Chapter 4 #2
Well, fuck him.
“I want. To go. Home,” I hissed through gritted teeth.
His hand shot out as he roughly gripped my chin with his thumb and finger, holding me in place.
Too shocked by his abrupt movement, I stared back at his hate-filled eyes.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Jailbait.
Whether either of us wants it or not, you’ll soon be my wife, but don’t think for one goddamn minute you’ll be calling the shots.
You may order your weak brother and your father’s men around, but I don’t take demands from anyone, especially you.
” He brought his face closer to mine, close enough for me to feel his warm breath against my lips when he spoke.
“Now, get the fuck back to bed and get some rest. I’ve got your mess to clean up, and I haven’t got time to babysit your whiny little ass. ”
The two of us glared at each other. Defiance streaked through me as I yanked my chin from his grasp and opened my mouth to tell him to go fuck himself, and that I wouldn’t be taking orders from him. But when his eyes narrowed on me, the words dried up on my lips.
Without warning, he lunged for me, grabbing my thighs to lift me, and hauled me over his shoulder before storming back into the bedroom.
“Put me down!” I shrieked as I thumped my fist against his back.
“As you wish.”
I bounced on the bed, but before I could even think about getting up, Miles moved to pin me, my arms trapped by my sides, and his snarling face an inch away from mine.
“Don’t push me, Jailbait. I’ve got zero fucking issues with tying you to this bed if it means keeping you in one place. I’ll even gag you to shut your bitching up if need be.” His head tilted to the side. “What’s it to be? Your choice.”
The poison in his voice was unmistakable, and a lick of fear slivered its way down my spine. Until then, I never thought Miles would hurt me, but with the way he hovered over me, looking like it was taking all his restraint to hold himself back, I wasn’t so sure.
Angry tears stung my eyes, but I pulled my gaze away from him and nodded. Over my dead body would I allow him to tie me to the bed and take away my free will.
I barely had any as it was.
When he stood, I scarpered, diving under the covers and pulling them over my head, silently cursing my future husband.
All I’d ever wanted was to be seen, but right then, I wanted nothing more than to be invisible from the man I was growing to hate more than I hated my own life.
With the events of the last few minutes stewing in my head, I closed my eyes and allowed my body to sink into the allure of darkness, the furious tapping of Miles’ fingers skating over his computer keyboard echoing around the room.
I didn’t know how much time had passed when a soft tapping on the door woke me from my slumber. Remembering that I wasn’t at home, I hopped out of bed and pulled the T-shirt down after it had ridden up in my sleep, before telling whoever was outside to come in.
The door swung open, and the tension building in my body deflated when Riley stepped in, her skin glowing with a bronzed tan. “Hey girl,” she said brightly, beaming at me. “Hear you’ve been giving Miles the runaround. Good for you, keep him on his feet.”
Internally cringing, I crossed to her. “I thought you were on your honeymoon for another week?”
She wrapped her arms around me, and for a few seconds, we hugged, embracing as if we were long-lost sisters.
Despite being forced into a marriage I didn’t want, one good thing that had come out of the arrangement with the Wolfes was my friendship with Riley.
Granted, in a way, it was her fault I was in the situation I was in. If she hadn’t offered to make the truce between the Wolfes and the Bianchis, Papa would never have offered help in exchange for her marrying Rafe. But then, it had been Miles who’d suggested he and I marry instead.
The utter asshole.
Still, I was grateful to have her in my life, and at least when I was married to Miles, I’d see more of her.
“We had to come back early. Are you okay? Miles told us what happened.” Concern laced her voice as she led me over to the bed, where we both sat.
“I’m okay.” I stared at my manicured nails as shame filled me. “I got Gus killed.”
Tears once again threatened to fall at the thought of Gus. I didn’t think I’d ever forgive myself for his death.
“Oh, Sofe.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “He was just doing his job. Men like Gus know the risk when they sign up to work with people like your dad and Kai.”
“But if I hadn’t insisted he take me to the bar, he’d still be alive. Miles was right, I’m a selfish brat.”
“Miles is a miserable asshole who has a stick up his ass. Don’t pay him any attention,” she said, waving a hand.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tiny bit envious of the relationship she and Miles had.
For six months, it had just been Riley and Miles, and the two of them had developed an unbreakable bond.
As much as she would often call him out for his shit, she adored him, and it was clear he felt the same way about her.
I smiled, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Do you think you can convince him to let me go home?” I said instead of denying that Miles wasn’t an asshole for simply stating the truth about the kind of person I was.
“I don’t need to, he’s taking you home shortly,” Riley replied nonchalantly before her eyes widened. “Wait, he hasn’t spoken to you?”
“Only to berate me a few hours ago. I fell asleep, and when I woke up, he wasn’t here.”
“Oh.”
Trepidation hit my stomach like a lead balloon had just landed. “What?”
Riley stood. “I’ll go get him; you need to talk to him.”
She made a beeline for the door, but before she could get halfway across the room, I dashed in front of her, blocking her path. “You’re making me nervous. What’s going on?”
Her eyes darted around the room, looking everywhere but at me before briefly closing. When they opened again, they were filled with remorse. “Miles has spoken to your father.”
Despair romped through me. I knew it would only be a matter of time before Papa found out what I’d done, but I hoped maybe I’d get the chance to explain myself to him first.
“He was going to find out one way or another,” I replied glumly.
Sympathy filled her eyes as she reached out and clutched my hand in hers. “No, that’s not it. It’s…” She swallowed, and once again, she wasn’t able to hold my gaze. “They’ve agreed to bring the wedding forward.”
My heart plummeted. “Wh…what? To when?”
Her lips pulled into a thin line, and my heart plummeted to the soles of my bare feet. “The day after tomorrow.”