Page 40 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

How can I endure her marriage to someone else?

I can’t let that happen. She’s mine. And now thanks to her father. She’s mine to keep.

“What happens now?” I face Santino, who looks very pleased with himself.

“He signs.” He points at the mirror. “Then he goes downstairs and gets his daughter to sign. And then you get everything you ever wanted. Revenge on a silver platter. Or is it on a cold plate? I forget.”

I rub a hand over my face. “I meant. How do you mount a fucking virgin auction?” My entire being aches for her.

She’s a virgin.

“By finding a bunch of lowlifes without a soul with enough money to pay for a young woman.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I warned you, Archer, that to get to the Senator, you would have to dig a big hole for yourself, big enough to get to him down in hell. That’s not a place you can leave with clean hands.” He shows me his palms.

As if that proves he’s the prime example of what happens when you cross the line, when you let the darkness consume you, when you let the monster inside you win. At this point that’s exactly where I am. And now, I have to see this plan through to the bloody end, or I’ll never have peace for as long as I live. That’s my curse. Until the Senator pays for what he did to Dad, to my family, I can’t have peace.

“You have to give it to the old man, he at least secured a good marriage for himself. Anyone who has the kind of money to bail him out is a good addition to the family.” Santino scoffs. “I wish I could tell you he’s the first scumbag I’ve met.” He pours whiskey into a glass and shoots it back before he turns to me. “You don’t look elated. I was expecting a better reaction.”

“I am.” I bark out a dark laugh. “Now it truly begins. The Senator will finally know what it’s like to lose it all.”

CHAPTER10

OPENING NIGHT

Paloma

I run my thumb over the smooth skin inside my wrist, fighting the urge to scratch it. Tonight is opening night; I can’t show up bleeding. It would ruin the costumes, the white feathered one in particular.

“I’m glad this crazy diet of yours will be over soon.” Sole picks up my plate and pretends not to notice that Dad never showed for our usual breakfast together.

But I know what she’s thinking. He needs time to process what happened at the Crucible. He feels guilty for putting me in such a dire position.

“Yes, I’ll be able to eat some of your famous quiche soon.” I smile at her. “Did you see him before he left?”

“Yes, he was in hurry. He said he had a mountain of work to do.” She touches my chin gently. “Big day. How do you feel?”

“A little numb.” I laugh. “But that’s good. Better than to be a bundle of nerves.”

“You’ve been working hard for four whole months. You’ll be perfect.” She beams at me.

“You’re coming, right? I left a couple of tickets for you. Front row. And don’t worry you don’t have to sit with Dad or Chuck. Dad prefers his box.” I hug her.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She kisses my forehead. “If your mother could see you. She would be so proud. She was the Swan Queen a few years before you were born. I still remember her opening night. Your dad bought her a huge bouquet of roses.”

“I know.” I picture her in my mind dressed as Odette, the white swan. “That’s when she met Dad, right?”

I don’t really remember her, but I’ve seen enough pictures of her to know that I look just like her.

“Do you think Dad will show?” I glance down at my hands.

“Of course he will.” She takes my hands in hers. “He did a terrible thing. Let him beat up himself over it. You focus on you today.”

Dad asked me not to tell anyone about the deal we signed at the Crucible. He wanted absolute discretion. A public figure like him can’t be exposed to any scandal. But I had to tell Sole. I knew she wouldn’t judge me for my decision. And also, I just had to say the words aloud to make them feel real. The whole arrangement is a bit insane. I still don’t believe Dad when he says I’ll be able to fetch over five million dollars. That’s a lot of money just for my virginity.

But I have to trust Dad and believe that all our problems will be resolved soon.

“I volunteered, remember?” I smile at her. “I just want things to go back to the way they were. Dad doesn’t need to worry about me.”

“You’re a brave girl. And a dutiful daughter.” Sole pinches my cheek the way she used to do when I was little.

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