Page 17 of Obsession

And I am.

“I’m in.”

Damien smiles. “That’s what I hoped to hear.” He polishes off the rest of his drink and pats my shoulder on his way out.

Fede comes in right as Damien leaves. I chug the rest of my drink, hoping to wash down the bitter taste of that conversation. My brother looks at me, a touch of concern lingering in his eyes. “Are you ready?” he asks.

It’s a loaded question.

Am I finally ready to take down these assholes?

Am I ready to avenge my father?

Am I ready to walk down that aisle and marry into the family I hate so much?

My mind shifts, thinking of what Madi will look like in a white dress, saying her vows to me. At the end of tonight, my little vixen will finally be just that.Mine.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

TEN

Madi

Whether I like it or not, today I’m marrying Adrian Russo.

My mother all but pushed me out the door to the dressing room and now I stand at the beginning of the aisle in a dress that’s clinging to my skin in the worst ways. It’s pretty, that I can’t deny. And yet, I’d do anything to get out of the white fabric. To get out of this church.

There’s an ache in my chest. A longing for the freedom that’s now run out. I wish Lana was here; she’d be able to quiet the anxiety raging inside me. But she’s not. She’s in New York with the man she loves, and I’m here, marrying someone I hate.

Processional music begins to play, and the large wooden doors open, revealing the church filled with guests. This wedding is a spectacle designed by my mother, and everyone is here to watch my demise.

At the end of the aisle ishim. Adrian Russo. Dressed in a black tux with a white shirt and a teal bow tie. The color taunts me. It’s almost an exact match to what my hair looked like onlyyesterday. I suck in a breath, trying to hide my surprise, but Adrian catches my eyes anyway and gives me a wink.

Something about that wink makes my blood boil. He’s forcing me to marry himandhe’s taunting me? With those charming eyes and the way he’s watching me, waiting for me to walk down this aisle and becomehis.

He thinks he’s won.

My mother told me no theatrics today. She was clear that if I did anything other than walk down the aisle and marry Adrian Russo, I would be an embarrassment to the family. This morning, I felt so small and pathetic that I didn’t even think to protest my marriage anymore.

But now?

The anger is reappearing, building up in my chest.

Fuck this family.

And fuck Adrian Russo.

I make my way down the aisle, and instead of walking gracefully like my mother taught me a thousand times, I stomp.

It’s hard to do so in these ridiculous heels, and I bet I look like I just don’t know how to walk, but it doesn’t stop me.

I continue my way, ignoring the faces of the guests lined up in the pews. Each step is lacking any sort of grace, and Adrian smirks as he watches me. I probably look like a child, but if you’re going to force my hand, then this is what you’re going to get.

As I spare a look at my mother’s horrified face, something about her down-turned lips and clear dismay fuels me. I did tell my husband that if he chose to marry me, I would spend the rest of my days finding ways to make him miserable. He should have listened better, because misery starts today.

Adrian meets me at the end of the aisle, just as we rehearsed. He’s not frowning like my mother, though. No, there’s a sly smirk still ghosting his lips, like he’s amused with my theatrics.Large hands reach forward and I flinch, something that pauses Adrian in his tracks. One eyebrow lifts as he looks at me with a questioning gaze. It takes me a moment to realize he was just moving my veil, like he was told to do in rehearsal, not about to hit me.

I inhale deeply and nod for him to continue. He moves the lacy fabric over my head as practiced, revealing my face. Leaning in closely, he fixes the material so it lays smoothly down my back, but also giving him the opportunity to whisper in my ear while no one else can hear.

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