7. Alessia
CHAPTER SEVEN
ALESSIA
H e tilts his head at me and I swallow my spit. I refuse to back down; I’m going to stand my ground. He takes a step towards me and I take a step back. His eyes are dark, so dark that I’m sure they’re black right now. He looks lethal, pissed, and like he’s fed up with me for the night.
“ Malyshka, you want to know why you’re here? It’s because even though I can’t stand being close to you, you are mine . I have to start getting used to that and I’m starting tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll be staying with me starting tonight.”
“I have my own place and we aren’t married. I’m not—” He advances on me and wraps his hand around my neck.
“Did I give you the impression that you had a choice?” I glance down at his bloody shirt and the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“If you hate being around me so much, why’d you hurt that guy at the club? And why can’t you seem to keep your fucking hands off me?” I pull at his fingers, but he tightens them.
“Fight me all you want; it’ll make it a lot more fun ruining you. And I didn’t hurt him, I killed him, Alessia.” He pushes me away from him and I stand there in shock.
“Wh-why?”
“I was very clear that it wouldn’t be my fault what I did if you decided to talk to someone else, yet alone dance with someone else. Someone who fucking tried to kiss you, at that.”
“So you took someone’s life because they almost kissed a woman who you’ve ignored for years ? That’s a crock of shit.” I brush past him and head for the stairs. “Where am I sleeping? We’re done here.” He’s on my heels seconds later, pushing me against the wall of the staircase.
“Tell me, what would you have done if I hadn’t ripped you out of his arms? Would you have let him kiss you?” I turn my nose up at him and look him dead in his eyes. I give a small smirk and he raises his eyebrow.
“Maybe. Maybe I wanted him just as bad as he wanted me.” He pushes his fingers through my hair and yanks it, forcing me to look at him.
“Do not play games with me, Alessia. Remember, once we say I do, your life belongs to me. And I’m telling you, I’m itching with desire to ruin that perfect little life you have conjured in that brain of yours.” My eyes well up with tears and his lip tilts up in disgust as he climbs up the stairs.
“Pick a room. I don’t give a shit which one,” he says over his shoulder. The moment he’s out of sight, I crumble. I cry as silent as I can, my knees drawn underneath me.
Two months. Two months. Two months.
Two months, then I’m free. I square my shoulders and wipe my tears. I can do this. I’m strong, and there’s no way Astor fucking Pavlov is going to bring me to my knees.
I pick the room that’s next to his, because as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t want to be alone. If he wasn’t so fucking rude to me, and if he didn’t hate me so much, I’d gather the courage to tell him I’m sleeping in his room with him. This house is too fucking big for just one person, yet alone a fucking college student.
I turn the water on and watch the tub fill up when I look for bath salts and luck out to find a tub of lavender salts. I remove my clothes and tie my hair up into a bun on the crown of my head. I didn’t wear much makeup today, so taking it off was easy.
I climb into the tub, easing my way down, letting the suds and the scent of lavender take over. I chose to make the best out of this situation. I chose to continue with my life like he hasn’t changed. I chose to be nice to the dickhole I’ll have to call my husband. Even if it kills me.
My phone rings, showing my mother’s name. I reach over and accept the call.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Sweetheart, how is everything?”
“It’s fine, I’m having a bath.”
“In that tiny little tub at your apartment?” She chuckles and I give her a small laugh.
“No…” I sigh, I wish I was in my tiny bath at my apartment. “I’m at Astor’s.”
“Oh…”
“Oh?”
“He mentioned to your father that he didn’t think your building was safe and that he thought you should stay with him. Your father told him that it was your choice since you weren’t married yet. I didn’t think he’d get you to agree to it.”
I laugh, I actually laugh because my mother must really not know me if she thinks I agreed to this shit.
“I didn’t agree to anything , he practically kidnapped me.” She’s silent on the other end and I let out a sigh. “Why’d you call, Mom?”
“Because we need to speak to you and Astor about the wedding.”
My stomach turns and I suddenly feel sick at the thought of actually having to do this. “Mom, there won’t be a wedding.”
“Honey, we talked about this. There will be a wedding. You will give it your best shot. And if you fail at it, we’ll deal with it. But you are getting married.”
“Why are you doing this? Are the families in some sort of trouble?”
“Let’s just say that we have to get our affairs in order in case a storm comes that we aren’t exactly prepared for.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing to worry your little head about. I know you think this doesn’t benefit you, but it does. Now, meet me at the house tomorrow so we can plan this wedding. Two weeks is not a lot of time.”
I almost jump out of the tub. I’m hunched over hyperventilating when the door opens. Astor crouches at my side, wrapping a towel around my naked body. I’m so shocked that I can’t even be embarrassed or pissed that he’s in here right now. I hear my mother shouting my name on the phone, but I can’t respond to her. Two weeks.
She wants me to sign my life over to this man in two fucking weeks.
“Jesus Christ, hold on to me.” He lifts me out of the tub and I shamelessly wrap my arms around him, burying my face into his chest. He fists my phone in one hand while he effortlessly carries me to another room, which I’m assuming is his.
“What happened?” he asks into the phone, moments later grinding his teeth. “What time?” I look up at him and tuck my face further into his chest. “Don’t call her again. We’ll be there.” He hangs the phone up and throws it on the bed next to us. He rubs the top of my head and the tears fall uncontrollably. “I don’t like seeing you cry,” he mumbles, tucking my hair behind my ear.
I am completely confused by his behavior; he’s being nice to me. He hasn’t been this close to me since my fifteenth birthday party. I don’t know how or why I suddenly remember that, but I do.
“Why are you suddenly treating me differently?”
“Because believe it or not, I’m not a monster.” I look up at him and he wipes the tears from under my eyes.
“They want us to get married in two weeks…”
“I know.”
“I think they’re in some kind of trouble and we’re the key to getting them out of it.” He adjusts us and grinds his teeth, his signature move. I narrow my eyes at him, sitting up and crawling out of his lap.
“Astor, what do you know?”