by L A Cotton
“He didn’t ask me.”
“Say what?” Tristan’s brows furrowed as he glanced between me and Scott. “But you just said—”
“Semantics.” Scott shrugged. “After the accident things moved a little quicker than we expected. But it’ll be official come next weekend.”
“What’s next weekend?”
“Our engagement party. Isn’t that right, babe?”
I glowered at Scott, praying he’d drop the façade for just a second. I was here to see Tristan, nothing more.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything?” Tristan’s eyes bore into mine until I averted my gaze. I didn’t want to do this, not here. Not with Scott right beside me.
Shrugging out of Scott’s grip, I took Tristan’s hand and squeezed gently. “The important thing is that you’re awake.”
“I still can’t believe I’m out for the season. Senior fucking year.” He all but growled the words.
“I’m so sorry,” I choked out.
“Yeah, that makes two of us. Marchetti, is he—”
“Gone,” Scott rushed out. “Won’t show his face in Verona County again anytime soon if he knows what’s good for him.” I felt Scott drilling holes into the side of my head, but I didn’t acknowledge him. I was too busy trying not to fall apart.
“What do you remember about that night?” Scott asked my cousin.
“I don’t know, man. It’s all a little hazy. The two of you were fighting...”
“He came at me out of nowhere. I was talking to Arianne and he just attacked me.”
I smothered a whimper. That’s not how it happened at all. Nicco was defending me, he was protecting me. But I knew the truth would only fall on deaf ears so long as Scott was here. He and Tristan were best friends, and there was no love lost between my cousin and Nicco.
“First he breaks your finger and then he comes after me. The guy is a psycho—”
“What did you say?” I finally looked at Scott.
“Which bit?” He smirked.
He knew exactly which bit I was talking about, but he was going to make me repeat myself.
“He broke Tristan’s finger?”
“You didn’t know?” His smirk twisted into a devious grin. “At the party a few weeks back.”
“He really did that?” I asked my cousin who nodded.
“He and his guys grabbed me and dragged me out to the workshop. Fucker took a hammer to my finger.” My stomach washed with disbelief.
“He didn’t... he wouldn’t...”
“It’s only what I’ve been trying to tell you, baby. Niccolò Marchetti is a monster.”
“But why would he do that?”
I knew he and Tristan didn’t see eye to eye, but breaking his finger? It made no sense.
“Why do you think?” My cousin said coolly. “Because he wanted information. He wanted to know if my cousin, the Capizola heir, was really attending MU.” Tristan didn’t sound mad this time... he sounded resigned.
I didn’t know what to feel.
I knew Nicco wasn’t inherently good; he was a mafia prince for God’s sake. I’d watched as he’d beaten Scott to a bloody pulp and then lashed out at Tristan in a fit of rage. But underneath the mafioso was someone who was fiercely protective of those he loved, loyal to a fault. So not knowing what he’d previously done to my cousin felt like a betrayal somehow.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Scott trailed his fingers down my shoulder. “Finally realized the kind of person Marchetti really is?”
I didn’t look at him, but I felt his disapproval, heard the smirk in his words.
“Lay off her, jackass,” Tristan said, throwing me a sympathetic glance.
A seed of hope took root in my chest. Maybe my cousin wasn’t gone after all.
“I’m so happy you’re awake,” I said again, as if that erased the awkward conversation of the last few minutes. “Has the doctor said anything about when you might be able to leave the hospital?”
“They need to run a few more tests, keep an eye on my vitals for a couple of days.”
“Excellent news,” Scott said. “You might be able to make the engagement party.”
Suppressing a shudder, my eyes fluttered closed. When I opened them again, Tristan was watching me, his lips pressed into a thin line. I gave him a weak smile, and his gaze narrowed. He sensed something was wrong, but he didn’t ask.
“The team is in good hands,” Scott launched into an update about the Montague Knights and I let my thoughts drift.
There had been plenty of opportunities for Nicco to tell me about him hurting Tristan.
Yet, he hadn’t.
My cousin said it was when Nicco was seeking information on the Capizola heir. He didn’t know it was me back then, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it would have changed the outcome if he had.
Nicco lived by a code, I knew that. He was groomed for a life I would never understand. But it didn’t make me love him any less. Just as him discovering I was the Capizola heir didn’t make him love me any less.
Our fate was decided the second I came across him and Bailey in that dark alley.
Nicco saved me that night.
I just hadn’t banked on him setting me free too.
“Okay, Tristan.” A nurse breezed into the room. “You need to get some rest.”
“I guess that’s our cue,” Scott said. “Take it easy, man, and we’ll see you soon.” The two of them fist bumped.
Tristan squeezed my hand. “We’ll talk soon.”
I gave him a small nod. “Bye.”
Hurrying from the room, I didn’t wait for Scott to escort me. But my attempt to escape was futile. He caught up to me and snagged my hand in his. “Anyone would think you’re trying to get away from me.”
“I am,” I snapped.
“Tut tut, Principessa, you need to learn some respect. I am your fiancé. Your betrothed. Soon enough, I’ll be the one in your bed, the one between your legs.”
Bile rushed up my throat, making my eyes water. Defiance burned inside me. “I will never be yours,” I spat the words at him.
It was a mistake.
Scott tightened his hold on my hand and forcefully marched me into the stairwell. It was quiet in there, even less busy than the hall we’d just left. He pushed me up against the wall, curving his hand around my throat. “Say it again.”
“I’ll never be yours.” My eyes narrowed with hatred.
“You think you get a say in the matter?” Scott leaned in, inhaling deeply, running his nose along the slope of my neck in a way that had me swallowing a fresh wave of tears and vomit.
“I will be inside you again, and you will want it. You will fucking beg me after I’m through with you.”
“Get your hands off me,” my voice shook, betraying me.
“What are you going to do, baby?” He licked my skin. “Scream? Because you know it’ll only get me more—”
The door on the level below opened and voices filled the stairway. I used the moment to shoulder Scott out of the way and keep walking. His dark chuckle rolled off my shoulders, sending a shiver up my spine.
“The clock’s ticking, Arianne.”
I marched down the stairs and into the hospital foyer. Luis shot up the second he saw me. “Arianne, what is it?”
“Nothing, can we please go?”
He’d stayed down here to give me space. Of course, I hadn’t anticipated Scott being here or him being crazy enough to try something in the hospital.
I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Vitelli, fancy seeing you here.” Scott strolled up to us wearing his usual smug smirk.
Luis glared at him before glancing to me. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Everything’s fine.” The words almost choked me.
“We had some things to discuss,” Scott said. “But I think she got the message.”
It took everything in me not to reply. I swallowed the words. I wanted to fight him,
but I had to choose my battles carefully because I would need my armor in the coming weeks.
“Come on.” Luis laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “The car is waiting.”
“What, no goodbye?” Scott pouted.
I walked away from him with my head held high. Scott could push me and taunt me, but I wouldn’t let him break me.
I wouldn’t.
As soon as we were clear of the hospital, Luis grabbed my hand. “What happened?”
“Just Scott being his usual creepy self.”
“Did he do something?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged him off, fighting the tears threatening to fall.
“Arianne, it matters. If he’s—”
“If he’s what?” I hissed. “He holds all the cards and he knows it.”
“Your father negotiated—”
“My father isn’t in control here, they are. So no, I’m not okay. But I have to be. Because if I give Scott so much as an inch, he’ll take everything from me, and I can’t let him do that again, I won’t.”
“I won’t leave your side again. I knew I should have—”
“Luis, this isn’t your fault. We were in the hospital. You weren’t to know Scott was here.”
“Maybe we need to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe we should start having him tailed.”
I rolled my eyes. “If you think that’ll help.” I didn’t, but I could see Luis wanted to do something, anything, to try to fix this.
“I’m going to speak to Roberto again, maybe he can—”
“No, you can’t. We can’t trust that he won’t go to Mike with this, and if he does...” God only knew where that would land me.
My father was not an ally.
He was a pawn.
“I can handle Scott.”
“You shouldn’t have to deal with that piece of shit.”
“You’re right, I shouldn’t. But what choice do I have?”
Indecision flickered in his eyes and then he leaned in and said, “I want you to carry something.”
“What?” I gasped. Surely, I’d heard him wrong.
“Just a switchblade. Something discreet. You have self-defense training. I know your father made you take lessons after the attempt at the school.”
“Luis, I’m not sure...”
“I know we need to bide our time, but you shouldn’t be around that monster without some way of protecting yourself.”
But a knife?
I didn’t know what to think about that.
“It’s only for self-defense and it would make me feel a damn sight better.”
“Fine,” I conceded.
“I’ll arrange it and spend some time showing you how to—”
“I think I get it.” A shudder ripped through me. “Can we go now?” Between my visit with Nicco and then Tristan, I was emotionally spent.
“As you wish.” Luis guided me over to the SUV, holding the door as I climbed inside. Scott was still standing there, staring in my direction. His eyes saying a hundred things I didn’t want to see.
There was no escape.
No way out.
I was his.
And he fully intended on making me realize that.
IT WAS EASY TO AVOID Scott at school. We shared none of the same classes, and he was a god on campus. Worshipped by the masses, it gave me a break from him while he soaked up their adoration. It should have made me feel a little better.
It didn’t.
I was restless.
I missed Nicco. Despite all the questions I had about Tristan. About what happened between them. Then there was the fact I felt like I was waiting.
Waiting for Scott to make his next move.
“Ari?”
“Sorry?” I blinked over at Nora. It was Wednesday and we’d had to concede and eat lunch in the food court because of rain. But we managed to find a seating area away from everyone else. Away from the football team and their groupies.
“I said, what’s up with that?” She flicked her head over to where Scott was sitting with his teammates. A girl was looming over them, her hands planted on her hips. Even from a distance, I could tell she was pissed.
“Is that Emilia?”
“Yep,” I replied, watching as Emilia jabbed her finger into Scott’s face.
“Man, she’s really giving him what for.”
Scott looked up at her, smirking. Laughter shook his shoulders as she continued her tirade. Emilia stormed off, rubbing at her eyes.
“I’ve got to go.” I grabbed my bag and stood up.
“Go? But we only just got here.” Nora stared at me like I’d lost my mind, and maybe I had.
“I’ll see you later, okay? Feel free to eat mine.” I nodded to my tray of untouched food.
“Should I come?”
“No, it’s fine. Luis will be with me.” He nodded before I took off across the food court, careful to avoid Scott and his friends.
“Emilia, wait up,” I called to her retreating form.
“What?” She stopped, turning on her heel. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Can we talk?”
“What could we possibly have to say to one another?”
“Please?”
“Fine, five minutes. Come on.” She motioned to the pergola beyond the doors. It was one of five dotted around the lawn. The rain beat down on us as we hurried to it. Luis stayed close but didn’t follow us underneath the shelter.
“You have four minutes, forty seconds left,” she sneered.
“Emilia, please...”
“I love him.” She sighed. “I’m in love with him.”
“You don’t love him.” She couldn’t. He was a monster.
“How do you know what the hell I feel? He was mine before you came along and—” She smashed her lips together, shaking her head.
“Trust me, I wish things were different. I don’t want Scott. I don’t want any of this.”
Emilia’s brows furrowed as she studied me. “He told me you know? Taunted me about your engagement.”
My heart skipped a beat. If she knew, others might. Everyone will know soon enough. I let out a weary sigh.
“Listen to yourself. Scott isn’t a good person, he isn’t...” Inhaling deeply, I chose my next words carefully. “Has Scott ever hurt you, Emilia? Made you do something you didn’t want?”
“He would never... I love him. We were going to be happy together. We were going to...” Her bottom lip trembled, and I saw the realization in her eyes. Scott had hurt her; she just hadn’t separated fantasy from reality yet. Maybe it was her coping mechanism, or maybe it was her way of making sense of everything, or maybe she really did love him.
But it didn’t change the fact that Scott was a monster.
“You can do so much better,” I said.
“Please.” She rolled her eyes, indignation glittering in them. “Next to Tristan, Scott is the most eligible bachelor in MU. And he was mine.” Her frown turned to a glower.
“I am not your enemy, Emilia. But I could be your ally.”
“What the hell does that mean? You’re engaged to him... you’re going to be his wife, and you’re what? Plotting some crazy revenge plan? I don’t need to listen to this. Just stay away from me, okay? I don’t know what you think you know, but you’re wrong.” Emilia started edging toward the steps.
“Just think about it, please.”
If there were other girls like me and Emilia, maybe we could go to the authorities. They might be able to cover up one case, but if there were numerous someone would have to take it seriously, wouldn’t they?
But my hopes were quickly dashed.
“You can’t go up against a family like the Fascini,” Emilia said with deep resignation. “You should remember that.”
EMILIA AVOIDED ME AFTER that. The same way I continued to avoid Scott. Thursday morning rolled around, and I was almost able to trick myself into thinking I was just a normal girl living with her best frie
nd and attending classes.
But I wasn’t normal.
I was stuck in purgatory.
Living a nightmare.
I spent my time counting down the hours and minutes until my next message off Nicco. Like an addict waiting for their next high, I stalked my cell phone, desperate to hear the ping or feel the familiar vibration.
It was his words, his messages of love, that got me through the days.
It was bittersweet though. I knew I needed to ask him about hurting Tristan, but there was never a right time. He was in Boston, and I was here, and it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have over the phone. I needed to look him in the eyes when I asked him, to see his expression.
Then there was the small matter that with every passing day, it was a step closer to the engagement party. Mom had already sent across three dresses for me to choose from. I was to coordinate with Scott which meant when I had picked a dress, I needed to inform him so he could wear the matching tie.
But informing him meant talking to him. And talking to him meant listening to him. So I’d asked Luis to pass on the message. I could have texted him myself, but it felt like a small victory to defy him.
Until I went into the living room and saw him sitting on our couch.
“If this is what you look like first thing in the morning, I’m going to be a lucky, lucky guy.” He openly appraised my body, letting his hungry gaze linger on my bare legs. I was wearing an oversized MU t-shirt that finished mid-thigh.
“What are you doing here?” I wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Is that anyway to greet your fiancé? I just stopped by to bring you something for Saturday. I have extra practice today and a game tomorrow.” He got up and stalked toward me. Slow, sure steps, like he owned the apartment and everything in it.
Including me.
Dipping his hand inside his jacket, he pulled out a rectangular shaped jewelry box. He flipped the lid revealing a diamond necklace. It was stunning. A delicate rope of sparkle and elegance.
I instantly hated it.
“It’s too much.”
“You’re my fiancée, Arianne. There’s plenty more where this came from.” He went to take it from the box, but I laid my hand on his.
“I’ll wear it Saturday.” If he tried to put that thing on me now, I feared I might break.
