Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Kira
What makes me hate Enzo even more is that he’s great at everything. When he we have our first dance – which I want to object to but I know I can’t – he moves me around the dance floor effortlessly.
“Why are you so good at this?” I ask, following his lead.
His hand is on my low back, distracting me. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or not. “Years of ballroom dance classes when I was younger.”
I snort. “You took ballroom dance classes?”
“People can surprise you.”
“But you’re a mafia man. I thought mafia men saw ballroom dancing as a stupid, girly thing.”
“Oh, they do. Which is why I only did it for a while when I was a kid. My mother wanted me to learn but my father objected.”
I spy Gianna out of the corner of my eye, seated next to Francesca, her head still bowed low. “What happened to your parents?”
“They died.” It’s all he offers me and judging from the hard tone in his voice, that’s all he’s going to say on the matter.
“My mom died. Car accident. I was too young to really remember her but Maksim does. He took it hard.”
“You’re offering up information on your brother to me. Are you sure that’s smart?”
I tighten my hand around his. “We’re married now. We both agreed to peace. You’re not going to hurt my brother again. You better not.”
He lowers his face close to mine and it takes everything inside of me to not pull back… or move in closer. “Are you threatening me, Kira? It’s cute that you would think I’m afraid of you.”
“I know you’re not. But you were afraid enough of a war with the Bratva that you agreed to make peace.
And I’m sure it’s because you care for your sister.
Just like I care for my brother. So we’re doing this for family.
Don’t try to hurt me because if you do, then you will have a war on your hands. ”
“I have no plans to torture you… physically that is.”
I stumble and he rights me, pulling me in even closer. I didn’t realize that was even possible. “What do you mean by that?”
“Mentally pushing you will be fun. You have some behaviors I don’t agree with.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that you disobeyed me on the wedding dress.”
“It’s my dress.”
“But I’m the one paying for this wedding.”
“So?”
Enzo studies my face for a moment. “You just like a fight, don’t you?”
“I like getting my way. I’m used to it. And I was going to wear the wedding dress of my dreams on my own wedding day. So deal with it.”
“And that’s another thing.” He cups my chin. “Your smart mouth. It’s unappealing.”
“So you shouldn’t have married me then.”
He smirks. “Probably. But you were right about one thing. My ego wouldn’t stand to marry a woman of lesser standing than you. So we’re stuck together forever. And I think it will be interesting.”
“Oh yes. You mentally torturing me for the rest of my life is going to be so interesting.”
“Your sarcasm is cute. But know your place.”
“And you should know yours,” I say, ripping my hands away from him.
Our guests all watch us with shocked expressions.
This wedding is supposed to be about peace.
Not fighting. “I will not bend to your will. That is not the type of person I am. So never expect it. And stop telling me what to do. Our relationship will be so much better if you stop acting like a controlling asshole.”
I storm off the dance floor and take my seat at the head table. Enzo’s lips twist in fury but he doesn’t say a word as he comes to sit down beside me. After a moment, the band resumes playing and guests begin to take to the dance floor.
Francesca – who’s on the other side of Enzo – leans over him to give me her full attention. Just great. “What was that about? That is not how a woman acts on her wedding day.”
I cross my arms and slump in my seat. “It is when she’s married to a jerk.”
“You do not get to speak of my nephew that way.”
Enzo holds up his hand. “Aunt Francesca, that’s enough. I can fight my own battles. But I appreciate the enthusiasm.”
Francesca flushes but sits back in her seat, going quiet. At least that’s one thing Enzo is good for: putting Francesca in her place.
“Are you all right?” my father asks me low in my ear.
I refuse to look at my dad because I know if I do, I will burst into tears and I refuse to let Enzo see me cry. “Never been better.”
He pats my leg under the table. I bite my lip to hold back my tears but they hit my eyes before I can stop them. As fast as I can, I rush to the bathroom and the moment I’m inside, I break down crying.
Enzo is taunting me. Trying to get under my skin. Two can play at that game.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not affected. It hurts knowing I’ll be married to a man like him for the rest of my life. One that is rude and controlling but also distractingly handsome. Why couldn’t he be nice? Then he’d be perfect.
I finish crying and wipe my tears away before leaving the bathroom… only to run into Enzo in the hallway.
He gives me a knowing look.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
“I wanted to see why you ran away so fast. Something tells me it wasn’t just to use the restroom.”
“You don’t need to know everything about me.” I try to walk past him but he grabs my arm. It’s not painful but it’s not exactly gentle either.
“You were crying, weren’t you?”
I snap my eyes to his. “So what if I was?”
“I like knowing you feel things. That you’re not just some rebellious feisty woman. That you can be vulnerable.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes you more real.”
I find myself stepping closer to him without even realizing it. “And do you ever cry? I want to know that you’re more than just a controlling jerk.”
“I don’t cry.”
“Because you’re a tough man?” I mock.
The slightly open expression on his face disappears and is replaced with his usual cocky one. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”
“And you think you’re god’s gift to this world when you’re not.”
His eyes rake over my body. “I could pin you against this wall and have my way with you if I wanted.”
“That would be rape since I don’t want it.”
“Don’t you?” He leans in closer, his lips hovering above mine.
It would be so easy to let him close the distance between us and it’s terrifying why that would be easy.
“Don’t you want to know what it’s like to be claimed by a real man?
I’m sure all the other fumbles you’ve had in the dark wouldn’t be able to compare. ”
“I never fumble.”
“So, you’re telling me that you’ve loved the other men you’ve been with?” he asks, stepping towards me so I have no choice but to step back until I’m pressed against the wall.
“Every single one of them,” I lie.
“I thought mafia girls were supposed to be good. Waiting till marriage and all that.”
“I’m a surprise.”
“So, on our wedding night, when I claim you, you’re going to be ready for me? I don’t have to worry about you bleeding, do I?”
I frown. “Bleeding? Why would I bleed?”
“Because that can happen for virgins for their first time. But since you’re not a virgin…”
I swallow hard. Crap. I didn’t even think about that. At some point, Enzo and I will have to have sex. Everyone will be expecting kids. And it’s going to be obvious to him that I’m a virgin when the time comes.
But surely that will be a long time away.
“You’re not touching my body tonight,” I state.
“What’s the problem? If you’ve been with a lot of men, what’s one more?”
“I’m still a human and I have principles. I can say no to you and you have to respect it.”
He presses his body against mine and I find that I don’t hate it. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve felt a man press against me and I’ve welcomed it. All the other times were at clubs and I would get annoyed whenever a man tried to touch me when I just wanted to dance.
“You’re my wife now. Doesn’t that make you my property?”
“This isn’t the 1800s. I don’t belong to you.”
He brings his mouth right to my ear. “Keep telling yourself that, Kira.”
For just a moment, I lean in closer to him… before he pulls back. “I’ll see you inside.” He saunters back to the ballroom.
With a shaky sigh, I sink to the ground and try to collect myself. I need to keep my composure around Enzo. Everything inside of me still wants to run when I know I can’t. I have to keep the peace for the safety of my family.
I have to, I have to, I have to. I repeat it like a mantra.
But my eyes flick towards the hotel lobby. It’s not far from here. I could just run outside and never look back. Where would I go though? I have money from an allowance my father gave me and soon I’ll have the trust fund money he set aside for me in a few years.
But can I really get away from Enzo? And leave the pieces for my family to pick back up? My father would surely be disappointed in me then.
No. I stand back up. I can’t run. I can’t send my family into war.
So with a heavy sigh, I head back into the ballroom and take my seat at Enzo’s side. He doesn’t comment but I can feel his satisfaction. He knows he’s won.
For now.
Francesca gives me a disapproving frown but I ignore her. I am not going to let anyone from Enzo’s family bring me down.
I am Kira Petrov. I am strong and I will survive this.
But when the night comes to an end, my conviction starts to waver and it’s time for me and Enzo to have our wedding night. Being alone with Enzo in a room is something I am not ready for.
I turn to Maksim and the look on his face speaks to his worry. What will Enzo do to me? My brother tries to offer me a comforting grin but it doesn’t do anything for me.
Enzo takes my hand and we walk out of the ballroom together, leaving our guests behind.
We head up to the suite Enzo booked for us for the night.
The moment we’re alone in the room together, the urge to vomit hits me and I realize that I can’t stop it. I rush to the bathroom and throw everything up.
Enzo stands in the doorway, gazing down at me on my knees before the toilet, vomit on my chin. “Was it your plan to throw up to make you look undesirable so I wouldn’t touch you tonight?”
“You think I’d stoop that low?”
“Yes.”
“Not everything I do is about you.”
“So you just make it a habit of throwing up? That’s concerning,”
“Like you care,” I snap, pushing myself to my feet and washing my chin. After rinsing my mouth out, I turn to him. “I don’t vomit often. It’s nerves, ok? Happy? I’m scared to be here tonight. That’s the truth. You wanted vulnerable, so here you go.”
Enzo studies my face for a long moment before he places his fingers under my chin, tilting my head up. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.” With those confusing words, he leaves me alone in the bathroom.