Chapter 4
Lexi
Scarlett and Ellie found me in a ball on my floor. The photo of my parents clutched in my hands. I hit Matteo hard, and the frame shattered. Glass surrounded me, but I didn’t care.
The red mark on my thigh stung when El touched it with an ice pack.
Both she and Scarlett looked murderous when I relayed what happened with Matteo.
Scarlett called Deirdre, who gave me a look of love, but letting me know without words that it would make no difference to my uncle, and she was right.
I am a pawn; I have been since I stepped foot in Brookhaven. But her just being there for me helped immensely.
Women like me have been used for centuries in my uncle's business. Pawns and baby-making machines. A woman’s virtue is a deal breaker, and Matteo seems to think I slept with Nate last night. Jokes on him, though. Nate wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole.
I barely remember Dierdre helping me get into the car and driving me to the church.
The beauty team was just finishing prepping me when my uncle stepped in.
“Zio,” I said, trying to smile.
“I’d like to have a word with Alexandria.”
Fuck, he used my whole name.
Everyone filed out, and he stood behind me, hands on my shoulders; I was facing the floor-length mirror, sitting on a pink pouf chair.
He looked deeply into my eyes, “Mr. Russo has some concerns in regard to your virtue, Alexandria. Would I be lying if I told him his concerns are unfounded?” He asked, looking me dead in the eye. His grip on my shoulders got tighter as he spoke.
I know my uncle; if you don’t look him right in the eye, he believes you're being dishonest.
I looked him right in the eye, “No, Zio, of course not. I would never.”
“Good,” he said with a smile, and the pressure on my shoulders let up. “Now, let me take a look at you.” He took me by the hand and had me face him.
“Bellissima, piccolina,” he said softly and kissed me gently on the forehead.
“I am proud of you. Understanding how important this is to our family and our livelihood. It pleases me to see you not resist this union, piccolina.”
“Of course, Zio,” I said with a nod.
My breath caught as Nate entered the room. The man can fill out a suit. He’s in a black designer suit and an emerald-green silk tie with a pocket square to match. Fuck he’s gorgeous.