Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
He coughs out a choking sound. Wasn’t expecting my comment, obviously. “Is someone getting married?”
“Fuck off.”
“Who’s the lucky lady?”
“As I said before . . . fuck off.”
“And you think this will get me to help you?”
I laugh. “Hi Rafe, how was your day today?”
He hums. “Much better.”
“Good, now get me a priest. Someone who won’t ask questions and make sure no one outside the house finds out.”
“On it. I’m very efficient when I want to be.”
I end the call and slip the phone into my pocket as the front door creaks open behind me.
Her scent hits me first. Soft. Familiar. Still my favorite smell, but I digress.
She steps out slowly, barefoot on the marble like she’s afraid someone might hear her as she sneaks around the house tonight.
“So we’re really doing this?” she whispers.
I turn to look at her over my shoulder. “We are.”
She wraps her arms around herself. “You agreed to my terms.”
“I did.”
“You’ll honor them?”
She looks fragile and fierce and heartbreakingly naive, all at once.
“I’ll honor them,” I tell her.
She exhales shakily, nodding. “Okay.” She walks back inside, and I don’t stop her.
Because she doesn’t need to know that her terms were bullshit. The second she said yes, she gave me everything I wanted. That whatever cage she thought she built?
It’s mine now.
And she will live in it. Forever.
She disappears behind the door, leaving me alone with my dark thoughts.
“You have no idea what you agreed to, Little Bird,” I whisper, letting the monster inside me stretch.
“No idea at all.”
30
Victoria
I’m still half asleep when my peaceful morning comes to a screeching halt when a vision of Lorenzo plays behind my lids.
Shit.
I hate the man, yet he still haunts my dreams. It’s been years since I’ve seen him, but he’s only gotten more beautiful.
Life is truly unfair, and it’s especially cruel how devastatingly handsome he’s become.
I roll over in bed, hair shoved across my face, reach blindly for my phone on the nightstand, and check the time.
Instead, I see a text.
I freeze so hard my breath cuts out.
Lorenzo: Hope you slept well. You have a long day ahead of you.
My hand goes numb, and my phone almost slips through my fingers.
How does he have my number, but worse . . . how is his number programmed into my phone?
I sit up so fast the duvet tangles around my legs, all while my heart slams into my ribs like it’s trying to break out of me.
I stare at the words again, like maybe they’ll rearrange into something sane.
But they don’t. They sharpen.
What does he think I’m doing today?
“Oh my god, I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper into my empty room, voice cracking.
My palms begin to sweat, and my stomach churns.
I hit the call button for my mother.
She answers in one second—too fast, like she’s been pacing the phone for hours.
“Victoria . . . we have a long day. I need you ready—”
I stand, pacing the edge of my room with the phone pressed to my ear. “I know, Mother. Don’t you think this is crazy? I can’t do it. Don’t make me . . . ”
I stop mid-step when she doesn’t say anything. Did she hang up? “Mom?”
Her exhale comes out broken. “Come downstairs.”
“Mom—”
“Come now.” She hangs up.
My legs nearly give out. She dismissed me without an explanation. Why should this be surprising? It’s basically the story of my life.
Do this, Victoria.
We expect this, Victoria.
For my whole life, I’ve been bossed around and moved around like a pawn. Why should this be any different?
I throw on the first clothes I find in my old closet, a sweater with a stretched neckline and jeans that don’t fit right. I shove my hair into a claw clip with shaking hands.
My mother will loooove my appearance . . .
Within a few minutes, I know today is going to suck. Because before I leave the room, I step toward a window and see the staff rushing across the back lawn carrying white roses and a giant arch made of more flowers.
What the hell is happening?
I move away from the window and head to find my mother.
I’m not even down the hallway when a staff member spots me and gestures wildly. “Miss Victoria, this way.”
“I don’t—wait—” My voice cracks as he shepherds me like a stray cat. “I don’t understand what is happening.”
He doesn’t answer. He just escorts me down the hall and pushes open the door to the study.
My mother is inside.
She looks like a mess, which doesn’t at all match her outfit of silk. Her hair is frizzy, her makeup is smudged, and her eyes are swollen.
Tired. She looks utterly exhausted.
“What—what is going on?” I blurt, stumbling backward.
“We’re preparing for a wedding, Victoria.”
The word punches me straight in the chest.
I stand there frozen, trying not to hyperventilate. “I-I didn’t approve any of this.”