Page 63 of Claimed
It was a dangerous hope, one that I knew could lead to my undoing.
I walked closer to the mirror with the lingerie still in hand and stared at my reflection. The woman looking back at me was already different from the one who had walked into this suite.
She was softer, more vulnerable, but there was still steel in her eyes.
“You're not inlove,” I whispered to my reflection, as if saying it out loud would make it true. “But youcouldbe. You could be if hetrulytakes care of you. This situation is beyond fucked up. Beyond. But. . .that’s the silver lining.”
The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.
I knew the kind of life I was thrust into.
There would be blood, violence, and secrets—so many goddamn soul-darkening secrets. But there would also be passion, power, and maybe, just maybe, love.
I just can’t let him fucking disrespect or abuse me. I’m scared of him, but I’ll have to figure out a way to put my foot down and not get harmed in the process.
Sighing, I went into the bathroom to change.
Damn. Look at this place.
The bathroom was just as luxurious as the rest of the suite, with its white marble floors and gold accents.
A majestic bathtub centered the room, large enough to fit at least five people.
An even larger shower stood across from the tub.
The mirror on the wall was grand, providing a clear view of me in full form.
Alright. Let’s get ready for. . .my wedding night. . .Holy fuck.
Undressing from my wedding gown felt like shedding an old skin that no longer belonged to me.
And then once again when I turned to the mirror, my reflection was of a different woman.
I keep changing and changing by the second.
A woman that craved something more than she should.
Something new.
Just take this hour by hour. That’s all we can do. Pay attention. Stand your ground when it truly matters. Feel things out. And pay attention even more at his actions.
I swallowed.
He chopped off Vito’s hand. Then, a fucking priest cut us and my new gangster husband went ballistic over a chef. Almost killed him. There’s really nothing we’re going to be able to guess in these next days, so. . .it is what it is. . .pay attention.
Once the gown was off, as I stepped toward the shower, something caught me by surprise.
Hold up.
I stepped closer to get a better look.
A satin-lined red shower cap hung on the silver hook beside the shower.
What the hell? That can’t be Gianni’s.
I went over to the shower cap and took it off the hook.
A tag dangled on the side.
