Page 8 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
“Mm-hmm,” he nodded again.
The man returned with the ice, and to my surprise, he insisted on wrapping it in a cloth and tying it around my injured hand. I watched the gentleman work on my injured thumb while Gastone still held my other, drawing slow circles to comfort me. I closed my eyes, allowed myself a few deep breaths. Finally, thishorror would be behind me. I knew Gastone was just drunk. I was happy he came around in time, before it got too late.
So when I felt something wet touch the fingers of my other hand, I turned with a jerk, but it all happened so fast. The old gentleman still had my hand in his grip, and Gastone had inked my fingers and now grabbed my palm and planted it face down on a sheet of paper.
I felt a cold wave of dread wash over me when I saw the ink transfer from my fingers onto the document, forming a signature of sorts.
I tried to pull away, and he let me, only because it was too late. Suddenly, I had two free hands, and neither was of any good to fight my way out of this.
Horror washed over me as I realized what I'd done.
“You tricked me,” I whispered, looking up at him in stunned disbelief.
The older man quickly gathered the papers, his hands shaking slightly. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Ajello,” he said. “The marriage is official.”
Gastone's face remained impassive, but there was a flicker of triumph in his eyes.
“This isn't legal,” I said, my eyes locked with Gastone’s, my voice shaking with rage. “It was done under duress. I'll have it annulled. My family will—”
“Your family,” Gastone interrupted me, “will have to accept that you're an Ajello now just as my sister is a Lebedev.” He took my arm, his grip firm but not painful. “Now come along. It's time to go home.”
Chapter 4 - Gastone
I couldn't believe how easy it had been. I knew for a fact Elena was smart, but seeing how she went all trusting because I showed her just a little care and mentioned how I might have been wrong proved to me one thing: The girl had zero survival instinct.
She had probably been the kind of child who could have gotten kidnapped because a stranger offered to show her a puppy.
With one hand firm on her shoulder, I saw the trouble she was brewing in her mind etched across her face.
Her eyes, the whole time, threw daggers.
“You manipulative piece of shit,” she spat as I held the car door open. When she refused to get in, I placed my hand on the small of her back and pushed her firmly forward.
“Watch your head,” I said flatly, ignoring her outburst.
She turned to me with a scowl, one tooth digging into her lower lip. She held my stare as she huffed and forced herself into the passenger seat up front, and I found myself with a strange feeling indeed.
An unwelcomeflutter of interest. Those eyes. That mouth. Christ, what had I gotten myself into?
“You’re going to hell for this, you know that? It’s clear you were born defective. Without a conscience and—” I slammed the door shut on her tirade and watched her eyes blast open through the window at the insultIjust delivered.
She had some nerve!
Her outrage was expected, but already exhausting. The moment I slid behind the wheel, she started off on all thewonderfulthings she had to say to me.
“I hope you realize this farce of a marriage won't last twenty-four hours,” she said, her voice shaking with rage. “My brothers will tear you apart for this.”
I snorted and started driving. “Your brothers couldn't tear apart a wet paper bag. Besides, my sister wouldn’t let them kill me, you know?”
“You insufferable, egotistical asshole!” Her voice rose to a near-scream. “Do you honestly think this is going to work? I’m going to make this so damn hard you’re going to have to deliver me back to my family yourself. Just you wait and watch.”
“Trust me, sweetheart.” I shook my head and let out a low whistle. “Idon’texpect this to be easy.”
“I’m going to find a lawyer. I will make them go to a judge and prove I signed nothing.”
“You put your fingerprint on that paper all by yourself,” I replied, driving toward Manhattan.
“After you manipulated me! After you pretended to care about my injury!”
