2. Luna
CHAPTER TWO
LUNA
Tomorrow I’ll be Nicolai’s wife, and being passed around from one brother to the next is a crime all in of itself. Arranged marriages. Who the hell does that anymore? I thought that tradition died years ago.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The Caputo family thinks they own me, but I’m going to prove every damn one of them wrong if it’s the last thing I do on this earth.
No one owns me, and now that Giovanni is dead, I’ll burn their whole goddamn empire to the ground.
Giovanni might have broken my body, but he didn’t break me.
Now? I’ll use every scar he gave me as a map to destroy them.
Piece by piece. Blood for blood.
I’m no one’s damn wife; I’m just a kept prisoner, a breeding ground for the next heir to the Caputo throne.
On the rare occasions I can leave the estate, it’s either on the arm of my husband or with security tagging behind.
I haven’t had a moment’s peace since stepping inside this godforsaken estate.
I was only eighteen years old when everything was stripped away from me.
My virginity, my life, my dignity. Three years later, at the ripe old age of twenty-one, nothing’s changed.
Unless you count the fact that as of tomorrow, I’ll have had two husbands in my short life.
The only freedom they allow me? Walking in the gardens and swimming in their damn pool.
Chills suddenly run up and down my spine as I feel his presence long before I see him. Nicolai has no idea what kind of aura surrounds him. I hate how in sync I am with him—how easily he gets under my skin.
Glancing up to his room, I notice he’s not hidden behind the curtains like Gio would have been.
Oh no, he’s not spying on me, he’s full frontal, and what a magnificent specimen of a man he truly is.
His chiseled jaw and determined gaze penetrate me to my very core.
There’s no doubt in my mind, he’s a dark and dangerous man, and I can’t wait to play him like a siren.
I’ve seen the way he devours me when I walk into the room, but I wonder if he senses how much I despise him.
I do admire his blatant boldness as he watches me stroll through the garden, as if I didn’t have a care in the world.
When in all actuality, my heart’s beating out of my chest!
Another glance as I round the corner by the topiary, and my ego deflates when I notice he’s no longer there.
Well, that didn’t last as long as I’d hoped, but I won’t lose any sleep over it.
Once I’ve stepped out of the maze, I reluctantly head back to my room.
I’m no longer feeling restless, so the fresh air cleared my head.
Perhaps tonight I’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep after all.
The irony is, when I was getting accustomed to sleeping alone, tomorrow I’ll be sharing Nicolai’s bed.
After showering and brushing out my tangled hair, I ring Sophie. I don’t enjoy disturbing her at this late hour, but I’m famished, and since she hasn’t come by to say goodnight, I’m sure she’s still awake. She doesn’t bother knocking; she just steps inside.
“Do you need me, Luna?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t eat dinner, and I know I won’t be able to sleep if I’m hungry. Would you be a dear and grab me something light from the fridge?”
“Absolutely, and if you need help with your hair when I get back, I’d be glad to assist you.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll wash it in the morning.”
“As you wish. I’ll be right back.”
Curling up on my chaise, I wait for Sophie to return with my midnight snack. I feel myself drifting off when there’s a knock at my door. Funny, she doesn’t usually knock, but then again, her hands are probably full.
I immediately jump up and fling the door wide open. Much to my surprise, Nicolai stands there holding a charcuterie board. It’s brimming with delectable meats, cheeses, fruits, and crackers. I’m salivating, and it has nothing to do with the man in front of me.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of bringing this up to you. Sophie insisted, but I reminded her I’ll be your husband soon enough and sent her on her way.”
“I thought it was bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.” I won’t apologize for feeling like he’s invading my privacy.
I don’t invite him in, but I grab a handful of goodies before going back to sit on my chaise.
Curling my legs underneath me, I pop a few grapes in my mouth.
The sweetness hits the back of my throat, and I moan.
Nicolai steps into the room, kicks the door closed, and then places the board on the table beside me. I inwardly sigh. Of course, he’s here. My last night alone, and he won’t let me enjoy it.
“I don’t believe in superstition,” he says, as his gaze sweeps over me.
“And this is my house. If I want to see my bride, I will. You belong to me whether it’s before midnight or after.
” Of course, he doesn’t believe in luck.
Nicolai believes in control. And tonight, he’s making it clear: I’m already his.
“Just so you know, I resent the fact that you dismissed Sophie. I still need her to get ready for bed.” I don’t, but he certainly doesn’t know that.
“Whatever she was going to help you with, I can do it now that I’m here. Besides, you won’t be needing her as much after tomorrow.” Oh, hell no.
“Are you trying to tell me you’re going to be my assistant after we get married?” I almost choke on my juicy grape when he sits down beside me.
“No, I won’t be your assistant, I’ll be your husband. Therefore, you won’t need Sophie to help you get ready for bed when I’m more than capable of doing that for you.” Yeah, I bet he is. I want to laugh in his face until his hand curls, wrapping around my throat.
“So, are you ready for bed now, Luna?” He doesn’t give me a chance to answer when his mouth claims mine.