He holds his champagne up as if saluting me.
It takes every bit of effort not to scream.
Instead, I dig deep, muster a smile, and hold my flute up in salute.
Then I search the room for Cristian.
I’m a strong woman, but the more I think about marrying Maksim, the more I grow afraid of him and want Cristian close by.
He’s here, but like most soldiers in my brother’s Mafia army, he is in the shadows.
Staying unobtrusive unless needed.
His eyes are narrow as they track Maksim through the room.
For a moment, I want to rush to Cristian and ask him to whisk me away from my life.
Why do I have to give up everything simply to stop these men from trying to kill each other?
Why do I have to forgo a chance at love and passion like Luca and Katerina have?
For once, I’d like to know what it’s like to be touched with tenderness. To feel cherished.
How stupid is it that part of my worth includes my virginity? I can practically feel Maksim salivating at how he’ll take that from me.
I shake my head, wondering how my world got so out of control.
Maybe if I hadn’t contacted Luca after our father’s murder, I wouldn’t be on the verge of losing all power over my own life.
Suddenly, my virginity feels like the only part of myself that I still control.
Well, technically not and yet, feeling defiant, I know I have time to find someone who’d show me, if only just once, what tenderness and passion are all about.
Maksim and my brothers can take away my freedom, my future, but I still have my body.
If I'm to be Maksim's wife, perhaps I should ensure there's one thing he can never truly claim as his.
No one would know, except me, but that could be enough.
Over the next fifty years of a heinous marriage, I’d have this little secret over Maksim.
And I know exactly to whom I’d want to give myself.
I scan the crowd again until I find Cristian, this time maneuvering to keep his eye on Maksim.
My assigned bodyguard is ideal.
First, he’s discreet.
Second, he’s handsome and has the body of an Adonis.
Third, because he’s protecting me, no one will think twice about our spending time together.
Perfect.
I finish my champagne in one swallow and set the glass aside.
My stomach flutters at what I’m about to do.
