I slide my phone out of my pocket and open the app. I find the local bus route and start walking; it’s a three-mile walk. If I’m quick, I should get there before the last bus of the evening. I speed up because I don’t want to be stranded here, and focusing on that last bus, my lifeline, I start to jog and then run, every step leading me closer to freedom that will be short-lived. I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other as my feet pound the road. When I see headlights, I step into the hedgerow and trees, staying hidden, then moving out when they’d passed and set off running again. I reach the bus stop with minutes to spare, and I take out my bus pass. It shakes in my hand, and I wonder how far I can actually make it with this. The bus pulling up startles me from my thoughts, and I step inside the doors. They close behind me and head to the back. I rest my head against the window and watch the world as it trickles by. Shadows flicker and dance as we pass by trees and then houses,shops, and bars. It’s just a blur; it feels surreal. I just want to stop the world and get off.
The bus pulls up outside the campus, and I make my way inside. I run into my dorm and throw myself down on the bed. The engagement party was a complete farce. I’m being forced to marry a man, firstly. A possessive, deviant, fucking psycho. And yet while he held my hand and kept me by his side all night, I had actually started to feel safe, then my father turned up, and it was gone in an instant. As I roll over and flop onto my back, there’s something under my covers. I pull them back to see another gift.
My stalker seems to be ramping things up. I don’t know how they keep getting into my room, but it’s starting to scare me. I toss the unopened package onto the floor and roll back over and let sleep claim me. I need to figure out a way to get out of this situation, and I’m wondering if my stalker is the way to go.
Maybe if I play along with the wedding and make it public, maybe, just maybe, my stalker will get jealous and end Bellino for me, and then I will just have my father to contend with—or better still, I could get Bellino to take care of my father, and then the stalker to eliminate Bellino. I don’t know where to turn for the best. But when did a stalker feel safer than a father or fiancé?
Bellino
Chapter Twenty-Three
It’s the morning of the wedding. I’m ready. I have been for an hour. I’m pacing back and forth, uneasy until he’s with me. I hated having to let him go with his father. I followed him relentlessly, but he’s been at uni and in his dorm. He hasn’t even visited Enzo or his mother and sister. He keeps his head down, but his eyes dart around like he’s trying to scan the area. He’s on edge, and I don’t like feeling that he could be a flight risk.
I have someone watching him this morning until I can meet him at the end of the aisle. There’s a knock at my office door, and it springs open. I sigh as Arianna pokes her head through the door. “Well, I thought you looked hot at the engagement, but…” She whistles, and I shake my head at her. She is slowly worming her way in.
“What do you want, Arianna?”
“We’re heading out to church. Are you ready?”
“I’ll meet you in the car.” She nods and smiles, clicking the door closed.
I blow out a breath and sigh. I need to get to him. I can’t wait to get him in my house, in my arms, and in my bed. I take a breath and head out to the car, where my brother and his wife are already waiting. I stare at them both. Since when did this become the norm? The driver takes us to the church. The drive is short, quiet, and I focus out of the window as I try to calm my nerves. I never show anything other than my cool, calm, and verging on the edge of destruction persona, but knowing I’m this close to him. I can’t help but feel my heart race.
Pulling up, I step out of the car and head inside, followed closely by Vittorio and Arianna. She sticks to me, slightly behind me, and my brother is slightly behind her. Everyone sitting in their pews turns as we walk down the aisle. Reaching the front, I stand and turn to face everyone. I slide my hand into my pocket and feel the cold metal of the ring, pressing it into my fingers. I rub over them, knowing we will be together soon. Arianna stands in front of me and leans in.
“We’re nearly there, just keep calm and try to enjoy the day. Maybe even smile a little.” She taps my cheek and presses a chaste kiss to the other one before pulling back slightly and winking. I scowl at her, which seems to be the face I throw her way most of the time, and she steps back.
My brother steps forward, grabs my hand, and pulls me into a hug, which I tense at. “I love you, big brother.”
I pull back from him, but he just grins at me then takes Arianna’s hand, and they move to sit on the front of the pews. It’s a few more minutes of me standing there looking as disinterested and poised as possible before the doors creak open at the back of the church. His father steps in. Leonardo is half hidden behind him.
His eyes flick to mine so fast and then back down to the floor. It’s only been a week since the engagement, and the bruising has almost gone. From here, it looks like there aren’t any more marks, but I will survey every inch of that perfect skin tonight when I consummate the marriage. They walk down the aisle towards me and take their seats in the front row. He’s walking alone the last few steps, and when he reaches me, he looks at his father, who snarls at him, and he steps up to me.
He finally looks up to meet my gaze before turning to look at the officiant. His eyes never stray until he’s asked if he takes my hand in marriage, and he turns to meet his father’s gaze again before turning back and nodding once. I glare at him, but he never looks my way. No matter, I have the rest of my life to make him look at me.
Once we’ve said our vows, we sign the paperwork and head to the gardens to take photos. Arianna insists on one of the four of us; she claims it’s an important photo to have or whatever.
When the photos are done, we head to the reception. A car collects me and Leonardo and takes us to the venue. He stares out of the window and never says a word. I allow him to have this moment. To be quiet, to reflect. I’ll have my time tonight. As we pull up at the venue, I turn to look at him.
“You okay?”
He nods climbing out of the car. I climb out after him, grabbing him before he walks inside. I take his hand in mine, and he tenses. I scan his features and watch every twitch, and I can’t help that feeling that something else is going on. I grab his hand and head inside; he just follows along behind me closely, and his hand is relaxed in mine. We circulate the room, and it’s only when we approach his father that I know that look of disgust Enzo throws his way. I also notice that Enzo’s other sons, Ricardo and Luciano, have been absent. While trying to be a mask of serenity on the outside, I pull him closer to me.
“Half an hour, then we’re leaving.” He swallows hard but nods, still not looking at me, but I just need to get him alone.
As we make our way out to the car, people cheer and throw rice. I hold his hand the whole way to the car. I open the door for him, and he slides in. I click the door closed and head around to the other side, telling the driver to take us home.
“Home?” It sounds questioning but hollow when he says it.
I whisper, “Yes, you’ll be living with me now.”
“What about my things, my clothes?”
I smile at him. “You’ll have everything you ever wanted now.”
“What about uni?”
“Don’t worry about uni. Not today. Whatever you choose to do, lil’ lamb, is up to you.”
