Chapter 7 #2
“Yes.” Alastor winces slightly before releasing Eli’s hand and shaking it out. “Vincenzo told me all about you. Ex-military, correct?”
“Yes.” Finally, his gaze leaves mine, moving to Alastor. “I’m prepared to kill anyone who dares to cause any kind of harm to Madeleine.”
His words produce a not-so-subtle flutter in my heart.
Alastor’s left eye twitches. “Well, good thing we have you to keep my future wife safe, then. Right, darling?” He glances down at me and pulls me closer to his side. His fingers ram painfully into my waist, likely leaving a bruise.
“Yes.” I nod. “Eli’s everything I need…to keep me safe.”
“Madeleine.” Cressida’s soft voice drifts closer to my side as I take a generous sip of champagne, hoping that a little buzz will help me get through the rest of the day.
At least Alastor left shortly after staking his claim on me to take care of some business in the city…
or sleep with a hooker. Who knows? It’s not like I give a flying fuck which of the two he plans on doing.
“Mm-hmm?” I turn to my side as Cressida takes the empty seat beside me. Ugh. Where the fuck did Alina and Scarlett go?
Her big, soft eyes stare at me as if waiting for permission to speak. I arch an eyebrow, silently urging her to continue.
“Is Eli single?”
I slightly choke on the champagne, quickly slapping a hand against my chest as a few drops travel down the wrong pipe.
“Oh my God. Are you okay?” Cressida frantically pats my back.
I raise a hand to signal her to stop. “I’m fine.” I grab my napkin and gently blot it over the stain on the front of my ivory dress. Clearing my throat, I say, “What did you ask?”
Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she pushes a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I was just wondering if Eli is single.”
“Oh, single? Eli?” I let out a slight scoff. “As far as I know, he is. But I’m sure his definition of single might differ from yours and mine. Why?”
“Well, I mean, look at him.” Her eyes dart over to the corner of the room where Eli hovers by the door, his gaze directed at me. “He’s gorgeous.” She sighs wistfully. “I wonder if he’d ever consider… someone like me.”
Does she mean someone blonde, tiny, and with perky boobs? Last I checked, Cressida looked like a man’s wet fantasy. Add to the fact that her family is loaded, and what man could resist her?
Looking away from Eli, I grind my teeth and cross my arms over my chest. “Beats me. I’ve never seen him with a girl, so it’s hard to say what his type is.”
Well, no girl except me.
“So, you would be okay if I went over and talked to him?”
My chest tightens. It feels like a claw is wrapping forcefully around my lungs, constricting my airways. But I shake off the feeling as I say, “Why wouldn’t I be okay with that? I’m engaged to your brother. Not to Eli.”
That’s for damn fucking sure.
Her lips part, and her hands intertwine in her lap as she adjusts nervously.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.
I know you and my brother are very happy together.
But with Eli being your bodyguard, I just wanted to make sure it wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for you.
” Her shoulders curl in, and an apologetic smile appears on her face.
With a heavy sigh, I turn on my Madeleine Alarie charm and place my hand on her shoulder. “It wouldn’t make things uncomfortable for me,” I lie.
“Really?” She beams. “Oh, wonderful!” She stands, pushing back her chair and smoothing out her dress. Reaching into her clutch, she pulls out a tube of soft pink lipstick and applies a generous amount to her lips. “Well, wish me luck.”
I give a tight smile as she saunters off, her hips swaying eagerly as she approaches Eli. His attention turns to her, and one of his stupid, handsome smiles graces his face as she no doubt bats her long lashes.
He laughs at whatever she says, and suddenly, a sharp pain hits me right in the center of my chest. I rub at it, but as the two of them continue to talk, my throat tightens, and the tip of my nose begins to sting.
For just a second, Eli glances my way.
His beautiful brown eyes lock with mine.
Everyone around me disappears.
And then, just as quickly, he looks back at her.
Blinking back tears that I refuse to let fall, I pause to look at the monstrosity on my ring finger.
How many times have I thought about hurling this ring into the lake beside my home?
How many nights have I spent tossing and turning, scared of what’s to come?
Yet, I don’t regret anything I’ve done to reach this point.
Taking one last look at Eli, I see the same smile he used to have when we were together.
And it takes everything in me not to stand and scream at the top of my lungs, I did all of this for you!
“What’s wrong, dear?” My mother sits beside me, reaching for my hand on the table. Her blue eyes, identical to mine, are filled with concern, creating tight knots in my stomach. “You look like a bride who just saw a ghost.”
I smile softly. “It’s nothing. I think I just got some dust in my eye.”
She frowns. “I’m your mother.” Her hand cups my cheek. “I like to think I know my only daughter pretty well. Not to mention, I would never allow a speck of dust in one of our family’s establishments.”
I look down at the table, wishing I could crawl into a hole and hide.
“If you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.
But I do have to, I want to tell her.
Instead, I merely shake my head. “The wedding is happening. And everything will be fine.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself of that?”
“Alastor will provide for me.”
“But will he love you?”
We both know the answer to that question.
I look away, biting my bottom lip. “Can’t you just be happy for me?” I ask softly, feeling my emotional restraint ready to shatter.
“I would be if you were marrying the right man.”
My head snaps her way. “And who would that be?”
Her shoulder-length black hair sways as she tilts her head to the side. “The only man your father ever approved of for you.”
“Don’t.” Tears threaten to spill like a dam ready to break, knowing the only man he ever approved of for me was…
“Dad,” I whine. “I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m seventeen, and eventually, you have to let me date. Every other girl in my class has a boyfriend. I’m the only single one left!” I throw my hands up in the air, exasperated. “Don’t you want grandkids?”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Oh, Madeleine, you will always be my little girl.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my temple.
“But when the time comes for you to date, there’s only one man I will approve of, and it certainly isn’t going to be some boy who doesn’t know how to treat my daughter well. ”
I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “And who, may I ask, is this mystery man?”
His gaze travels to my brothers and Eli as they play a card game around my mother’s dining room table, laughing as they catch up with one another.
He doesn’t say anything.
Because he doesn’t have to.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I look across the room at Eli, who’s still caught up in a conversation with Cressida. Still smiling and still laughing. Still the man my heart belongs to.
“Don’t bring Dad into this. Please,” I say as I stand, smoothing out my dress. “I love you, Mom. But I need you to trust me on this. The wedding between Alastor and me needs to happen. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
She offers a sad smile as I bend down to kiss her cheek. I walk away, deliberately heading in the opposite direction of Eli, my eyes focused on the bathroom door where I can hide from the world and let myself break in private.
After closing the door behind me, I check each stall before I lock the main door and let out a heavy breath.
Standing before the sink, I grip the counter’s edge, my knuckles aching from the force to hold me upright. My chest heaves violently as a wild tremble rushes through me, causing every part of my body to shake in rage. I stare at my reflection, not recognizing the woman I see.
She’s weak and scared.
Certainly not the image of strength and beauty I’ve managed to uphold over the years.
And to top it all off, she’s currently letting a man control her life.
A man.
Fury builds inside me as tears cloud my vision.
Without a second thought, my fist flies forward, sending shards of glass into the sink and across the counter.
A stream of blood rushes over the back of my hand, trailing across my knuckles.
“Great.” I sigh as I turn on the sink and let the cold water coat my skin, watching as the water transforms into a shade of pink. After drying my hands, I spot a first aid kit on the wall and open it to find some bandages, which I use to wrap tightly across my fingers.
Closing my eyes, I lean against the wall and slide down, allowing the tears to cascade over my cheeks. My arms wrap around my legs, and I press the side of my face into my knees.
“Everything will be fine,” I whisper, rocking back and forth, knowing deep down in my heart it’s a lie.