A BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA LORD

IA WAS

sn't

dead silent. The waitress's eyes lingered on me too long, giving me that sympathetic look, the one reserved for the pathetic girl

ll days-my

, my heart heavier with each second that passed. I had

ainst my skin like ice. I couldn't cry, not here.

ened to him. Maybe t

yb

d too exhausted to believe them. I just wanted to

en, ho

r once again. One ring. Two.

s voice strained but oddly c

ugh me. "Where are you? I've been waiting at t

," he muttered, and for a moment, it sounded like he was moving, shuffling some

ounding in my chest. "It's my bi

ation. "Just that my car broke down and then my phone died. I tried to get it fixed, bu

"Your car b

so easily, so naturally, it almost sounded true. "You know, the one with no signa

newood?" I repeated. "But... you're only ten

n idiot, okay? But don't worry, I'm fine now. I'll come by tomorrow.

sed, too smooth, like he'd practiced this st

ng my ears to catch the sound. It was faint, but I could h

nt for a bea

d. "I'm at home, remember? Trying t

doubt creeping back in. "Are you sure about

ng to sound calm, "I'm telling you, it's nothing. You're overthinkin

he couldn't see me. "Okay," I whispe

omorrow, okay? I

murmured back, but t

wrong. I didn't want to be blinded by emotions. I needed to know. I coul

I d

was that gnawing intuition, or maybe it was I just needed to see

white. My mind spun with all the possibilities. Maybe I would get there and

to his house and al

as in the

ghts w

of laughter carried

drum. I crept up to the house, careful not to make a sound. With every s

window and p

re-Clinton and Ma

er, lost in each other, like I never existed. His hands were on

ingers, clattering to the g

ed. A

into the house. The whole place made me feel sick to the

came out startled, his eyes widening in panic as he froze

standing on her toes to press her lips to his in a slow, deliberate kiss. "Oh, darling, did you forget to tell her?" she la

g about?" My head started to spin, a sharp ache f

athetically naïve, Victoria. Clinton and I have been together for years. You've just bee

my chest tightening. "But... but you're marrying into the Volkov family... what about that?" I

s there to explain, Vicky? It's all true. I'm marrying her tomorrow. Maybe you should c

th my feet. "How... how could you do this

t meant nothing. "You were j

my cheeks, hot and bitter. "Please... tell me this is some kind

always are. But do us all a favor and marry into the Volkov family, will you? That way, we'll be

clutching at the fabric over my heart as if trying to hold it together. Everything felt like it was

there, feeling like my entire world was crashing down. "You.

cold and detached. "You'll get

t sure if I

, tears already blurring my vision. He caught my wrists with a brutal

g my fiancé to make you his sidepiece? How pathetic." She snapped

ame, humiliation swirling through me. My heart ached,

ed, her voice dripping with venom. Clinton laughed beside her, hi

water and smoothies, the icy liquid soaking into my skin. My body shivered

with my side as he kicked me away. Pain shot through my body, bu

icks of their phones, recording my misery like it was some kind of entertainmen

oison in my ear. "You look so pathetic. Ev

hem. My heart was pounding, and I just needed to get out of there. I rushed to my car,

as ruined, my heart shattered, and my eyes burned from crying. As I sped away, the laughter and ta

d had just crumbled. And

swerved slightly, and I could barely focus on the road. "Concrete... You have to...the road...

tight, and my breath came in short, desperate gasps. I slammed my fist against the steering wheel,

streaming down my face as I pounded the steering wheel again. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!" I waile

hing the engine's roar as I hurtled toward the brid

phone rang.

refusing to look. Noth

ced down, the name Unknow

n came

ou. Don't even

od ran

ed the