Like...What. The. Actual. Fuck.
The complete situation made me wish for my simple life of death threats and kidnappings.
Completely hidden behind the sparkle of my dress, the layered makeup and a ridiculous updo it was finally time. I thought I would’ve felt nervous, meeting Marco, meeting his family. But I didn’t.
I made my way downstairs with Rachel as she led me to the ballroom. The hallway was a hubbub of beautiful dresses and sharp suits - the beautiful people. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if these were Nikolai’s kind of people. While he didn’t seem to have many high society friends, I pondered if that had changed since I’d come along.
I longed to know more about his past, his work. I knew Nikolai down to the bone but it was rare that I’d been with him outside of his estate or around anyone other than his brothers. I planned to rectify that as soon as I returned to him.
I loved that man more than anything else in the world, but he needed to know that if he wanted to be with me, he had to give me every part of himself. Not just the good and sweet, his tender side. I wanted it all, I craved it. The longer I’d known him the more I could start to see that he wasn’t giving me every part of himself.
I saw the cage inside of him that kept his true darkness hidden. I saw the beast that was waiting to be released. I saw through it all.
As we came to a stop, Rachel tapped on the shoulder of a sharply dressed young man. Upon turning he greeted her fondly and exchanged pleasantries, and I knew who he was immediately. “Marco Bellucci, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Anastasia Varela.”
His eyes roamed me, up and down, up and down like a fucking see-saw. His smirk and leering eyes were enough for me to make a snap judgement.
I didn’t like him.
But really, was I ever going to?
Fortunately for me, I could see right through him, and I didn’t like what I saw.
