Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
I guess in the eyes of everyone here, he does.
“We will uphold our side of the bargain,” Mr. Gray Suit says. “The marriage will bind us to you forever.”
“And you to us,” the man in the devil mask says.
I shake my head, silently refuting all of this. I need to focus on growing my supervillain skills so I can destroy the Vesuvios. I have things to do, people to kill.
This is a complication I don’t need.
Kaiser’s hand is still a heavy weight on my neck. I would shake him off, but it feels nice. An anchor in the storm that’s currently wrecking my life.
Except… he is the storm.
“There will be protections in place for you,” Papa says.
Against a fiancé who’s over six feet tall and built like a tank? If he wanted to harm me, he could break me over his knee and not break a sweat. WTF, Dad?!
But I don’t say that. I don’t say anything. I’m still processing. I need to figure out how to get out of this.
Now Mr. Devil Mask is saying something about a new, stronger alliance.
Blah blah blah.
I can’t believe this is happening. I refuse to believe this is happening. I have to figure out how to get me and my dad out of this.
Eventually, they wind things up. They’re taking Papa back to New Rome while I’m to remain here with Kaiser.
“We’ll talk again soon. When things settle down,” Papa says. “It’ll all be okay.”
“Okay,” I say, so this conversation will be over. Sending my father off with two masked men from Fraternitas seems like a bad idea, but I don’t know how to stop it. My father seems resigned to his role of being a hostage and perfectly willing to sacrifice me, too.
What if Fraternitas doesn’t let me see him again? Will he ever explain why he did this to me?
I watch him leave with his captors, still in a daze. I guess, if things go well, I’ll see him again at the wedding.
What the hell just happened to my life?
“He’ll be safe with them,” Kaiser says. I must look worried, so I smooth my features out.
I can’t believe I’m alone in my house with him. I can’t even look at his big, dumb, gorgeous face right now. He’s so hot. I don’t want to be attracted to him, but my ovaries don’t understand he’s the enemy.
What am I going to do? I don’t want to get married to the Un-Incredible Hulk.
I turn to him. “I don’t care about that contract. We are not getting married.”
9
Bella
* * *
He just gazes at me. My stupid fiancé or whatever. He’s not fazed at all.
“You will marry me. You don’t have a choice.”
“Is that what gets you hard?” I ask. “Forcing young women into marriage?”
“No. I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”
That gives me pause. “Because you want an alliance with my father. He’s your prisoner.”
“He’s our ally. He will be treated with respect.”
“But not me.” I rub my arms, suddenly feeling like a prisoner in my own home. “They just left me here with you.”
“You have nothing to fear from me,” he says it so gently, I want to believe him.
But look at him. He’s huge. Covered in tattoos. He’s mafia muscle. I knew with one glance that he was dangerous. He’s the sort of guy they send to shakedown the scary mofos, because he’s the scariest one of all.
I wonder how many people he’s killed?
“What if we do the ceremony, and then just live in different houses?”
“The marriage needs to be real.”
I snort. “No, it doesn’t. You’re just making up random rules.”
“We have a contract.”
“Fine. We could just get married and then divorce.”
“This marriage will be for life. Like the alliance. It ends with death—yours or mine.”
Goosebumps break out over my skin. So it is a matter of life or death.
Preferably his.
“We’re not consummating the marriage.” But even as I say it, I lick my lips.
His gaze falls to my mouth.
“Oh, we’ll be consummating it.” His voice is rough, and my core clenches in response.
I’ve got to get out of here.
“I want some privacy. And some space. I can’t think about this right now.” I need to get away from him so I can make a plan.
“Stay in the house,” he orders. Because apparently, he can order me around now.
“I’m going to the greenhouse. Is that acceptable, my liege?” I give him a mock curtsy.
His eyes heat. I’m being silly, but he’s not playing a game.
“Yes, little bride,” he says.
“I’m not your bride.”
“Not yet. It’s only a matter of time.”
Nope, nope, nope. I rush to the door. I cannot deal.
“I’ll know if you try to run, Belladonna,” he calls after me. “Remember, I’m watching.”
Full body shiver!
No, I will not be turned on! I don’t like this anymore.
I escape to the greenhouse, my happy place. I turn on some opera music for the plants, pull on my favorite pair of gardening gloves, and putter around. Gardening usually makes everything better.