Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Maybe, but they can make my life even worse than it already is.”
He moves closer. Now we’re touching. My breasts graze his chest, and his lips bend forward to murmur in my ear. “And how bad is your life, princess?”
I stiffen and nearly stumble, but he keeps on smoothly dancing.
“Excuse me?”
“You have more than most women dream about. Money, friends, family, privilege. Are you really so miserable?”
“You don’t know me.”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve met a thousand versions of you all over these crime families. I may not know you, but I know your type.”
A lump forms in my throat. Angry tears threaten, and I fight against them. Fuck this guy, fuck him to hell. I don’t even know why he’s being such a bastard right now, except a little voice in my head actually does. He doesn’t want this either. He’s going through the motions just like I am.
But instead of handling it together, he’s turning me into an enemy.
Well, screw him. Lev thinks I’m just some spoiled mafia princess because he has no idea what I’m really carrying around.
The weight of this truth growing inside of me.
“You want to know why I’m so fucking miserable, you selfish asshole?”
“Go ahead, little fencer. Tell me what could possibly be so bad.”
I pull back so I can look him dead in the face.
“I’m pregnant. And the baby’s yours.”
He stops dancing. His expression is stunned. For one second, he only looks at me, at a total loss for words, as I backpedal and turn. The song ends abruptly as I make my way to my table, face pink with anger and embarrassment, and when I look back, Lev’s smiling again. He’s laughing at something and making a joke, easing the tension, covering over the moment, making everything all right.
Like he doesn’t give a shit at all.
Chapter 11
Carmie
The wedding’s basically ruined after that.
As if it weren’t already terrible. I refuse to do anything else: no cake cutting, no father-daughter dance, no speeches. My father speaks anyway, even though I tell him not to. It’s expected, after all, and I’m left alone at my table fuming and feeling like a complete outcast.
At least Luca’s there with me. Daniel’s off making nice with the Russians, but Luca knows something went down between me and Lev during the dance. When he asks, I just tell him it’s nothing and refuse to elaborate.
The night’s hell. Dinner’s okay though. Lev disappears again and doesn’t show his face, though I catch sight of him a few times talking to various people and looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“I’m ready to go home,” I tell Luca the first moment it becomes even remotely appropriate.
He looks awkwardly at Daniel. The pair of them are drinking whiskey at the bar together. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he says and clears his throat.
“What do you mean? Half the guests are gone. Valentin Zeitsev left an hour ago. Adriano disappeared. Let’s just get out of here.”
Daniel looks at me. His face is stern as he sits up straight. “This is awkward, so I’m just going to say it straight. You’re not coming back with us to Dad’s place anymore.”
I laugh because that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. The plan was always for them to get me back to Dad’s after the wedding. “Where else would I go?”
“Lev talked to Dad.” Daniel glances at Luca like he’s searching for help, but Luca doesn’t say a damn thing, only glares at his drink. “Apparently, he wants you to come back with him tonight.”
“Are you serious?” I look between my brothers. “I was supposed to have at least one more night. I’m not packed. I’m not—”
I’m not ready.
“I know this sucks,” Luca says, sounding pissed. “I told him that wasn’t the plan, but he insisted. What can we do? You’re married now.”
“It’s not real.” Desperation rises in my guts. “I mean, come on. We’re not actually—”
“Yes, Carmie, you are.” Luca stares at me. His expression hardens and I take a step away from him, feeling my face drain. “Look, this is the worst, but we can’t pretend, right? You married the guy and that’s the end of it. No more living at Dad’s place. No more coming back there. You just gotta go with your husband and make it work, okay?”
I don’t know what to say. I expected something like that from Daniel—he’s always been tougher and harder—but never from Luca.
All of a sudden, I feel more alone than I ever have. My brothers are abandoning me. The life I knew is essentially over. And yeah, it’s only one night, but this little fiasco only hammers home what I’ve been trying to mentally avoid this whole time:
I’m Lev’s wife now.
I turn and walk away. Luca calls after me, but neither of my brothers follow as I storm over toward the street. The valet looks at me but doesn’t say anything as I stand alone in the darkness finally letting those tears I’ve been fighting back flow down my face.