Page 131 of Sinful Sacrifice

My breath stops when I see him.

He repeats the action I did, his gaze coasting across the room. I know this because his search stops when his eyes land on me.

It’s been two weeks since I saw him at Gigi and Antonio’s wedding.

Since he cruelly reminded me that our heartbreak is my fault.

His eyes are frozen on me, overflowing with hurt, and sadness rushes through me. Our eye contact is quickly broken when Cernach steps in front of me.

“Tardiness is disrespectful,” he says, glaring at my mom, Lanie, and me. “I told you I wanted you here at seven.”

“Traffic was bad.” I shrug. “Sorry.”

I took the longest route I could and went five under the speed limit.

“Lose the attitude, bitch,” he snaps. “Your future husband is here, so I need you to behave.” He snatches my elbow and starts nearly dragging me to a group of men across the ballroom.

My heart twists in my chest.

I feel Damien’s eyes burning into me with each step I take.

“Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen,” Cernach says, his tone much more civil than it was with me. “I thought it was time I introduced you to my beautiful niece Pippa.”

Oh, gag me.

I scan the three men.

A tall man with a broad jawline and dark hair steps closer. “Hello, Pippa.” His accent is thick Russian. “I’m Igor. Your uncle has told me great things about you, but I have to say, he minimized your beauty.”

Cernach releases me, and I allow Igor to take my hand.

“Thank you,” I say softly.

Igor’s hand is smooth as it holds mine. He places a kiss to the top and holds my palm over his heart. Good thing my back is to Damien because I’m sure there’s fire in his eyes. Igor isn’t terrible-looking, and so far, he doesn’t seem like a complete sociopath.

Like Cernach said, he could stick me with the grandfather, who currently has drool dripping from his bottom lip. That man should be in a nursing home, completing his will, not searching for a new wife.

Igor slips his hand up my arm, settling my elbow through his. “Let’s have dinner, so I can get to know you better.”

I continue avoiding eye contact with Damien as we make our way to the table. While plenty of Riona’s friends and family are here, Damien doesn’t have one person. No Antonio, Julian, or Emilio.

Just him.

I’m sure that’ll piss Cernach off since I notice place cards with their names on them. They’d have come if Damien had asked, so he did it to spite Cernach. To show him he’ll do the bare minimum in his marriage.

Igor’s seated next to me, and Lanie sits to my other side. My mom is beside her. My back straightens when Riona and Damien take the chairs across from us.

One person I pity is Riona.

As she sits, she offers me a withdrawn smile.

While I haven’t spoken with her, I know she’s in for a hard marriage.

Her husband doesn’t love her.

He wants someone else.

Cernach is stealing her chance of finding true love.

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