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“You should run,” Nova suggests, her tone deadly serious.

I turn away from the window and shake my head.“I can’t.”

It’s not that I don’t want to take off and get away from this place.Maybe go somewhere where nobody knows who I am and live the life I choose.I shake off the dream; it serves me no purpose.It’s a waste of time to want something I can never have.Alessio would have his men drag me back kicking and screaming.He’d never allow the perceived disrespect to go unpunished.

“So, what are you going to do?”Nova asks as she wraps her arm around my shoulder and offers her support.

“I’m going to do what I have to and if I’m lucky he won’t take all of this away from me,” I admit, looking around the loft apartment I’ve made my home and committing it to memory.

Bam!Bam!Bam!

Nova and I jump.

“They’re early,” she says.

I look through the peephole and Gio is standing on the other side with an angry look on his face.

Bang.Bang.Bang.“Open up, Sophia!”

I flip the deadbolt and barely get the door open before he pushes past me without waiting to be invited inside.

Asshole.

“Grab your shit, Princess,” he snarls, pointing to the dress bag that’s draped over the back of my couch.I’m not surprised that it magically appeared in my apartment yesterday while I was at work.

“Hurry up, Sophia!”Gio snaps again.

I don’t know what comes over me, but I shout back.“I am!”

“You little bitch,” he growls as his fist connects with the side of my face.

Lifting a shaky hand, I brush my fingers against my brow and wince.When I pull my hand back, Gio’s eyes widen at the blood on my fingertips.

“I hope The Butcher kills you for this.”I laugh humorlessly.

Gio’s face turns an alarming shade of red before he lunges forward and wraps his hands around my throat.“You’ll keep your goddamn mouth shut if you know what’s good for you.”

“Let go of her, Gio.You’re hurting her!”Nova cries.He swings his narrowed eyes at her as he shoves me away.

“Get your stuff and let's go,” he demands once more before taking off.

“Don’t provoke him, Sophia,” Nova sobs.

“I won’t.”Moving quickly, I gather up my stuff and head for the door.There’s no use fighting the inevitable.

I’m about to marry a monster.

* * *

As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the beautiful ivory mermaid dress, I can’t help but wonder who picked it out.It’s highly doubtful a man like The Butcher strolled into a bridal shop in the city and asked to see something from Vera Wang’s Iconic Collection.

I smooth my palms down the silky material.It’s a perfect fit and exactly what I would have chosen.

Who would have thought that the man I’m about to marry had exquisite taste in women’s fashion?

A knock sounds at the door and a second later Gio enters.I watch him through the mirror, hoping he hasn’t come to intimidate me some more.

“Let’s go.Your brother is waiting.”

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