Dante reaches for his knife on the desk, his fingers grazing the blade.
It’s a silent warning.
Obey or death.
He threatened Harper’s life once and Luca’s. It wouldn’t take much for him to order my death.
I’m nothing to him, just another soldier.
But what worries me most of all, he might even hurt Zeke.
“You don’t have an issue following an order, do you?” Dante asks.
Fifteen
Harper
January and February are filled with snow and cold. I’ve gotten into a routine with Zeke, taking him to daycare on campus every day while I’m in class.
Luca and I don’t have any classes together this semester, which is a bummer, but I’m also not sweating another economics class, which is a relief.
I managed to pass my final last semester, all thanks to Luca’s help studying throughout the entire semester. I’ve also kept my GPA up to continue my scholarship, which is at least one thing that I don’t have to worry about.
Fitting into my wedding dress, however, is a new fear I’ve unlocked.
It took until the third time the seamstress made alterations to get it right.
His mom didn’t attend the latest fitting, and to be honest, I was relieved because it meant I didn’t have to put on a fake smile about the whole ordeal.
Not that she doesn’t know the truth.
But I’ve been trying to act cheery and excited, not wanting to worry her that I’ll flake at the absolute last minute.
Planning a wedding is supposed to be the most exciting part, but I haven’t done anything to plan the wedding. I’ve been a bystander.
I got to pick out my wedding dress; that was the most involvement that I’ve had.
And I suppose I got to pick the date, in February.
The choices don’t even feel like they’re really mine.
Luca has been distant, busy with his father on weekends, at practice and the gym during the weekdays, not to mention his hockey games.
He hasn’t tried to be distant, at least I don’t think so, it’s just trying to mesh our lives together and with Zeke. I can’t help but wonder if he still hasn’t forgiven me for lying to him.
There’s a prominent knock at the bedroom door. “Come in,” I call out as I try to secure my wedding gown.
Zeke is still at daycare for another hour before I have to swing by and pick him up.
Luca is in class. I’m not sure who’s home right now.
I’m trying on my gown, staring at my reflection in the full-length mirror.
“Wow,” Ashton’s voice catches me off-guard, and I spin around in the gown, holding it up, but it’s not about to fall down. It’s a zipper back, making it easier than having to cinch it closed. While I loved the design of the corset, I felt like I was suffocating.
Another alteration.
While it gives the illusion of a corset in the back, there’s a hidden zipper to make the gown more comfortable.
