi figli della mia protezione, che condursi
ad abitare sotto altro dominio vendendo i suoi averi ad ogni vil
prezzo.
«Sì, mettete la pecora nella tana del lupo e poi sperate che si consoli
il pastore coll’offrirgliene i resti.
«Come? non fosti tu stesso che mi dicesti che per introdurre l’uso di
quel diritto già da tanti altri feudatarj praticato, era necessario
adoperare per le prime volte la forza, e che poi i vassalli vi si
sarebbero a poco a poco abituati, piegandovisi senza difficoltà? Tu
m’hai narrato del mio contadino Gaudenzo che sposare doveva la
mulinara di Arola; tu me l’hai dipinta quale bellissima fanciulla, gli
imponesti tu di venire a far le nozze al castello ed allorchè giungesti
a scoprire ch’egli meditava di sfuggire al mio potere, fosti tu quello
che consigliasti il modo d’impedirlo. Ora che la fanciulla è qui in mia
mano, e che il nostro scopo non può essere raggiunto se non viene
lo sposo a ricercarla ed ottenerla da me, tu sembri dubitare della
riuscita di quest’impresa!... M’avresti tu posto a repentaglio di
sostenere una guerra col Vescovo Signore d’Orta e dell’Isola per
avere rapita una donna del suo dominio, senza poter venire a capo
di stabilire quanto ci eravamo proposto?...
«Che mai v’importa ancorchè il primo colpo andasse fallito?... ma
che dico: andare fallito?... non è anzi riuscito ottimamente?
Senz’ombra di pericolo, senza che a voi nè ad alcuno dei vostri
alabardieri sia stata pure scalfita la pelle colla scure o colle mazze
dei villani, vi siete impadronito della più bella fanciulla di tutto il
dominio della Riviera e vorreste far lamento se il miserabile a cui era
destinata non viene a riprendersela?... Vi ricordate quanto costò
l’ultimo fatto consimile, quando faceste qui trasportare la nipote del
Priore di Serravalle? dodici arcieri rimasero sul terreno, tre furono
presi ed appiccati, io ebbi da un graffio scorticata una mano ed a voi
uccisero il cavallo.
«Per ciò appunto aveva determinato di non mettermi mai più in
cimento a causa di donne: esse alla fin fine non recano che
svantaggio, non sono che di peso. Almeno si potesse ottenere
alcuna buona somma pel loro riscatto; tutti fanno grande
apparecchio e rumore per non lasciarsele portar via, ma una volta
che siano state qua dentro non darebbero una lira per riaverle. Lo
sai ch’io non voleva pensarci più: se non venivi in campo colle tue
maladette parole, io non usciva certamente a questa caccia... e nel
momento in cui siamo!
Rimase pensieroso alcun istante, poi riprese a bassa voce: — «Due
delle mie bande più valorose sono perdute; erano cento uomini, i
migliori che portassero elmo e giaco in tutte le terre che bagna la
Sesia... Ma poteva io far di meno per sostenere Fra Dolcino,
quell’uomo santo e incantatore che mi aveva legato a lui con tante
promesse!... Se non erano le genti d’armi di Novara alla battaglia di
Zebello il Vescovo Vercellese non cantava vittoria di certo! nel
momento che si menano le spade ci vuol altro che gli scongiuri e le
invocazioni del piviale e della mitra, abbisognano buone loriche e
braccia di ferro... Or bene, i castellani Novaresi che diedero ajuto a
quel di Vercelli non potrebbero impegnarsi a sostenere il Vescovo
loro, se questi mi chiedesse ragione della violazione del suo
dominio? Ora che mancano gli uomini e che i miei vassalli hanno
ardito di manifestare qualche segno di malcontento.....
«Da quali pensieri mai vi lasciate dominare? Vivete pure nella
massima tranquillità, poichè il Vescovo di Novara signore della
Riviera ha troppo gravi impegni in questi momenti per volersi
impacciare in simili faccende. Che mai gli deve importare d’una
villana ignorata da tutto il mondo, per torsi la briga poi di sfidare un
signore potente e temuto come siete voi e di cui sono sì celebri le
imprese. Oh! via scacciate ogni temenza, nè abbiate alcun sospetto
sopra i vassalli, che se lo desiderate vi faccio vedere a ridurli in
pochi giorni umili e timorosi più che un branco di pecore. Un pajo
solo di que’ mascalzoni che si prendono, e si.....
«Sono stanco ti dico di vedere i miei soldati a fare da carnefici; nè
voglio più che i cameroni del mio castello siano luoghi da tormenti
come le sale nel convento degli Inquisitori. Fra Dolcino insegnavami
che egli è opera meritoria il dare soccorso agli infermi, e non
accrescerne il numero; che il demonio si fa compagno di chi sparge
inutilmente il sangue umano.
«Gran pazzo briccone ch’era Fra Dolcino! Ed egli crede alle
massime di quell’eretico impostore che a forza di ciarle lo spogliò di
danaro e di soldati (così pronunciava tra sè Tibaldo mentre il conte
Jago s’era posto a passeggiare di nuovo per la galleria come assorto
in un grave pensiero).
«Orsù voglio che questa faccenda finisca lietamente per tutti, e nel
termine di pochi giorni (esclamò il Conte arrestandosi d’un tratto
presso il Falconiero). Farai che Maria sia levata tosto dalla torre e
condotta nelle stanze che erano di mia madre; mi recherò io poi colà
a consolarla; le regalerò dei giojelli per il giorno delle sue nozze, e mi
proverò a parlarle da galante cavaliero: essa non possiede il
candore del latte, nè sa agire e proverbiare secondo i precetti della
corte d’amore come le dame dei nostri castelli, ma ha un non so che
di deciso nella sua fisonomia che mi va sommamente a genio.
Quando poi sarà sposa la colmerò di nuovi doni e allora tutte le altre
la invidieranno e ambiranno di godere nello stesso grado il mio
favore e la mia protezione.
«Oh quanto mai vi siete cangiato! (disse Tibaldo facendo un gesto di
stupore). Usare di queste dolcezze verso i vassalli egli è un volerli
far diventare orgogliosi, caparbi ed intrattabili.
«Ho determinato di far così e tanto basta (pronunciò il Conte
imperiosamente). Tu andrai in cerca di Gaudenzo, gli dirai che la sua
Maria non gli fu tolta che per punirlo dell’aver tentato di sottrarsi a’
miei comandi ed al mio dominio, e lo persuaderai a venire fra due
giorni al castello dove gli sarà resa la sposa e si celebreranno
pomposamente le sue nozze.
«Io andare in cerca di Gaudenzo, di quel villano impertinente, di
quel...
«Oseresti tu rifiutare d’obbedirmi? (disse il Conte prendendolo con
forza per un braccio). Se fra due giorni non conduci Gaudenzo
placato al castello ti faccio seppellire vivo in fondo al sotterraneo.
«Non ho mai ardito, nè ardirei esitare un istante ad eseguire la
volontà vostra (rispose timidamente il vile Falconiero). Non era che
per serbare più completamente il grado e il decoro... che io
osservava... ma se altrimenti vi piace faccio subito porre l’arcione al
mio ronzino falbo e non gli leverò il freno di bocca se non ho ritrovato
e ridotto Gaudenzo al vostro volere.
Così dicendo levò il berretto salutandolo rispettosamente,
s’incamminò verso la porta della galleria ove il Conte lo seguì e
nell’atrio gli ripetè il comando di far condurre la fanciulla di Arola
dalle rozze ed anguste stanze della torre ove gemeva, nelle camere
più addobbate del castello ch’erano quelle in cui aveva dimorato la
defunta contessa Isabella sua madre.
La notte che susseguì al rapimento di Maria, Bernardo il mugnajo
solo e desolato passò la Colma e discese a Civiasco, narrando il
crudele evento a Gaudenzo. Un furore indescrivibile invase alla
prima l’animo di questi; ma poi si raffrenò; stette alcun tempo
silenzioso, indi rivolto a Bernardo disse con voce di disperata
risoluzione: — «Le lagrime, i lamenti, le imprecazioni sono inutili: fa
d’uopo vendicarsi o morire. Datemi la mano, o padre di Maria, e
promettete di accompagnarmi nell’impresa che sono per tentare.
«Oh noi miseri! (esclamò Bernardo). Che mai possiamo
intraprendere contro un signore chiuso in un forte castello, e
circondato da tanti uomini d’armi? Ohimè noi poniamo a sicuro
pericolo la nostra vita, e forse rendiamo più crudele la sorte della mia
misera figliuola!
«Non temete: vi sono molti e molti che odiano mortalmente il
Biandrate. Gli uomini d’Ara, quei di Vintebio, a cui esso tolse più
volte i buoi e le messi, non attendono che il momento opportuno di
concorrere a sterminare il feroce loro aggressore: anche i montanari
della Val grande covano contro di lui un astio mortale per le sue
crudeltà, e per avere con ogni possa favorita l’eresia di Fra Dolcino.
«Ma a che mai può questo giovarci? Abbiamo noi mezzo di parlare
con quelle genti, di adunarle secretamente onde il Conte non ci
sorprenda e ci assalga coi suoi prima di essere in grado di opporgli
resistenza? Potremo noi persuaderli a versare il loro sangue per
nostra cagione? O figliuol mio, non lasciarti trascinare dalla smania
di una impossibile vendetta.
«No, ripeto, non è impossibile. Io sono disposto a tutto, e gli ostacoli
che voi calcolaste non sono insuperabili. Noi avremo il soccorso d’un
potente ausiliario.
«Di chi?
«Di Padre Anastasio l’Eremita.
«Oh che mai dici? L’Eremita di Civiasco coopererebbe alla
depressione del Conte? darebbe egli mano ad unire le genti dei
dintorni per liberarle dal loro oppressore?... Ma come lo sai tu?
«Gli ho parlato più volte, e quando gli riferii la prepotente esigenza
del Biandrate che io facessi le nozze con Maria al suo castello, come
mi significò lo scellerato Tibaldo, quel sant’uomo, il quale benchè
vecchio conserva tutta l’ardenza e il vigore della giovinezza, si
scagliò contro di esso colle parole più violenti e disse che un giorno
o l’altro la mano del cielo lo avrebbe colpito in un modo esemplare e
tremendo.
«Se l’Eremita è con noi egli ci assolve da ogni colpa: andiamo;
andiamo da lui ed io eseguirò ciecamente quanto egli saprà
consigliarmi.
Arrivarono di notte al romitaggio, ch’era una casupola presso una
cappelletta posta verso la metà del monte; entrarono colà mentre il
vecchio solitario appoggiato a rozza tavola stava meditando sopra
un ampio volume al chiarore d’una lucerna che rischiarava un
teschio umano. Si gettarono i due villici a’ suoi piedi, poichè
quell’uomo era per l’austera sua vita venerato qual santo, e rialzati
poi da lui cortesemente, fecero il racconto delle loro sventure, e
Gaudenzo annunziò energicamente i suoi arditi progetti.
Nessuno sapeva di qual patria fosse quel vecchio Eremita di nome
Anastasio e tutti parimente ignoravano da qual paese egli
provenisse. Comparve in quella terra e si stabilì sul monte presso
Civiasco allorchè Fra Dolcino l’eresiarca aveva posta la sua sede in
quelle vicinanze, favorito e sostenuto apertamente dal Biandrate.
Vedevasi di quando in quando alcun monaco straniero recarsi a
visitarlo nel suo eremo, lo che accresceva la di lui riputazione, ma
nulla però traspirava intorno alla vita antecedente di lui, a’ suoi
rapporti ed al suo stato. Egli s’adoperava con tutta possa a far
sparire dagli spiriti le tracce lasciate dalle dottrine ereticali seminate
da Dolcino e da’ suoi seguaci e a ritornare in forza i sentimenti di
sommissione e d’obbedienza verso il Pontefice, i Vescovi ed i
Sacerdoti che gli eretici avevano tentato di distruggere. La severità
de’ suoi costumi, la vita di penitenza ch’egli menava, corroborando i
suoi detti, davangli sommo vantaggio sopra i suoi avversarii, la
rilasciatezza ed immoralità dei quali favoriva le perverse inclinazioni
dei potenti, ma era oggetto di scandalo alla maggior parte del
popolo. Non tralasciava pure nei caldi sermoni che teneva alle
bande villerecce ora nei prati, ora ne’ boschi ove soleva adunarle, di
parlare con veemenza contro i ricchi, di minacciare ad essi la
maledizione del Signore in pena dei loro gravi peccati, e soventi
volte dipingendo un reprobo incallito nella colpa, si serviva di tali
immagini che tutti facilmente vi riconoscevano ritratto il conte Jago.
L’Eremita udì la narrazione di Gaudenzo e di Bernardo senza punto
lasciare apparire sentimento di piacere o di dolore: appena appena
la sua calva e rugosa fronte si raggrinzò per un lieve moto di sdegno
quando ascoltò il modo in cui era stato condotto il nero tradimento.
Allorchè essi ebbero cessato di parlare, egli rimase alcun tempo
meditabondo, appoggiata una mano alla gran barba, sostenendo il
capo: poscia disse ai due contadini che riedessero agli abituri senza
palesare i loro progetti a persona, e ritornassero da lui il giorno