Page 16 of Heartless Union

“I don’t think Rocco will be abusive.” But controlling? He did lay out what he expects of me as his wife. If that’s not controlling, I don’t know what is.

“You think. You don’t actually know. That’s my point. If your first relationship is with him and he ends up treating you like shit, you won’t know any better.”

I sit up straighter. “Do you really think I’m that naive? That I can’t stand up for myself?”

She looks me in the eye. “I think sometimes you’re too shy to say how you really feel, and that can make it hard for you to stand up for yourself.”

I look out at the people walking by. Parents pushing kids in strollers. Elderly couples holding hands. Young couples sharing kisses. Will my life with Rocco be as simple as these other people? I doubt it. He’s a Mafia man. Things are never simple in that life.

“I’ll be fine, Ash. I’ll be fine.” Though, I’m unsure if I’m saying this more for her or myself.

“At least let’s go out to a nightclub and dance. Just the two of us. If you’re not comfortable talking to other men, then let’s have a girl’s night. How does that sound?”

“Not bad,” I admit.

She squeals. “I’m going to take that as a yes!”

The nightclub is packed with people. Right off the bat, I feel like I can’t breathe. There’s a claustrophobic, overwhelming feeling to everything in the club. I honestly can’t wait to leave.

Ashley drags me toward the dance floor. She’s wearing a skimpy black dress, and she suggested I wear the same, but I declined. I’m already doing something I’m not comfortable with. I’m not about to wear something I’d be uncomfortable in either. So, that’s why I’m wearing a flowy pink dress that ends right above my knees. My heels are neither too tall nor too short. And I styled my hair is simple waves.

“You have to actually move, Lara,” Ashley says, dancing around.

I begin to sway side to side. I’ve never been much of a dancer because I’ve always felt so ungainly when doing it.

Ashley rolls her eyes, grabs my hands, and gets me to move more. “Like this. God, Lara, you can be so awkward sometimes.”

I flinch. Sometimes Ashley can say things that sound mean. I know she doesn’t mean them, but they can still hurt.

Someone brushes up behind me. When I look over my shoulder, I see a young man. He smiles at me. I don’t know what to do, so I freeze.

His fingers brush against my butt, and I jerk away.

“What’s wrong?” Ashley asks, holding me closer. “He was cute. You should have talked to him.”

The guy only laughs as he walks away.

“He touched my butt,” I tell her. “It was wrong.”

“Ugh. Then screw him. Still, he was cute.”

I was already not in the mood to dance, and now, the thought of dancing sounds like torture. “Can we just go home? I don’t want to be here.”

“I want to keep dancing.”

I sigh. What Ashley wants, Ashley usually gets.

I sense someone right behind me. Ashley looks over my shoulder, and her eyes widen. “Oh my god. Lara, there’s an extremely hot guy standing behind you. I have to go flirt with him.” She lets me go and walks past me.

I stumble. So, she’s just going to leave me alone for the first cute guy she sees?

I turn around to say something when I stop short.

Rocco is right there. He’s the one Ashley is walking to right at this moment. But he doesn’t even see her. His eyes are trained on me, his gaze intense. I have to look away.

“Hi, there,” Ashley says, sidling up beside him.

Rocco barely spares her a glance before turning back to me. I want to say something, but the words won’t come out.

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