Note: double povPov: BIANCAI watched as he stepped away from me, regret and horror tightening his features.I hated myself for already missing his warmth but I forced myself to meet his eyes, gritting my teeth to stop myself from saying anything stupid, my hands fists tight at my sides."Are... Are we going to talk about this?""Nothing happened that would repeat itself. This was a mistake."A mistake. Right. Got it. Tell it to my beating organ that was tearing to pieces. He wiped a thumb across his lips and looked up at the ceiling, exhaling an exasperated breath. And when he looked back down at me, he was back to being cold and expressionless. "Go in and get dressed," he said stoically, his face, a cold, unreadable mask. "I won't repeat myself."My heart lurched, something like pain decaying in my chest.I gathered whatever modicum of dignity I had left and left his presence, slipping back into my apartment that was thrumming with loud music.Snarling in frustration, I turned of
Pov: BiancaSoft classical music was playing by the time we arrived at the stately elegant mansion swarming with beautiful people in more beautiful dresses.The music was beautiful and calming and there was the aroma of good food, wine, exotic perfumes and pastries, and the sound of chatter and cheer all over the place.I looked around, a happy grin on my face, wanting to see everything, hear everything, taste everything. I couldn't remember why I hadn't wanted to come in the first place. Everything I needed was here. Music, good food, company."You like this?" Andre's voice jeered me out of my consciousness.I looked up at him to see his dark eyes already on me, searching my soul in that cold, calculated manner that made me want to hide from him.I ducked my head immediately, afraid he'd see too much. But I couldn't escape him even if I tried. My hand was still held in his tight grasp and the warmth of his palm tethered me to the present in a way that was almost comforting."I love m
Pov: AndreJesus fucking Christ, my heart felt like it was going to explode. I held her to me, like that would stop her from crying. And maybe it did. We stayed like that for a few minutes until her sobs turned to dull whimpers.Suddenly she pushed away from me, sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break down like that.""You don't want your mum to get married." .She froze. And thawed. "I... It's not that. It's just...""It's just what?"She pried her lips open to speak but the words never quite made it out. "It's nothing." She said finally. "If I say it, I'll just sound like a whiny bitch. You already think I'm a whore, I wouldn't want to add spoiled brat to the list."With that, she stood up and left, walking back into the party, her shimmering dress disappearing into the crowd.I followed after her, my gaze intent on her as I slipped into the shadows, pouring a finger of whiskey out for myself. I sipped from the cup, never allowing her to leave my line of si
Pov: AndreI realized my predicament immediately, after Bianca slipped her silly soft arms around my neck, her honeycomb scent bursting in my nostrils."Let me guess," she said, after I just stood there, motionless in front of her like a sack of nothing. "You don't know how to dance."I didn't bother to grace her with a response. All my time was spent learning the family trade when I was little. Learning how to run, fight, break bones, set them back, torture, maim and kill. I had no time to learn useless things like dancing.Her hands slid down my arm, frying my thinking process. Her red lips parted into a beautiful smile, glittering white teeth peeking out, lush green eyes piercing into mine, and then she took my hands in hers and placed them on her tiny waist.This close to her and so far from lust, I could appreciate her lithe, slender form more reverently. Her waist was so small that both my hands spanned nearly halfway across her sides.She leaned into me, so close than was deeme
11: Start a warPov: AndreI noticed something was wrong the moment I walked back into the party. Bianca wasn't where I had left her at the wine table. She wasn't on the dancefloor either.I looked around, my heart pumping dread into my chest.Suddenly, a tiny body ran into me and I looked down at the little creature only for my cousin's head to bob up at me."Andre!" He squealed."Nico," I chuckled, ruffling his chocolate brown hair. "How've you been?""Will you teach me to shoot tomorrow?""Soon, Nico."He pouted. "But I'm twelve now. My mama said you learned when you were ten!"I let out a deep sigh, my face twisting into fond exasperation at him.He was my littlest cousin and the only cousin I actually tolerated in the family. "Okay," I sighed, giving in. "How about next weekend?"He face lit up in joy and he flashed me a toothy grin. "You got it, Andre."I wiped a thumb at the smile tugging at my lips as I watched him turn around and scamper back to his mother that had been sta
Pov: BiancaThe wedding was in two weeks. And today we were fine tuning the details."Wow, Mária," Ines cooed, holding up a picture of the colour theme my mother had chosen. "I think this is a lovely colour you picked.""It's an awful colour," I sniffed, not looking up from my magazine. I was perched on one of the plush seats in the dining room, early morning sun washed into the room through the glass walls.Mama had picked rose gold as the colour theme for the wedding and in truth, I had no hatred for the colour but since I let the resentment spill out the other day, it was hard reigning it back in. It had been reignited and there was nothing on this earth that could put the livid fire out.I wasn't even sure why I was here. Why she insisted on having me over. They fine details of the wedding has already been decided on before I even RSVP'd their introductory dinner invitation. Nothing I said could change what had already been set up. Still, I tried to make my mother as uncomfortab
Pov: Bianca"And who will your strong man be?"She blushed profusely, releasing my hand. "Creed," she whispered. My eyebrows furrowed. "Should I know who that is?"She shook her head, her blush intensifying. "He's the future underboss of Philadelphia. He's five years my senior but he's kind and patient.""And you know all these because...""We used to be friends when we were little. He was my crush." She added shyly. "Before he left for school in Italy, he showed interest for my hand to Andre.""And let me guess, Andre benevolently handed you over because he was sweet and nice and safe," I said sarcastically.She looked at me, brown eyes flashing with a seriousness I didn't see coming. "I had a choice."Her words made a kernel of hope sputter in my chest. "You did?""Yes. I was only fifteen at the time, Andre made it clear that no one was forcing me into doing this. I could back out if I wanted. I can still back out now if I wanted, even though the contract has been signed already,"
Pov: AndreIt was the day of the wedding. We were at the reception and so far, things were going perfectly. Too perfectly. Not a hitch, not a squabble, nobody had gotten shot in the head so far. It was a good day.After the surprise attack last week in one of my restaurants and Leon being perforated with enough bullets to kill a grown man, I had trippled the guards that protected my family and tightened security around our homes, knowing that the Polish would want to strike at a time when we're all gathered together.Once the wedding was over, I would have to break the news to Bianca that she would have to leave that dump she called her apartment and move into one fit enough for a mafia princess.Speaking of the devil, she suddenly glided across the room, an apparition in black of all colours, and blood red on her lips.She was wearing a cheap dress with a glittering tulle fabric even more scandalous than the last one. The strappy sleeves fell down her shoulders seductively and stylish