Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
This, again, was inappropriate.
“Excited for the big day?”
She forced a smile to her lips.
Lying didn’t come natural to her. She often found a smile, a tilt of the head, or even a nod, helped to evade her having to answer truthfully.
When her husband to be, fiancé, came forward, his men were clapping him on the back. He didn’t look any happier about being the center of attention, and she rather liked that he was … unhappy about it.
She hoped he didn’t call it off. She wouldn’t get in his way at all.
What would life be like for her after their wedding?
She’d only known women within their circle marry made men and soldiers. Rarely were they allowed to marry associates. For them, it was against all protocol.
From the few snippets of information she’d accidentally heard, she knew the MC had been vital to a recent conflict.
There were times she hated being a woman more than anything. In her world, men had the power. Women were commodities to be sold on or passed around for their use.
She knew her father had mistresses, and her own mother didn’t seem to mind either, apart from when he brought them home.
Abriana had seen them, and she hated it.
“Abriana,” her fiancé said.
She forced a smile to her lips.
He held out his hand, and she stepped toward him. He took her hand, placing a kiss to her knuckles before letting her go.
There was a round of applause at his actions.
She chanced a look around the room and saw a mixture of disdain, disgust, terror, and humor.
Some of them thought it was funny.
Soon, the MC took over, and the music was changed, and there was dancing.
Abriana found her corner again, and when no one looked in her direction, she made her escape to the garden.
It was a warm night, and she took a deep breath. She knew guards were posted all around the grounds, and she always tried her hardest to ignore them.
She didn’t have to think about them while she was staring out into space.
Staring up at the night sky, she saw it was a crescent moon. The noise from the party filtered out into the night, and she closed her eyes.
It’s going to be okay.
Women and children died in their line of work. She had been to so many funerals. The first one had terrified her, as the casket was open, death so clear to see. So cold. So alone.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”
She turned to see her fiancé watching her. Usually, she was so aware of her surroundings, no one was able to sneak up on her.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes, of course, I’m fine. I just needed some air.”
He tilted his head to the side, watching her.
“We don’t have an audience now. Tell me the truth, do you want this?” he asked.
“There’s always someone watching here,” she said. “Yes.” She made sure to look past his shoulder so she wasn’t staring him in the eye.
The truth was, she didn’t want to marry anyone. She didn’t want to be Vigo’s daughter. Whenever she went out shopping, which was the only activity she was allowed to do, with armed guards, she found herself envying women, outsiders, for their freedom. They could come and go; they were not forced into a life they didn’t want.
Whereas she had no future. Her life was purely at the mercy of her father.
Tucking some hair behind her ears, she forced a smile to her lips. “Do you want this marriage?”
“No.”
She tensed up but didn’t say a word.
“Oh. Are you going to cancel?”
“You’re afraid,” he said.
“I … I would hate for you to have to do something you didn’t want to do.” Irony!
“This wedding will go ahead at all costs, Abriana. You won’t be harmed by the club. You’ll be my old lady.”
“I won’t be staying here?” she asked, pointing at her home.
“No. You’ll be living with me. I have a place. I’m not sure it’s what you’re used to—”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Whatever happened, she had to get out of this house. She wondered if he was the kind of husband that demanded his rights.
Unlike some of the women she knew, she knew what was required of her in the bedroom.
One of her father’s many mistresses had taken the time to sit down with her and have the female talk. She later learned the mistress had stolen drugs and money and was raped, beaten, and killed, her body dumped in a lake.
She’d never asked about the woman, only heard men talking about her.
Still, the woman had been surprisingly nice, and had told her it was only rare for some men to be complete assholes. That sex, with the right guy, was wonderful.
Staring at this man, her fiancé, whose name she didn’t know, she wasn’t sure if she ever wanted to commit to allowing a man inside her body, giving him even a smidgen of herself.