Page 9 of Darkest Love
Adrien made it clear he wants to marry me only for power and not for love. At least he’s open about it. But he could have told me that before I agreed to marry him.
If I even really had a choice. If I had said no, chances are Nico and Mikhail would have pressured me into saying yes eventually.
“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Sasha says, linking her arm through mine as we walk into the bridal boutique. “Our baby sister.”
“Can you stop calling me a baby? I’m tired of it.”
Sasha shares a look with Irina and Natalya. “Someone is in a mood. I’ve met Adrien before. I know he’s a handsome man. I figured you’d be excited to be married to him. Nico told me that you agreed to this.”
“I did agree. I just want you to stop calling me a baby.”
“Fine. I’ll stop.”
“What kind of dress do you want?” Irina asks, changing the subject. Always the peacekeeper amongst us sisters.
“I know which one.” I’ve been dreaming of my wedding day for years so I have the dress picked out already.
It doesn’t take long to find it and have Sasha help me into it. The dress is a simple satin white with off the shoulder sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. The skirt flares out around my body. Slightly poofy but I like it. It makes me feel like a princess.
Sasha stops me from leaving the dressing room. “Ana, before we go out there. I just need to know something. You don’t seem happy about this. Nico told me that he talked with Mikhail and Liam about Adrien marrying you. But he didn’t consult you in that discussion. Were you forced into this? Nico said you agreed to it but…”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fine. I don’t want my favorite sister to be miserable for the rest of her life. Natalya and Irina have alwayshad each other but growing up, we had each other’s backs. I’ll have your back now. Do you want to marry Adrien?”
“If I said no, can I back out now?”
She hesitates and that tells me everything I need to know.
“Exactly,” I say. “I can’t back out now. Adrien is handsome, yes. And I do want an adventure. Excitement. Being married to a hot Frenchman doesn’t sound like a bad thing.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“You can’t tell Natalya or Mom. They’ll freak out if they know.”
Sasha narrows her eyes. “What?” Her tone speaks to no disagreements.
“Adrien intends to see other women after we’re married.”
“What?!”
“Hush. Keep your voice down.”
“Why don’t you want Mom and Natalya to know?”
“Because then they’d try to stop this and I still want it to happen. I’m not happy about what Adrien told me but I can’t stay cooped up inside Natalya’s house a second longer. I need my freedom. I need a chance to live my life for myself and Adrien is my chance. I hate that he wants to see other woman but he also made it clear that he’s only marrying me for power and not for love, so I can’t be mad at him.”
“Uh, yes you can be. Just because he’s a mafia man doesn’t give him the power to do whatever he wants to do.”
“You know it does. With these type of men. You know that. You had your own issues with Nico.”
“Yes. I thought he was a raging psychotic murderer. He still is. But he never cheated on me.”
“There’s one more thing,” I mumble.
“What?”
“Adrien said we’ll be moving to France when all of this is over. I won’t be allowed to stay here in New York.”
