Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
I saw the anger in Rage’s eyes. He was not very good at controlling his temper.
“She is still club.”
This did make me laugh. “Charlotte is club? Okay, well, if she was club, then why did no one come and fight for her?”
“I did.”
“You’re the only one. Her sister didn’t. None of the club did, and yet you expect me to believe if we were to fight, you’d try and save her.” I took a step closer to Rage. “We both know Charlotte means nothing to any of you. Your only interest in her is because Ivan Volkov is interested in her. Don’t play the caring game with me.”
None of them had taken care of her. I’d taken care of her.
Stepping around Rage, I walk toward a garish sign hung over a chair announcing me as the groom. There was one for the bride as well. My bride was with Ivan. Dropping onto my seat, I stared across the dance floor. There were a couple of kids dancing to some of the music. The divide between Bratva and MC was clear to see. This had to be one of the biggest fuckups of a marriage ever.
“You’re not going to mingle with the in-laws?” Andrei asked, coming to sit down in the bride’s chair.
“That seat is taken.”
“Ivan is a little fond of your bride,” Andrei said. “I’m sure she doesn’t mind me taking a seat.”
“Don’t you have a wife to entertain?”
Andrei smirked. “I do, but I wanted to see how you were doing.”
I glared at Andrei. He came to gloat.
I noticed Peter and Victor were keeping their distance. Slavik was married, as was Andrei, and now me. It was only a matter of time before Ivan found a wife for the two of them. Ivan’s desire to play matchmaker was a little disconcerting.
Staring across the dance floor, I can’t help but look at my bride. Her feet peeked out from beneath her dress. Something told me she wasn’t a fan of wearing heels. She was a small person, and against Ivan, she looked even smaller. Eighteen. Fucking eighteen years old and married.
I didn’t know the kind of life she had, but from what I’d seen of her reactions to men and violence, it hadn’t been good. I didn’t know the kindness and love Rage spoke of. Most of the time, her eyes looked dead, like she wore a mask. People only wore masks when they were trying to hide or protect themselves.
Charlotte didn’t have a good life. She didn’t know kindness. She tensed at affection, shied away from it even. Something told me that if I ever learned the truth about her past, I wasn’t going to like it.
I already had a dislike of the Evil Savages MC. Her father had been a real piece of work. Turning my attention to the other sister, Cassie was sitting at the table with Adelaide and Aurora, carrying the conversation, laughing at her own jokes. I didn’t like Cassie. She was a spoiled princess. She was used to entering the room and being the center of attention. I’m surprised she had allowed Charlotte any limelight today.
“I think your wife needs rescuing,” I said, wanting Andrei away from my table. I didn’t need to talk to him.
Andrei tsked. “And here I was giving you hints and tips on how to handle your virgin bride.”
I didn’t need hints or tips. My wife was going to remain a virgin. I was a monster by nature, to those that deserved it. Charlotte would not be my true wife.
Ivan finally found the time to bring my wife to my side. “She is a true treasure,” Ivan said. “But now I must mingle. Always a pleasure.”
He left, and now I was alone with my wife. Charlotte didn’t say anything. She sat perfectly still. I had to watch her closely to see if she was till breathing. Her chest rose and fell, but not with rapid inhales. I noticed she breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, almost like yoga breaths.
Small talk was not my forte.
Staring out across the dance floor, I watched as people mingled and danced.
Ivan took control, and forced out speeches from Rage, Cassie, Slavik, and even Andrei. There was a toast to the happy couple, and then at Ivan’s insistence, I had to dance with my wife. To deny him would show weakness.
I took her hand and felt how she shook within my grip. I ignored it and walked her out onto the dance floor. Everyone else had left the floor.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Charlotte said, tilting her head back to look at me. “I’ve never danced before. I can stumble or something. We don’t have to do this.”
I wouldn’t allow her to stumble. Putting my hand at the base of her back, she tensed up. I’d seen the scars that decorated her back. There were quite a few, and all of them seemed to blend to create a picture of an abused woman. At her father’s hands, of that I was sure.