Page 18 of His to Ruin

“Yes.”

“Good girl.” Releasing her, I turn and head toward the door. “Enjoy your movie night,malyskha. I’ll see you at the altar.”

CHAPTER 6

Olivia

What sort of asshole gives you the most incredible orgasm one minute, threatens you the next, and then cheerfully tells you they’ll see you at your wedding? The sort of asshole I’m a half hour away from marrying, that’s who. It’s been a couple of days since Piotr paid that brief visit to my home, and I’m still reeling. The man can cause an enormous amount of confusion in a very short time without even breaking a sweat. I don’t know where I am with him, and I suspect he likes it that way. He wants to keep me off balance.

As the stylist fussing with my hair inserts one last pin to hold the elegant chignon in place, my sisters-in-law all coo in admiration. Except for Emilia, who’s been getting ready to perform her bridesmaid’s duties in a different room, they’ve kept me company all morning. They’ve been telling me all about the sweet things my brothers have done for them. I guess it’s their way of trying to assure me that these tough Mafia men have a softer side.

It turns out Leo, of all people, can be romantic when he chooses to be. My big bad enforcer brother takes Vinnie to the zoo regularly and buys her stuffed animals from the gift shop.

“I only have to mention wanting to try a new bakery or takeout place and he brings me something home,” Vinnie says in the clipped British accent that gives her an air of posh-ness.

“Antonio likes to leave little gifts around the house for me to find.” Isabella seems to have completely forgiven my brother. He almost exiled her for a second time when he found out she’d been covering for me with Joey Gallo. My brother has been a total asshole to her for most of their marriage, but apparently none of that matters now.

“Matteo’s brought me flowers every day since we came back from Italy.”

I don’t point out to Giulia that it’s barely been a week. She’s here with the others, trying to give me hope my marriage won’t be as bleak as I expect, so I can’t be mean to her.

“I doubt Piotr’s the romantic type.” There’s no concealing the despondency in my voice. It would be nice to have a husband who brought me gifts and took me to places I want to visit, but I can’t imagine that’s what I’m getting with Piotr. He doesn’t seem the type to show such consideration, but perhaps I’m underestimating him. For all I know, he might be a hopeless romantic. I won’t hold my breath waiting to find out, though.

“You know it’s not too late to back out,” Giulia says. “I owe you a plane ride if you need it.”

“And miss the chance to show off this dress?” I try to keep my tone light. There is a part of me that’s tempted to jumpon a plane and leave all this behind. The trouble is there’s no destination far enough to take me beyond Piotr’s reach.

“There, Miss Volante.” Corinne, the stylist my mother hired to help me get ready, places a band decorated with silver flowers in my hair. “You’re all set.”

“Thank you.” Looking in the mirror, I tilt my head from one side to the other, admiring the way the light glints off my headband.

As Corinne grabs her things and leaves the room, Alessia enters. As my second bridesmaid, she’s been busy with my mother and Emilia getting ready and ensuring there are no last-minute hitches.

“You look gorgeous, Liv.” Alessia circles me as she carries out a thorough inspection.

“So do you.”

The strapless baby blue gowns we selected for her and Emilia to wear have chiffon trains that billow out as they walk. It makes them appear as if they’re floating. The dreaminess of their dresses fits with the ethereal quality of mine.

“I know, right?” Alessia knows how attractive she is. With flowing black hair and vivid green eyes, she’s never short of male attention. “Your mom will be up in a minute. She’s grilling the best man about his marriage prospects.”

I roll my eyes. My mother cannot bear to see a man in his late twenties without a wife on his arm. Though I haven’t met Piotr’s friend, Sev Baranov, there are loads of photos of him online. He’s seriously hot, so I doubt he lacks for female company. If he wanted to get married, he would.

“What’s Sev like?” Isabella asks.

“Uh, he seemed nice.”

“So, not your type?” Giulia quips.

“Nah.” Alessia grins broadly. “I’m all about the assholes.”

“Well, there’s certainly plenty of those around here.” The corners of Vinnie’s mouth turn down in distaste. As the daughter of a now-deceased Mafia boss who exiled her and her mother to Europe when she was a baby, Vinnie has a poor opinion of the men in our world. I can’t work out how the hell she ended up all starry-eyed over Leo, who’s one of the biggest dickheads I know.

“Speaking of assholes,” Alessia says. “You’ll never guess who Dante Parisi brought as his plus one.”

Whoever it is, I’m sure he only dragged the poor woman along to piss off Alessia.

“Who?” Giulia asked when Alessia’s pause for effect showed no sign of ending.

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