ugh broke out

at. For fuck's sake, you're

now, Steph, that I don't give a damn about Becky. She'll be my wife but only by

uch about how calculated and snaky and slippery he was, and that he wa

. "This can be a perfect arrangement. We can still b

boiled wi

makes you think I'll even wan

smi

ression made me

me like I was filth, like some useless doll," I said

w how my mother is. I didn't have a choice back then. I couldn't marry you..." his

forward and, nervou

tou can talk about love. Do you

the bridge

"Don't be stupid. I'm offering you an easy l

ought the best thing I could make out of life was being his perso

fist as the rage welled up like la

ter offer for you," I said enigmati

leave my room before I castra

ettos and he shook his head. "We b

eeth. "Well,

dished the long, pointed heel at him. "I'll

le as he turned round a

se me, Steph," he said. "Y

off!"

ngered on

g all kinds of tricks and styles," he chuckled again. Then he grabbed the door knob and looked back at me over

rough the air. It rammed into the door mere inches a

rsed, jumping away

er shoe swiftly and s

or this next one would be

h," he snarled balefully. "

hoe in my hand. A part of me knew he meant it. He would come back. And

closed it and pulled a chair to block the handle. Th

...

mor

over even before the w

ning around, bringing everything she needed, from a glass of sparkling tonic water with two ice cu

ssignment. At least it gave me an excuse

oxes in hand, I ran into Rousey McMahon. The woman's li

he demanded frostily, he

" I replied, waving the boxes in her face, h

d past her, she grabbed m

. "It would be best if you just smile and crawl ba

y plan," I said

rowed h

don of the Lentini family confirmed his presence. Don't you come near him.

mir

ut me. All she cared about was herself and her daughte

was, but I knew for certain the kind

ad in his office never hid their specific tattoos or t

said. "So, there's no need to b

oment before she released m

the aisle. I quickly slipped into my pink gown I had spent several hours adjusting and follow

glances at me, or heard the priestly blessings, or see Rousey in the fro

hts flashed, capturing the newly married co

the end o

ctually enjoyed being here. I looked as

as the McMahon family was, at least it was still a famil

thought and silently berated m

The doctor said there was a chance–she had a

d, as an heiress to the Atlas Hotels, was surely invited. I had only yet to find her.

needed the next comfort this

ast-occupied place to sit. I walked down a sandy path littered with flowers and confet

fec

anie,

d to se

rom beneath his partially unbuttoned shirt–tiny vines cr

some sexy company," he said and barked a lewd

boobs problem but that didn't mean I could just ma

giving him a tight smile. "

ng at the corners of his lips. "I heard you're r

n of a bitch. I stepped back and looked around furtively. Empty. Where had ever

lips with his tongue. "Is tha

n the empty table. "I told you I'm not inter

e in a minute." He lunged forward, grasping my

ne heard. I kicked and scratched his arm, struggl

njoy it better w

s slipped off my feet as he dragged me further away fr

from harm's way. I regained my balance and straightened up just in time to see a dark

en

N

as I heard the sickening crack

y attacker's arm li

whimpering, his free arm clutching hi

neasily from my attacker writhing on the f

, my voice quivering,

sco Gi

ackward, and stepped forward, his lips spread in a thin, sultry smile, I couldn't help the urge that