Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“No…” I blurt out and reach for the glass of orange juice while Julian grabs my plate and fills it with food. “I’m just surprised is all. After the way things ended last night, I didn’t expect something like this…”
“You’re my wife, and I want you to be happy. This trip will allow you the freedom you seek, without me worrying about someone hurting you, or you running away.”
And just like that, I realize the freedom he is giving me is a false sense of hope. He doesn’t trust me, not really. He’s giving me freedom but only as much as he is allowing, and it’s on his terms. My stomach sours, and the idea of eating makes me nauseous.
“I thought when we married, you would trust me more and give me more freedom?”
“I am and will.” He takes a bite of strawberry and hands my plate, which is loaded with food, back to me.
“Only on your terms, though, right?” I scoff angrily.
I was so foolish to think that getting married would make things better. Foolish to think that Julian Moretti, the dark wolf of the mafia underbelly, would fall for me. All he wants to do is control me. Nothing has changed.
“Everything is on my terms, wife, you should know this by now. When your father is taken care of, and I have nothing more to worry about, you can be free. Now eat, we have a long day ahead of us,” he orders me like I’m a child, and I’m tempted to object, but what good would that do me. Not eating isn’t going to hurt anyone but me.
Begrudgingly, I pluck a piece of fruit off the plate and shove it in my mouth. I chew the fruit viciously with maddening anger like it’s the person I want to hurt.
A moment later, Lucca comes sauntering up to the table, and Julian excuses himself, leaving me to sit at the table alone, and I hope this isn’t a vision of the future. I’ve already lost my mother, and my father is soon to follow. I’m not sure what I will do if I can’t get Julian to see past his vengeful ways.
Is there a future of love and happiness for us, or were we doomed from the very start?
36
Julian
I stare down at the silver band on my finger. It catches in the light and feels strange on my finger. I’m a married man. Married to the enemy’s daughter. Married to a woman who knows nothing of the truth as to why I took her. A moral man would feel guilt, but I feel nothing close to that. Now, I hold all that Romero cares for in the world in the palm of my hand.
Marie packs our suitcases, and Elena sits on the bed and watches her. She tried to help, but I stopped her. I pay Marie an hourly wage to do the things that I want her to do. Elena needs to come to terms with that.
Leaning against the wall, I watch the two women talk and laugh while I drink a glass of whiskey. The day is still young, I know, but a union of marriage calls for a glass of whiskey. Dressed in a sundress that hugs her luscious curves and shows off the perfect swell of her tits, I have to stop myself from taking my wife into the bathroom and fucking her against the mirror to consummate our marriage properly.
Wife. She is my wife now. It seems surreal, almost as if this morning was a dream.
Marie keeps her head down, her eyes trained on folding the last few items for our suitcases as I stare at Elena. The idea of leaving this mansion and heading to the island makes me nervous, but I know Elena needs this, and a part of me needs it too.
No one will be able to reach her there, and any chance of her escaping is extremely unlikely. Plus, everything back here will be managed and taken care of. Lucca will be holding the fort down, and Zeke is searching for Romero, so I have a little time to relax and focus on us. All will be well.
I’m just anxious to get out of here and to the island. Downing the rest of the amber liquid in my glass, I walk over and set the crystal glass down on the nightstand. The sound causes Marie to jump a foot off the ground, and I bite the inside of my cheek to withhold a smirk.
“Go make sure your things are packed and ready to go. We’ll finish up here,” I dismiss her. Her eyes dart between Elena and me before she scurries away like a timid little mouse.
“Do you take pleasure in scaring everyone?” Elena questions as soon as Marie is out of the room. The defiance in her eyes glistens in the sun filtering in through the window.