Page 10 of Captive Bride

Isobel

Giant crystal chandeliers adorn the ceilings.

There are candelabras everywhere and dim lighting. Things are sexy as ever with the crème de la crème of society here. Celebrities, socialites, businessmen, and everyone else from the fashion industry mingle in the ballroom trying to get a look at me...the Capulet princess.

A live band called Ember is playing. It’s a band I happen to adore…but nothing will make me happy tonight. These people are the classic social set that would attend a Capulet affair.

Tonight is no different. Me plus the Governor means big business.

There’s not one person here who doesn’t want to be seen.

Nobody cares that our lives are funded by crime and degradation.

Nobody cares how sinful my father is. They just know he has money, plenty of it, and that must make him important.

Being in close proximity to him and to the illusion of grandeur is enough for them. Little do they know this whole operation is built upon layers of blood and death. Their hands are dirty by association, and so are mine—about to get dirtier, too, once I marry the old Governor.

It’s a fabulous party though. Capulet parties always are.

My mother would never want a Capulet society event to be seen as anything other than grand. And this one certainly is.

It’s my engagement party after all. Daddy dearest is going to give his blessing tonight, and then the Governor will take over. Nausea forms in my stomach as I realize what this means.

This is the beginning of a life that sickens me. Being around the Governor makes my skin crawl, and pretty soon, that’s going to be a daily affair.

Even though I hate my Capulet prison, I think I’ll hate the Governor’s mansion even more.

My fate is sealed, and all I can do at this moment is drink more and more champagne.

Normally, I’m so well-behaved that I leave the heavy drinking for behind closed doors. But something about this night is so off-putting that I need alcohol to get through it.

My cousin Theo approaches me, and I’m happy to see him.

He looks handsome as ever in his tux.

“Hey, Isobel,” he says, kissing my cheek. “You okay?”

I sip my champagne and say, “What do you think?”

“Yeah, I know. But listen, maybe it won’t be so bad. Being married to the Governor means that you’ll have more freedom than you ever had here. I mean, I’m sure he’ll let you at least go out during the daytime.”

I look at him and think how lucky I am to have such an awesome cousin. He always has my best interest at heart.

“You know, I hadn’t thought of it that way, Theo. But it’s still gonna suck. I still have to sleep with the old geezer.”

He laughs a sinister kind of laugh because he knows it’s the truth. I’m going to have to give my body to this man, this incredibly gross human being.

“Yeah, but, Isobel—look at it this way. He’s so old and out of shape, there’s no way he’s gonna last very long. You can do your five-minute duty at night and the rest of the time be free.”

“You think?” I ask.

“Yeah, definitely. Besides, I’ll come visit you often.”

“You will? You mean you won’t leave me to wallow by myself in the life of an arranged marriage to a nefarious criminal?”

He kisses me on the cheek and says, “Of course not. I would never leave you.”

“Thanks, Theo. The future is still bleak, but I feel better having talked to you.”

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