Arabelle
The past few weeks have been a hazy blur, with days and nights blending into one another. Being named principal dancer has been a relief and exciting, but like everything in my life, nothing ever goes as planned.
My father’s body was discovered in a dimly lit alley outside the gambling house he often visited, after being missing for nearly two weeks. He had been brutally stabbed and bled out from the knife wound to his stomach. The police believe he owed people money, which didn’t shock me when they delivered the news of his death. They also believe his debt may have been the cause of his death. While they haven’t found the man or men responsible, that’s the theory the police are currently pursuing in their investigation.
Despite cutting him out of my life, I can’t deny that his death has impacted me. I’ve been devastated ever since I got the news, and I’ve been mourning the father from my childhood, not the addicted leech he’d become.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?” Florian asks, his warm fingers intertwining with mine.
My husband is becoming someone I trust and depend on. Every time he surprises me with how gentle, caring, or understanding he can be, he sinks his claws deeper into my heart. He’s not just my biggest supporter, but he’s also the one who always stands up for me and protects me. He has become the person I love more than anyone else.
I look over at him and feel a warmth spread through me as I smile at him. Today is the day we bury my father. Even though it’s a somber day, with him gone, I’m looking forward to finally closing this chapter of my life.
I release a breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He gives a curt nod, and Hugo steps out of the car. The constant security presence is still something I’m adjusting to. But after the incident with Adahlia, I’ve never been more grateful for the watchful eyes of men like Hugo, Nero, Asva, Alrick, and the rest of the men who have become my second family. Overbearing family, but still family. They are all like the big brothers I’ve never had.
The door opens, and Florian steps out first. That’s something else I’ve had to get used to. I can’t leave any vehicle until I am given theall-clearsignal. A reality of my new life.
After he engages in a brief conversation with Hugo, he reaches his hand out to me. I grasp it and step out, and the scent of freshly cut grass and flowers from the cemetery immediately fills my nostrils. The last time I visited the cemetery, I went to have a heart-to-heart with my mother about marrying Florian. It might seem crazy to seek guidance from the dead, but other than Dale, she’s all I have.
My sisters skipped having the grand church funeral and opted for a more intimate graveside service, which suits me just fine. With the Devil by my side, I’m not sure if lightning wouldn’t strike me dead as soon as we entered the church.
If he’s the Devil, then what am I?
It’s a question I’ve asked myself a lot since our marriage, and the only answer I’ve been able to come up with is that I’m the Beast’s wife. It’s a role I embrace now.
As we approach the large crowd gathered near the gravesite, my grip tightens on my husband’s hand. Florian lifts my hand to his lips, his touch sending a warm tingle through my fingertips before he gives me a reassuring smile. Despite his silence, the intensity in his eyes speaks volumes at this moment.
I’m not alone.
Despite the estrangement between my father and me when he passed away, he left me everything he didn’t lose. At first, I wondered why he would leave me anything, especially when I knew my sisters needed it more than me. However, it finally dawned on me that he knew Florian would take care of everything because of me.
Once again, my husband covered all my father’s debts to prevent them from being transferred to me and my sisters. And while they still hate me and are still ungrateful, I don’t want them to be in the same position as my father. I have Florian for protection. They have no one. They’ll have a clean slate to make something of their lives, but I won’t hold my breath waiting for a thank you that’ll never come.
As soon as the crowd notices us, the air fills with murmurs and chatter. I’m not sure if it’s because of Florian’s reputation or mine. Or if it’s just people who are aware of the estrangement between me and my father.
Either way, I lean closer to my husband, trying to gather some strength from him. He gently presses his lips against my forehead, leaving a lingering warmth, which calms some of my nerves.
I hate the scrutinizing stares aimed at us, but I don’t know what I was expecting.
When we reach where my father’s coffin is placed, as I expected, at least one of my sisters attempts to stop me—Angela. Raven is trashed, sitting not too far from the coffin. She probably can’t stand steady on her feet to confront me even though I already know where she stands. Her thoughts aren’t going to be different from Angela’s.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Angela sneers as she tries to grab my arm, but Hugo stops her from touching me. “We don’t want you here! It’s your fault he’s dead, and you have the nerve to show up here! Get the fuck out of here!”
Of course, they blame me for his death because I cut him off, and if I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been killed for the money he owed. They’ll always find something to blame me for, even though it’s his fault he ended up dead.
With Hugo’s massive figure looming over us and creating a barrier between my sister and me, Florian lets go of my hand and takes a step toward my sister. I’ve never seen him look so lethal other than when Adahlia fell from the rooftop. His eyes are filled with a chilling intensity that would make a grown man crumble under his icy glare.
“If it wasn’t for your sister, you wouldn’t have anything,” Florian says with a chilling calmness that sends shivers down my spine. “And if you keep this up, I’ll make damn sure that happens. You’ll be left with absolutely nothing. Be glad she allowed you to remain in the house because if it was up to me, you and Raven would rot in hell right beside your sorry-ass father.”
Angela’s eyes narrow on me. “You’re just going to stand there and let your husband threaten me and talk about our father that way? He killed him!”
Florian stiffens beside me.
He wouldn’t do that to me. I know he wouldn’t.
“He did not kill him, Angela, and no one’s threatening you,” I say, even though I know Florian’s words are a threat. A threat I know he’ll follow through with if Angela keeps acting like a bitch. “I’m here to say goodbye in peace. That’s it.”
