Page 99 of Original Sins (Dark Odyssey 6)

“Let’s just go inside, Peter,” I rasp.

“Yes, let’s, wife-to-be. By the way, on Friday I’ll be back from my project for the rest of the summer. I’m requesting you stay at my place.”

“Why do I need to do that?” That’s my last Friday with Georgiou and Henry.

“Because I’m going to fuck you. That’s why. We’ll be engaged, and you’ll have my ring on your finger. Your father can’t refuse me. That’s why, Bellezza. Now let’s go in.”

I feel like a shell as he takes my arm and ushers me inside the hall.

I’m so shaken that it takes me a moment before I realize the hall contains more people than I expected.

This is more people than I’ve seen since school. I thought this was just going to be a family gathering. That’s what Dad said when we spoke weeks ago.

Cordelia said so too, but a quick glance at her and I can see she looks just as surprised as me, just more on edge.

The instant I think that Iknowwhy she looks this way.

It’s because these people are my father’s associates and people who he works with.

When I look to my left and notice a guy by the buffet, who looks like Georgiou and an older man who’s the spitting image of him, my heart races, that has to be Georgiou’s brother and father. A beautiful dark-haired woman, who I assume is his mother, joins them.

When I look at Cordelia and see the bewildered look in her eyes, I know what fate awaits me as I walk inside.

All eyes turn my way as Peter escorts me, and those who don’t know me know who I must be for the way he links his arm with mine and the way I’m dressed.

They know I’m Evangeline Ricci, daughter of Donatello Ricci, the man they all bow down and worship.

Cordelia and I planned everything with a fine-toothed comb, but we never factored in a surprise like this. A surprise that only my father could have arranged.

And why wouldn’t he?

This is exactly what an engagement party is supposed to be. Any father would do this, and if I had friends, they’d all be here too.

I don’t have to wait too long to add to my doom. I find Dad over in the far corner talking to the two men I never wanted to see me like this.

It’s Henry who sees me first, and he pales.

We’re far apart, but I know his face so well that I know exactly what shade of blue his eyes would turn from the surprise of seeing me on Peter’s arm.

Georgiou sees me next, and for some reason, I feel worse when he looks at me.

And that’s not because I loved him more than Henry.

I can’t quite explain it, but I think it could be more to do with the fact that he tried to ask me several times what was wrong with me.

This is it. This is what’s wrong with me.

I want to run away now for a whole other sphere of reasons, but I couldn’t do that and make this even worse than it is.

Fuck my life. Fuck everything, fuck my heart.

Dad walks over to Peter and me, and he’s saying something, but I can’t hear him.

People clap, and I think he must be saying congratulations or introducing me or something.

I can’t hear over the drumming of my heart in my ears and the hammering of my blood pumping through my veins.

Mostly because I can’t tear my eyes away from Georgiou’s, I’m numb to everything, and the bile churning my stomach is making me light-headed.

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