Minutes pass.
My aggravation grows.
Time ticks away.
Serafina’s life hangs in the balance.
She could be hurt.
He could be on her.
He could be?—
I rip my sister’s hand off, darting out of my seat before anyone dares stop me.
56
SERAFINA
As I take a parting look at Lev and the rest of my family, weight settles in the base of my stomach.
Anxiety.
Reality.
I’m dragged away from everyone. From Zeno, Nero, Vanessa, and Anastasia—all peoplemuchbetter trained in what I’m about to do. If I fail, who knows how Alessio will react? The psycho might laugh it off, say something about me fighting until the bitter end. Or, he’ll react how others might expect him to—and this will be it for my life.
He yanks me through the double doors of the hotel ballroom and down the hallway, passing the lobby, uncaring about the hotel guests who glance up at the bride with the huge dress consuming so many of the gleaming tiles as her groom scrapes her across the floor.
And away from the elevator that’s supposed to take us to the honeymoon suite.
No. No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening.
“Wh-where are we going?”
I never would have thought I’d be begging Alessio to take me to a hotel room, but if he doesn’t turn around, that’s precisely what’s happening. Of the numerous courses of action Lev and Anastasia invented, no one planned for Alessio to be taking meaway.
He’s supposed to go to the hotel room, then pour himself a drink I can spike. Notthis.
He doesn’t answer until we reach a black town car parked by the curb, made darker by the fact it’s night out and the moon is concealed behind clouds. He heaves opens the passenger door, all but tossing me inside, very nearly slamming the door shut on my dress—not that I care. It’s a monstrosity, taking up so much of my immediate view, and I shove the material to flatten it into something semi-comfortable.
He slides into the driver’s seat and flicks all the locks shut before starting the car. “You really think I’d fuck you here when your lover, brother, sister, and all the people who care about you are a few floors down?” He chuckles darkly, the interior dash’s lights not enough to erase the shadows surrounding him. “No, no, mysposa.” Bride. “We’re going home to your new life.”
No.His house is far away, and crawling with his own staff, soldiers, and people who’ll be on his side. I can’t murder him on his own property; it’d be a suicide mission. I can’t drug him while we drive either, not without a drink. It leaves the knives strapped to my thighs, which he’ll see coming.
With each turn of the wheels, more and more of my self-preservation remains behind. This is why it was a stupid plan. This wasexactlywhat Lev was worried about: all the unknown possibilities, how Alessio’s actions could alter what we presume would happen.
“I really wanted to get started on our life,” I try weakly, hoping he plays into the lie. Though, who am I kidding? Even I can hear my own pretence.
“Don’t play me for the fool.”
“Why do you want this?”
His jaw tightens ever so slightly. “I’m righting a wrong. You were always supposed to be mine, by contractual right.”
“No, that’s not enough. You’ll limit yourself to a life of unhappiness for a piece of paper? Alessio”—I twist slightly, facing him head-on—“your father is gone.”Because of you.“Mine is too. No one here cares if we uphold it or not. Can we acknowledge it was a deal made back when Ursin needed your father’s help and move on? You and I don’t have to live with the decisions they made.”
“The thing is, Serafina, we do. That’s what upholding a legacy means.”
