Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Lyriope
“I’ll catch the next flight home,” Dylan says into the phone.
I shake my head—not that Dylan can see me—and say, “No. Stay where you are. I’m fine. Truly I am.”
“How the fuck are you fine? You’re in his house. Really? His house?”
Dylan has always hated Bryant Morelli. His desire to someday be a Morelli like I had hoped has never existed. Quite the opposite. Dylan has never been more ashamed over anything than the fact that he shares the same blood as that man. I knew that calling Dylan and telling him what happened in Italy and where I am now wasn’t going to go over well, but I also can’t keep my brother in the dark.
“I have a small apartment here. You need to come live with me,” he continues.
I release a deep breath. “Dylan, you have to trust me when I tell you that this is all going to work out for the best.”
“You sound like Mom,” he snaps, his words searing my core. “That’s what she always said right before she’d fuck things up for us again.”
“Below the belt, brother.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
Maybe it is. Most likely it is. I’ve proven time and time again that I’m my mother’s daughter no matter how hard I try not to be.
“Have you heard from her lately?” I ask, having no idea where she’s currently living or even how to reach her.
I can’t even imagine what she’d say or do if she knew I was in Bryant Morelli’s house about to wed a complete stranger sanctioned by my biological father. Would she allow this to continue if she knew? Maybe. Most certainly if she could profit some way off it. I suppose the good thing that will come from all of this, is that I will finally be free from my mother. I will be living in a house, not struggling to pay bills, not hustling, and not trying to win the attention and approval of my mother in some sick and twisted way.
“No, and don’t try changing the subject. You’re living with Bryant Morelli and about to be married to a man you don’t know. This is absolutely insane, and I’m not going to allow it.”
“I don’t have a choice. I know you think I do—”
“Of course you do. Don’t pull that shit with me.”
“There’s so much you don’t know,” I begin. And the statement is so true. So very true.
“Then tell me.”
“I can’t.”
I remain quiet and simply listen to Dylan take deep breaths.
“Is he treating you good?” Dylan finally asks. “Is the entire family treating you like you deserve to be treated?”
“Yes,” I lie.
I don’t want to tell him that I haven’t seen anyone but Sarah and Sasha since arriving at the mansion. And I only have seen my father at the dinner and not since. It’s been almost a week, and I’ve done nothing but hang out in my room alone. When I come down to eat, I eat alone. I’ve seen Sarah in passing, but she doesn’t bother herself to say hello. Even the staff seem to ignore me. I might as well be invisible.
“And you really want to marry this man? This Sidorov person?” he asks, and I get the feeling that he’s trying to wrap his head around the idea.
“It’s not really a marriage. More like a business deal,” I say, not sure I even know what it is to be honest. It’s not like any of us have sat down to discuss the details.
Strike that… Sidorov and Bryant have had a meeting to discuss the details, but I was not included in the planning.
“And what do you get out of it?”
“Security.” I finally get to tell the truth.
Security for not only myself, but for Dylan. No more owing. No more on the run.
“Safety,” I add.
Safety for every single person in my life. Safety from making my problems others’. Safety from destroying everyone I love and value in my life.
“The two things you’ve always wanted.” He lets out a sigh. “There’s nothing I can do to change your mind, is there?” Dylan asks.
I notice Sasha walk into my bedroom, dressed and ready for Wonderland tonight. Her eyes take in the fact that I’m dressed in the outfit she picked out for me for the event, and she silently claps her hands in approval.
“I promise you that it’s all going to work out,” I say, signaling with one finger to Sasha that I’ll be off the phone in a minute. “I need to go right now, but I promise I’ll call you soon. You just keep focusing on school and don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I swear.”
I hear Dylan grumble as we both give our love and hang up. He’s right. There is nothing he can say or do that will have me change my mind. I have to do what I have to do to keep everyone safe.