I lifted the bag, stepped past him, and walked straight for the door.
Domenico completely lost it.
He hadn't gotten the reaction he wanted. My compliance, in his eyes, had become the most brazen provocation imaginable. His thumb moved to his right hand on instinct, rolling the heavy signet ring in a slow, grinding rotation, but there was no dominance to assert here. Only a woman walking away from him without flinching.
He stormed after me, ripped the bag from my hand, and threw open the front door of the villa.
Wind and snow howled into the foyer. The two soldiers posted at the entrance stiffened but did not move. They knew better than to interfere when the Don's voice carried that pitch.
Domenico hurled my bag into the snowdrift outside and jabbed a finger toward the darkness beyond the threshold.
"Giuliana, since you love putting on this little act so much, then get the hell out of this house! Don't ever come back!"
"I'd love to see how long a woman with no family, no name, and no protection survives in this blizzard without me!"
I stood in the doorway wearing nothing but a thin cashmere sweater.
The wind cut across my face like a blade.