Page 23 of Cherished Union

“Okay,” Jade begins. “Ade needs her rest, so everyone out. Vivi, honey, will you help me order Ade some pizza?”

Vivi gets up and follows Jade out of the room, Rocco and Dario trailing behind them. I glance up at Elio and see that his eyes are filled with anguish.

“I’m okay,” I whisper to him, hating that he’s feeling this way.

He presses his lips to my forehead, and I close my eyes. This act of intimacy isn’t something I’m used to. But I’m grateful he’s showing me that he cares. The moment he pulls away, I open my eyes and swallow hard. I feel the intense gaze of Hayden. He’s not left. He’s been watching me like a hawk since the moment he stepped into the room.

“Don’t upset her,” Elio growls as he passes by Hayden, who merely raises a brow, not in the least bit scared by the threat my brother has made.

The minute we’re alone, he stalks toward the bed. His gaze solely on me, his eyes darker than I remember them being, he’s like a predator in the way he prowls toward me.

“You’re telling me,” he growls, his fist pushing down onto the mattress as he leans into me, “that cunt put his hands on you because of what you were wearing?”

I swallow hard and turn away at the intensity in his gaze. Those brown eyes of his are so dark that they almost seem black.

“Adelina,” he grunts. “Answer me.”

I turn to him with a raised brow. “What do you want me to say? Yes?” He already knows the truth. He’s far from stupid. He heard the ridiculous comment my father made and saw the way he looked at me. It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together and realize that after Hayden gave me the ring, my father lost his ever-loving mind.

“I want you to stop with the bullshit. That bastard put his hands on you, and I fucking promise you, Dove, that the moment your brothers get everything in line, I’m going to kill him."

“Why?” I question.

He stares blankly at me.

I sigh. “Why do you care enough to kill him? You don’t like me. You despise this union. So why do you care that he hurt me?”

His lips twist into a scowl. “Fuck if I know,” he mutters angrily. “Just because I don’t want this marriage, Addie, it doesn’t mean that anyone can harm you. You are mine, and in being so, it means no one touches you without feeling my wrath. Your father knew that and still put his hands on you, not once, but multiple times. That’s not something I’ll let slide.”

“Great,” I mutter sarcastically. “I’m yet another pawn in this twisted game.”

“Pawn?” he says as he leans even closer to me. I hold his gaze and don’t flinch. “Maybe, but Addie, you have to realize that in this life, it’s survival of the fittest. You are set to become my wife. You need to be strong.”

“And what if I’m too tired of being strong?” I whisper. The pain of what’s happened over the past few weeks has taken its toll on me, and I feel drained.

“Then, my dove,” he whispers back, “you lean on me until you regain that strength.” He presses his lips against my forehead, and just as quickly as they were there, they’re gone.

My heart stutters at his words, and I’m staring at him in disbelief. Will this be what it’ll be like when we’re married? Will he treat me this kindly when he has what he wants?

“Stay safe for me, Addie,” he instructs me as he moves toward the door.

“Don’t call me Addie,” I hiss at him.

The ass just smiles at me over his shoulder, and I know he’s not going to stop calling me that now he knows it irritates me.

CHAPTER8

HAYDEN

“How’s Adelina?” my da asks once he slides into the car.

“Grand,” I reply tersely as I pull out of the drive.

I’m still pissed that I’m unable to kill that motherfucking bastard, Aldo.

“You’re very protective of her, Hayden. That’s not something I had imagined.”

I grit my teeth. I didn’t think I would have been either. There’s something about Adelina that makes me want to protect her, cherish her, want her. I fucking despise it. The last person I was supposed to protect, I failed them massively, and that’s something that I have to deal with for the rest of my life. I do not need another person to worry about.

---