Chapter 40

Groggily, I open my eyes and wince as the sunlight pierces through the room. My head throbs, and my body aches like I’ve been to hell and back. I try to roll over and realize I’m attached to something. Looking at my wrist, I find it chained to the bedpost. I tug on it, but I’m not going anywhere.

Glancing around the room, I take in my surroundings. It’s one of the hotel rooms from the reception venue. Not the one I was assigned yesterday, though. The blinds are open, and from how low the sun is in the sky, I would say I’ve been out of it for most of the day. I pull myself up to sitting, realizing I’m in only a T-shirt and panties. My left wrist is bandaged, and a small, dull throb pulses through it.

“You’re awake, baby doll,” comes Ricky’s smooth voice from the doorway.

I stare back at him, my heart racing.

He moves in closer, sitting on the end of my bed.

“Get the fuck away from me. ”

He looks insulted. “I need to check your injury and give you pain meds.” He moves closer.

And I flinch away from him. “No!”

We really have come full circle. He stares back at me like I’ve lost my mind, and maybe after all the fuckery of the last twenty-four hours, I have, but I know enough to know I don’t want him or any of the others anywhere near me.

“Harley, the meds are making your brain foggy. It’s me, Ricky.”

I meet his worried eyes head on. “I know who the fuck you are. I said stay away from me.”

His face hardens. “Do I need to get Maddox in here to hold you down so I can conduct my check-up? You had a serious car accident last night and got stabbed. You need medical attention.”

“Yeah, you would fucking like that, wouldn’t you? You probably all laugh about it afterwards about how much control you have over the pathetic Havardi girl.”

His brow knits together. “No one is laughing at you. We have been worried about you all night. It was lucky they found you when they did. Who knows what Carlo would have done.”

“I already dealt with Carlo, it’s you fuckers who have me chained up again.” I shake the chain for emphasis.

“That was just so you couldn’t take off. You gave us all a heart attack.”

“I didn’t take off. I was threatened with having my throat slit if I didn’t go with that crazy fucker.” I tug on the chain. “Guess you have to ensure your money is secure. Or is it more to do with the businesses that are in my name? Either way, you better make sure I’m alive, at least until I’m legally Mrs. Moretti. Then I guess you will have no need for me anymore.” The words drip from my lips with bitterness, but they burn my insides like acid. Knowing what I really am to these guys is too painful to stomach.

“Let me see your wrist,” he snaps, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. Guess the truth hurts.

I shove my wrist in his direction. He takes off the bandage and inspects the gash. It’s deeper than I thought and held together with stitches. My stomach rolls.

“I’m going to put a waterproof bandage over these so you can have a shower and get yourself ready.”

Ready? I look at him, puzzled.

“Your wedding is only two hours away. The hair stylist will be here soon.”

“Oh,” I mutter. Of course, the only reason I’m here is to hand over all my rights to the boss. And that means, no matter what happened to me last night, I’m still getting married today.

He patches my arm up, his hand lingering on my arm longer than I know it needs to. He slides his hand all the way up to my face where he cups my chin lovingly. It would be so easy to get swept up in his pretty blue eyes and handsome face. “Harley…”

“Save it, Ricky. I know where your loyalties lie, and it’s not with me. If they were, you wouldn’t be letting them get away with this.”

His eyes stay locked with mine, a sadness sweeping over him because he knows it’s true. He could protect me, but he won’t. He drops my face. “This family saved me. They saved Maddox and your brother,” he says like it justifies their actions. Like it makes everything they’re doing to me okay. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but this is the only way to keep you safe, and I won’t apologize for doing everything I can to make sure I get to keep you in my life. You mean too much to me. ”

“They’re using you,” I spit back at him. Can’t he see this for what it is?

His head drops, and I know he’s thinking on what I said. He stares at the carpet in front of him. This isn’t the Ricky I’ve come to know. He looks sad. Broken. And a small part of me worries about how this is all affecting him, but then I remember he’s not anyone to me. It’s every man for themselves. And he’s a Moretti through and through.

“Even if you’re right, it’s too late for us now. This is our life and it’s yours as well.” Pulling a key from his pocket, he undoes the chain and massages my wrist. “Go have a shower.” He hands me a silky negligee, robe, and towel.

With shaky legs, I get to my feet and wander into the bathroom. I look like death warmed up. Not what I envisioned looking like on my wedding day. I shower and throw on the clothes he gave me on autopilot, then re-enter the room.

“Hey, girl,” Dani squeals as she barrels toward me.

“How did you get in here?” I look over her shoulder, wondering where Ricky is.

“Your brother let me in. The other boys are getting ready while he stands guard at your door. It’s all so high suspense round here, hey. Guards and all. Shame I missed last night. I heard it was hectic.” Her eyes twinkle with excitement. How she can think my fucked-up situation is so exciting, I’ll never know. But I’m grateful to have one friend in amongst all the other snakes.

I glance behind her to find a couple of girls with toolkits, setting up a space on the dresser. They must be the hair stylist and make-up artist. There is also a platter of sandwiches and fruit. I pluck up one of the chocolate strawberries and make a plate of sandwiches before taking the seat the hair stylist is motioning for me to take. I’m not fighting this anymore. I’m resigned to my fate .

For the next hour and a half, they fuss over us while we catch up. Or more like while Dani fills me in on all the gossip from the diner. I guess Alessandro figured it’s too late for her to do anything that might cause a problem for him now, because it feels like we have free rein. But I keep my secrets locked up tight because I know him better, and these girls are probably trained to kill us if I say anything out of turn. At least that’s what I imagine.

Once they are gone, she looks at me, all smiles. “Can’t believe you’re getting married, girl. Who would have thought my little shy friend would live such an exciting life?”

I look her over. “Ha, yeah. Exciting,” I mutter. Running for your life certainly is thrilling. Not.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair hangs in soft waves over one shoulder, and even I have to say the make-up stylist has done a perfect job painting my face. Red lips, dark smoky eyes, and flawless skin. I almost look like I belong in this fucked-up family. But that doesn’t ease the churning in my stomach. I don’t want to marry Alessandro like this, knowing he’s only doing it for what I can bring to the marriage—my papa’s money. I don’t want to be married at all. Ever. The idea is so sickening to me, I’m not even sure how I’m supposed to stand through this ceremony and pretend. What would happen if I just said no when I was asked if I took him for my husband? Would they kill me on the spot? Probably not since they need me to marry him for him to get what’s mine. Would they hold a gun to my back and force the words from my lips?

Dani hands me a glass of champagne. “A toast to the beautiful bride. Thank you for inviting me to share your special day with you, girl. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this.” She clinks her flute with mine and chugs her bubbly .

I take a sip, grateful she’s here to hold my hand through this or I might not make it down the aisle. “I’m so nervous,” I admit.

“Yeah, girl, that’s because his family is terrifying, but you lasted this long with them. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She laughs lightheartedly, and I wish I had her optimism.

I roll my eyes. “Yeah,” I mutter before polishing off the rest of the bubbly. I probably shouldn’t even be drinking mixed with the drugs Ricky has me on. But if I have to be high as a kite to get through this shit show, so be it. Making my way across the room, I grab my veil and pass it to her so she can fix it in my hair. My eyes narrow, trying to focus on her face. Why am I seeing two Danis.

She takes hold of my hand to steady me. “Hey, girl, you okay?”

I sway on my feet, feeling like I’m about to pass out suddenly. “No. I feel weird.” Maybe I shouldn’t have mixed the pain meds with the bubbly.

Her face blurs, and she takes hold of my arms. “I’m so sorry, Lana,” is the last thing I hear her say before it all goes black.

The End