by K. G. Reuss
“But Hail already has a girlfriend,” I managed to choke out, thinking about Stella, the evil, brunette bitch he dated. “Why can’t he marry her?”
“Because we chose you,” Sergio murmured, reaching for me and thumbing my bottom lip. “My son is quite lucky to have a beautiful woman like you. This union will afford both our families the power we need to take over the De Santis clan. We’ll become powerful allies.”
I had no idea what they were talking about. They acted like David was some mobster. I hadn’t gotten into the particulars of what David did. I’d assumed it was something nasty, but the mafia? The idea seemed ridiculous for only a moment before I realized I was in a world of trouble if it were true. This was the shit I got for avoiding people and not paying attention.
“I’d very much like to try her out,” Sergio continued, his fingers brushing against my breast.
I flinched away, deeper into Hail’s hold.
“Wouldn’t we all?” David chuckled darkly. “Perhaps Mikhail will be accommodating.”
“I very much doubt it,” Hail said.
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t do well with sharing my toys. I’d have to be in a very accommodating mood. Or pissed.”
All the men in the room laughed as Hail reached up and cupped both my breasts.
“She has fantastic tits.”
“Don’t,” I choked out as he tugged the top of my dress down, exposing my breasts to the room.
The look in the men’s eyes darkened while I tried to keep from screaming.
Hail massaged my breasts, his lips at my ear. “Don’t fight it, rat. You belong to me now.” He pinched my nipple, and I cried out, my face heating.
I elbowed him in the ribs before jerking out of his arms and punching him in the face. He let out a snarl and smacked me across the face, sending me tumbling to the floor in a heap. I quickly tugged my dress up, my eyes burning with unshed tears. Never in my life had anyone touched me or humiliated me like that.
“Easy, Son. Don’t damage her just yet.” Sergio laughed like he’d told a joke. “We promised we’d take care of her.”
“Trust me, I’ll take care of her,” Hail growled, yanking me back to my feet.
I shook in his hold as he leaned into me.
“I love how you tremble for me. We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
He pressed his lips to mine in a rough kiss. I didn’t kiss him back. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine.
“I’ll take it all eventually, Bianca. You may as well not fight me.”
I swallowed hard, the truth breaking my heart.
Two
Bianca
“You’re going to love Bolten,” Mom gushed as we stood outside David’s black luxury sedan twelve hours later.
My cheek still ached from the heavy hit from Hail. I had to cover the ugly, purple bruise with a layer of makeup. After Hail had unceremoniously shoved a diamond onto my finger, he’d kissed me again and grabbed my ass, promising me I’d regret not giving into him when I’d refused to kiss him.
David smirked at me over the roof of the car as I opened the door to get in. I clenched my fists and held back my scowl. He and Mom were both on my shit list. Who the hell marries their kid off like that? And to monsters?
My heart ached for more than one reason.
“Bolten is going to be your Eden, Bianca. You’re going to become a lady there. No more all-black clothes and ugly, dark nail polish,” Mom continued. “And you’ll be with Hail! We’re so excited to plan this wedding. . .”
I tuned her out as she started plowing on about love and marriage and wedding dresses. I wasn’t sure what had happened to my mother, but this wasn’t the woman who’d birthed me.
I’d read the brochures for Bolten again after going to my room last night, cringing because I knew some urchin like me would never fit in there. It was a school for the privileged, the overindulgent, and the elite. I didn’t check any of those boxes. I came from a broken home, was poor as dirt, and I hated being told what to do. I liked books, silence, and being left alone. Telling myself that the other students would be too self-absorbed to pay any attention to me and the alternative was staying in the house with David was the only thing that kept me from flat out refusing to go. Of course, Hail would be there, but I figured I could avoid him. Hopefully.
“You’re going to love it there,” Mom’s voice broke through my angry thoughts.
“I’m sure,” I muttered, sinking into the backseat and crossing my arms over my chest.
I’d been forced into wearing some cream-colored dress with a delicate matching belt at the waist and matching heels. Mom made me wear pearls and curl my hair so it cascaded down my back in soft, blonde waves.
She even made me remove my nail polish and had one of her manicurists come in to give me a French manicure.
“You’ll be home before you know it. Winter break is just a few months away.”
Mom glanced at David as he slid behind the steering wheel. He hardly ever drove. Most of the time he was in the back of the car with Perry, his driver, taking us wherever we had to go. I guess he’d made an exception for the day.
“We can plan an engagement party for Christmas.” Mom was off and running.
I tuned her out again, opting to look out the window at the passing scenery. Buildings. Lots of buildings and fancy cars. Hardly any greenery in sight. At least in my old neighborhood, we had a tree in the backyard. Everything was bought and paid for in this neighborhood. I hated it just as much as I hated David and his cronies.
“Bianca, did you hear what David said?”
I pulled my gaze from the passing concrete jungle and fixed my stare on David’s in the rearview mirror. “Can’t say I care.”
“Bianca,” Mom admonished with a nervous titter.
“I said we have a spending account set up for you. You won’t need to ask us for money. What we don’t provide, Mikhail will.”
Mom handed me a card from the front seat. “Isn’t that nice?”
“No thanks.” I didn’t reach out for it.
“Bianca, you’ll need the money. Bolten does all sorts of trips and things. This will help you. Please. Take it.” Mom peered over the front seat at me, the look in her eyes daring me to say no again.
My mom wasn’t a bad person. Or at least she hadn’t been. Dad leaving had broken the woman she was. When he disappeared, she stayed in her bedroom for weeks. She lost her job. Then we couldn’t afford our house, even though it wasn’t exactly opulent. We ended up moving to a tiny, ramshackle place in the shitty part of town because she went from bringing home a steady paycheck to being a waitress in a hole-in-the-wall diner where she struggled for tips.
That was where she’d met David. He’d come in on a whim, or at least that was the story he gave, but I had no idea what David would even be doing in that part of town, let alone in the shittiest place to eat.
“Please?”
Sighing, I snatched the card from her hand and stuffed it into my messenger bag. Maybe I could buy a plane ticket away from there.
“Thank you.”
“Whatever.”
Mom’s frown was evident as she turned back around, but David was quick to grab her hand and squeeze it. He locked eyes with me once more. The previous night’s events raced through my mind as nausea rolled in my guts at ugly memories. I tore my gaze from his and stared out the window again.
God, I hated him. I hated all of them. I needed to figure out how the hell to get out of this mess. If I could just find Dad.
I tried tuning them out as they talked. The ride to Bolten wasn’t exceptionally long, but it hit at nearly an hour’s worth of torture through city traffic while I listened to Mom giggle at all the bullshit David spewed out.
By the time we reached the gates to Bolten Academy, I was ready to throw myself out of the car, even if it were still moving. My door flew open as I darted out, my bag in hand.
But I e
scaped one level of hell only to enter a deeper one. Hail stood there on the sidewalk, waiting for us. He wasted no time in pulling me to him, an evil glint in his green eyes.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I hissed at him, trying to tear myself free.
He wound his arm around my waist and held me against him.
“I haven’t even begun to touch you, Bianca,” he growled in my ear. “You’ll fall in line or get put there. I promise if I put you there, you’ll feel it for the better part of a month.” He brushed his fingers against the bruise on my cheek.
That was all it took to make me to swing my arm forward to hit him. I let out a squeal of pain when he caught my arm and twisted it down to my side, his eyes dark.
“Learn your place, rat,” he snarled so only I could hear him. “Raise your hand to me again, and you’ll regret being born.”
“I already do,” I gasped as he released me.
He only offered me a dark smile, making chills rush down my spine.
“Look at you two. Already embracing your new life together,” David called out.
Hail smirked at him.
“I knew you’d be excited once you saw the campus!” Mom clapped her hands together and moved to my side a moment later.
Hail stepped away from me. It gave me a chance to breathe. I surveyed the campus, wondering if I’d be able to run away and never look back. The place looked like a college campus made from castles. It was the only way to describe what sat before me. Rolling green lawns, a city of buildings that must have been both classrooms and dorms, paved trails. Of course, it also sat in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by lush forests and a wall so damn high I’d have to learn pole vaulting to escape.
“You’ll get the best education here, Bianca. I wouldn’t have sent you if I thought otherwise.”
David joined us and shook Hail’s hand. I rolled my eyes at the two of them.
“You’ll be eighteen soon. Colleges are going to want to see a prestigious school on your applications. Bolten will open doors for you.” David nodded his head.
I sidestepped his hand as he moved to place it on the small of my back. He shot me a glare but didn’t say anything.
“David attended Bolten all four years of high school,” Mom added, wrapping her arm around his waist.
He straightened the glare on his face to a look of affection as Mom stared up at him like a lost, hungry puppy. I nearly gagged. He was so fake, and my mother was a damn fool.
“Best four years of my life.”
“That’s great and all, but can we just get my bags so I can go to my room?” I grumbled, pushing past them to get to the trunk. I hauled my suitcases out and gave David and Mom a pointed look.
Hail, being the douche he was, didn’t offer his help. He simply stared at me with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Mom sighed, and David gave me a tight smile before each of them grabbed a suitcase and followed me into what appeared to be the main building. It looked like a castle straight out of a fairytale with its dark stone exterior and towers.
“David, it’s been a pleasure, but I’ve got to tend to a few things,” Hail called out.
“Of course. Sergio said you left you early so you could make your rounds.”
Hail nodded, his gaze sliding over to me. “And you, my little sewer rat, I’ll see later. Change out of that dress. If you’re going to be seen with me, your clothes should display your legs.”
I flipped him off as he shot me a warning look. Mom cleared her throat, eyeing me with irritation. Whatever. I’d flip her off too after screwing me over the way she had.
I pulled my attention away from her and took in my surroundings once more.
Hundreds of students milled around with their families. Rich kids. Expensive clothes. Great. I’d seen all I needed to see. I bowed my head and followed David since he seemed to know the way.
“Hello, I’m David D’Angelou. I’m here to check-in my daughter, Bianca.”
The guy behind the table looked past David and gave me a smile.
“First year, huh?” He rifled through the folders in his box.
“What gave it away?”
He chuckled. “Bianca D’Angelou. Here we go. Big shoes to fill with that name, huh?”
“Hardly.” I snorted. “He’s not my real dad. If he hadn’t stuck his nose in my shit, you’d find me under Bianca Walker.”
“Bianca,” Mom scolded with a hiss.
“Don’t blame me. Blame him for playing pretend,” I shot back.
The guy behind the desk looked between us, practically cringing at the exchange. The look on David’s face suggested if we weren’t in public, he’d be throwing me to the ground again.
“Uh, well, here we go.” He found my file and handed it to me before having me sign my name on a piece of paper. “Your dorm room is going to be in Collins Hall. If you take Mason Trail just outside the main doors and go left, you’ll find it. It’s the brick building with the apple tree in the front of it.”
“Thanks. What’s your name?”
He wasn’t bad looking at all. Copper-colored hair, hazel eyes, a swimmer’s build. Dark-rimmed glasses. A little on the nerdy side, which appealed to me. Anything was worlds better than fucking Mikhail Ivanov.
His lips quirked up. “I’m Gavin Warwick.”
“Senior?”
He nodded. “I am. We’ll be classmates.”
I smiled brightly at him.
“Warwick? Was your father Darren Warwick?” David was quick to ruin our conversation.
Gavin turned his attention to him. “Yes, sir.”
“I knew Darren. What’s he doing these days?”
“My father’s in real estate now. He owns Warwick Divisions. Most of his stuff is centered internationally though.”
“Ah, good. Good.” David nodded thoughtfully. “Well, when you see your dad again, tell him David D’Angelou sends his greetings.”
“I’ll do that, sir.”
If there was one thing I already knew about Gavin, it was that he was sickeningly polite. If he only knew what a snake David really was, maybe he’d change his tune.
We left the welcome area and headed in the direction Gavin had indicated.
Thankfully, Mom kept David’s attention on her. I glanced around at all the students in their designer clothes with their expensive cell phones in hand. This place would be a nightmare. I knew it to my bones before I even started my first class.
But consider the nightmare at home if you go back.
I ground my teeth and held my head up. Yeah. Not going home, if I could even call it a home. As far as I was concerned, I hadn’t had a home since my dad had left. Not that this would be any better with me having to avoid Hail. I had to work out a plan to get away from him. There was no way I was going to marry the asshole.
“This is beautiful,” Mom said, stepping into my dorm room a few minutes later.
Of course it had to be the one on the third floor of a building so far from the main campus that I’d have to wake up a half hour early just to walk to classes on time.
I shuffled past her into the room, surprised at how spacious it was for a dorm room.
“Don’t I have a roommate?” I turned back to David and my mom after noting only one large bed in the room and a flat screen TV already mounted to the wall. A microwave and mini fridge sat on a small counter, completing the look. The bed already had a fluffy, purple comforter and pillows on it. It couldn’t be dorm room standard.
“I paid for you to room alone, Bianca.” David fixed me with a dark stare. “You’re an engaged woman. You need privacy for you and your fiancé.”
I snorted and quickly looked away, not wanting him to think he’d done me any favors.
“I also had this bed sent in and done up for you.” He was far too close to me, his arm winding around my waist and squeezing me to him. His warm breath blew against my skin with his next words. “You also have a private bathroom. Only the very best will do for you.”
/> I shimmied away from him and went to Mom, who was staring into a small walk-in closet.
“Your uniforms are already here.” She nodded at all the crisp, white shirts and navy plaid skirts.
I let out a groan at how cliché it all seemed.
“Bianca.” She gave me a warning look as I flopped onto the large, soft bed. OK. So the bed was awesome. I’d never admit it to David, of course, because he’d let it go to his head and probably offer to try it out with me. I gagged a little at the thought.
“I have everything I need. You guys can go.” I sat up and stared pointedly at Mom.
She glanced at David before offering me a shaky smile. “Bianca, there’s no need to be rude—”
“Dana, why don’t you step outside and give me a moment alone with Bianca.”
I widened my eyes at Mom whose shaky smile tilted into an earthquake.
There. I knew she wasn’t as dumb as she acted.
“It’s fine. Really. Mom can stay—”
“Dana. Out.” David’s eyes darkened as Mom cast a quick look at me before giving David a curt nod.
“I’ll see you soon,” she murmured, her voice trembling as she gave me a quick squeeze. “Be good. Listen to David.”
“Mom, wait.” I moved to pull her into me so she wouldn’t be able to leave, but she untangled herself and ran her hands down her expensive beige pant suit, offering me another of her fake smiles.
“I’ll see you soon” And with that, she spun on her heel and left me with David, the door clicking closed behind her.
“I’ll be brief, my darling daughter.” he said in a gruff voice, his eyes narrowed at me. “Bolten is a place of prestige. You’ll find your kind and stick with them. Mikhail will guide you. You need people with connections—”
“No, you need people with connections. I only need to survive.” I got to my feet and folded my arms over my chest as we stared one another down. “I’m not marrying Hail. You’ll have to kill me and drag me down the aisle.”
