Page 27 of Satin Empire

Chapter 13

Alana

My old room should look different now that I’m on the other side of marriage. Everything about my former life should seem strange, disjointed, somehow not quite right, and no longer mine.

The problem is this place never really felt like I belonged.

When Mom married Orsino, we both thought our lives were about to get so much better. She hit the jackpot: he was rich, handsome, intelligent, and seemed to give a shit about her for real. Sure, he wanted another kid and she wasn’t super into the idea, but she gave him what he wanted, and he gave us all the material things we needed.

But it became pretty clear that Orsino never wanted a stepdaughter.

I was ignored at first. That wasn’t so terrible. I could move around the house freely, watch movies on the big basement TV, hang around my room and stream games and shows and whatever else. I was allowed to go over to friends’ houses, to meet them at the park nearby, to basically live the normal life of a twelve-year-old girl in the city.

That changed when Mom got pregnant and Niccolo was born.

Suddenly, I was the nanny. Little by little, Orsino kept making me pick up baby duty. Changing diapers, doing night feedings, putting Niccolo back down for naps if he woke too early, watching him during the evening so Mom and Orsino could go out to dinner.

Then the rules changed. I couldn’t go out with friends anymore because Niccolo needed me at home. I couldn’t do after-school activities because I needed to be available in case there was an emergency at home. I couldn’t do anything without Orsino’s express permission, and he never, ever granted it.

When I was told I wasn’t allowed to attend college, no matter how good my grades were, it became clear.

I was a prisoner.

Mom didn’t even see it, not at first anyway, and by the time she finally realized that Orsino was controlling every piece of my daily life, it was way too late. By then she’d gone into full-on obsessive mode, doing everything she could to please him, constantly terrified that he’d leave her for a younger woman.

That’s how I found myself trapped like a frog in a pot set to boil. I hadn’t realized how hot the water had gotten until it was way too late.

I’m in my room packing when there’s a knock on the door. I expect Mom or even Orsino, but instead it’s Noah. “I heard about what happened,” he says, flopping down on the bed. “Married? Seriously?”

I hold up the ring. I’m still wearing it, even though I keep wanting to take it off. I just haven’t for some reason. “It was a shotgun wedding, except they didn’t need the gun.”

“God, Alana, I’m so sorry.”

I sit down next to my cousin. Of everyone in this family, he gets me the best. Noah’s not really the mafia type—he’s skinny, with a mess of floppy brown hair and big brown eyes—and prefers videogames to breaking knees, much to the disappointment of his father.

“We knew it was going to happen, right? I guess I thought I could get out of it, but—” I shrug, at a total loss.

Noah hugs me. He’s not really the touchy type and it’s really nice of him, if kind of awkward. I pat his hand until he lets me go, and he seems as relieved as I am that his display of affection is over.

“What are you doing now?” he asks.

I gesture at the room. “Packing my stuff. Carlo wants me moved in officially by tonight. He’s sending some movers over in a few hours.”

“Wow, I honestly can’t believe this is happening. You’re married and leaving home.”

“Imagine how I feel. We slept in bed together last night.”

His eyes bug out. “Seriously? You and the new handsome husband shared a bed?”

“Don’t get all excited, nothing happened.” Even though a part of me wanted it to. “I’m not really sure how I feel about him, if I’m honest.”

“That’s not the worst thing, right? I mean, at least you don’t hate him.”

“Well—” I give him a look and he laughs.

“At least you’re not actively trying to murder him? Yet, anyway.”

“I’m just trying to get used to the idea of not being in this house anymore. It hasn’t always been great, but it’s been home, you know?”

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