Pretend I'm Yours: A Fake Marriage Romance

by Ella Miles

  I sit up in bed and feel my body ache from being fucked all night. It’s a good kind of soreness but one I’d rather sleep off while curled in Arlo’s arms for the foreseeable future. If I’m asleep, I don’t have to make decisions. Nothing has to change.

  But I can’t face Arlo’s questions when he wakes up. So, I force myself to leave his arms and his bed. I get up and go to his closet to find a pair of pants and a T-shirt that smells the least like him that I can. His closet is a perfectly organized array of dark shirts and pants. There isn’t a single color outside of the gray or black family.

  I grab a T-shirt and one of only two pairs of sweatpants and put them on before sneaking back out into his bedroom. I look back at him peacefully sleeping in the bed before turning my attention one last time to the painting of me. It’s strange—seeing such a beautiful painting of myself. I look strong, powerful, albeit a little bit sad. It’s how he sees me. I want to be that strong, powerful woman he painted. Maybe that woman has a chance to survive.

  I walk out of his bedroom and stop one more time to look at all of his striking paintings that show so many feelings. I would have never thought of him as a painter. Just like I would have never imagined Matteo as a doctor before he stitched up Arlo and took care of me. But, now that I know this is who they are, I want to know more about them. Who are they really, and what have they been hiding about themselves from me and the rest of the world?

  Instead of staying around to find answers, I leave Arlo’s safe haven and go back into the real world. Or, at least, the shitty world that I currently exist in. My stomach growls immediately, and I know the answer to where my first stop will be. I don’t have to worry about running into Matteo. Both brothers are night owls and rarely up before noon. The only time I’ve seen either of them up early is when their father is around.

  I head to the kitchen where I scramble some eggs and make toast before taking my plate of food to the library. I haven’t spent nearly enough time there, and I want to get a few books to take with me while I hide out in my room for a while until I figure out my next plan. I enter the room and almost drop my plate when I see Gia sitting in the corner of the room.

  She glances over at me when I enter, but she doesn’t really look at me. She looks through me.

  I haven’t seen her since the first day I came here. She’s kept her distance, and I’ve spent most of my time in one of her brother’s beds.

  I don’t know what to do. Should I go talk to her? Should I ignore that she’s here? Turn and walk back out?

  I choose to continue on with what I’m doing and ignore that she is here. If she wants to talk to me, she will. Otherwise, I should leave her alone. I don’t want to cause her any more pain than I already have.

  I walk over to the mystery section of the library and pick up the first couple of books that look interesting. I take them over to the small chair in the corner to look through while I eat my breakfast. Reading a mystery might help me get some ideas of how to get out of the current mess I’m in or at least keep my mind occupied for a little while.

  “You made a mistake,” Gia says.

  I look up from the book I was staring at, and I wait for her to say more.

  “You shouldn’t have gone after both of them.”

  I frown. “I didn’t.”

  She laughs. “Of course you did. Don’t think I didn’t watch you. I know everything that happened. I know you were fucking both of them, hoping that one of them would fall in love with you.”

  I sigh. I don’t know whether to be nice or mean to her. “It worked. They both fell for me.”

  She shakes her head and goes back to staring out the window. But, now that she started, I have to know why she thinks it was a mistake.

  “Why was it a mistake?” I ask.

  Gia sharply turns her head back to me. “You ruined my life! You know that? I shouldn’t help you. It’s because of you that I’m always locked up in this house. I hardly ever get to go anywhere, and if I do, it has to be with a full security team. I’m a prisoner in my own house. All because Arlo had to save you, and now, I’ve had to live my life, always worrying if Erick or Clive or any of their men are out to get me. Ready to steal me at any second.”

  My heart breaks. She’s lived my life for the last seven years almost exactly like I did. The difference is that I ran while she has been hiding. I got kidnapped while she’s still safe—for now.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice genuinely sorry for her. I would never wish my predicament on anyone, and it seems that Gia is living the same nightmare that I was. “If I could go back in time and make a different decision, I would. But I can’t. At least you have men who want to protect you. They will do anything to keep you safe. At least your prison is beautiful and with family. At least you haven’t been stolen.”

  I wish I knew how to help her, but there is really nothing I can do. And it’s clear she doesn’t think I’m worth saving.

  I take my stack of books, and I get up, intending to leave her alone, when she says, “You made a mistake in trying to get them both to go after you. You should have chosen just one. Now, they are both in love with you. Feelings that neither of them has ever experienced before. You can’t have them both. They will fight each other to make you theirs and destroy everyone in the process.”

  I suck in a breath, knowing that she’s right—at least, in part. I’m not sure if either brother really loves me or if I’ve just become a new plaything that they don’t want to share anymore. But, whatever their true feelings are, I know that the fight to claim me as theirs is about to get ugly. And I have no idea how to stay out of the crossfire.

  “What do I do?”

  Her eyes are blank stares. I see an emptiness there that I’ve felt many times before.

  “Hide or run.”

  I swallow. Neither of those options has worked for me before. If I hide in my room, I’ll eventually have to come out to eat, to survive, and when I do, all of my problems will still be there.

  And, if I run…I glance down at the bracelet that Matteo threatened me with the first day I came here.

  The story he told me about it was easy for me to believe then when the fear was fresh, but now, I’m not as afraid. I know that Matteo rarely tells me the truth—or at least, the whole truth. He likes to play games with my head. I look down at the thin bracelet that I’m sure holds a tracker, but what else is inside?

  I glance up at Gia to ask, but she has turned her attention back to staring outside. I doubt she would know what my bracelet contains anyway. She doesn’t seem to care about anything anymore.

  It comes down to if I believe if Matteo was telling me the whole truth or not. I know he lied when he told me the story about the brothers who saved the princess. And I’ve caught him in several fibs. But would he fib about something like this? And is it worth the risk?

  I could die if I take it off.

  I could die if I stay.

  Two choices, just like Matteo always gives me. Either way, it’s my decision. Neither has great odds of me surviving. But one would end much faster than the other.

  I drop the books and what’s left of my breakfast, and I head outside into the warm sun that I haven’t seen in days. The sun has just barely started coming up. The Carini brothers aren’t awake. Enrico is gone. And Gia won’t come after me. Now’s my chance. If I can get rid of the tracker, then I can actually escape. I know the direction of town. I can run. I can be free again.

  I look down at the bracelet that I forgot was even on my wrist; it’s so lightweight. There is no way there is a bomb inside. Poison maybe, but I doubt poison touching my skin would actually kill me.

  I find the fastener and click the latch, surprised that it opens with ease. I watch as the bracelet falls to the ground, and then I run.

  24

  Nina

  My lungs burn from my heavy breathing as I run as fast as I can through the field and into the forest behind their house. I haven’t exercised once since I arrived her
e—unless you count sex. And, while the sex was definitely enjoyable and kept up some of my stamina, it’s not the same as running. My legs are clumsy from using muscles that I haven’t used in weeks. Arlo’s sweatpants slide down my body with each step I take since they are far too big for my slim body. And my feet ache with each step. I didn’t even bother to put shoes on before I started running.

  None of that will stop me though. Despite all of it, I run faster than I ever have in my life.

  When I dart into the forest, I feel a false sense of safety wash over me. I know that no one can see me from the house now that I’m covered by the trees. But that doesn’t mean I’m safe. I will probably never be safe again, but at least, I can be free.

  Ten miles stand between me and a chance at freedom. Not an easy feat for an experienced runner, much less someone who hasn’t run in months. But I have something that no other runner has. I have the adrenaline and anger that has built up inside me every day since I was kidnapped propelling me forward. I have more determination and need to succeed than any professional runner. I won’t fail. I can’t.

  I glance up at the sun overhead. It’s still early in the morning. I have all day to run before it gets dark. I just don’t know how long it will take Arlo or Matteo to realize I’m gone. Did they realize the second I took the bracelet off? Are they already on my tail? And, even if they realized I was gone, would them come after me? Or would they let me have my only chance at freedom?

  I don’t know.

  I don’t know if they are already trailing behind me.

  I don’t know if they are still in bed.

  I don’t know if they have let me go.

  But, until I know otherwise, I’m going to assume they discovered I was gone only minutes after I left. So, I keep running, knowing that I will eventually make it to town. To someone with a cell phone. To someone who cares enough to protect me from these monsters.

  I will get to see Heath again. I will get to see Eden again. I might even get a life again if I can just run fast enough.

  I use them as a motivation, but as much as I run for them, I run mostly for me. I run to save myself. Not for any other person, just me.

  Images of Heath, Eden, Matteo, Arlo, Gia, and Enrico pop into my head from time to time. But I don’t let any of them in. I just feel the power of my body, and I let that propel me forward.

  I run and I run and I run.

  I run until I start to see buildings in the distance and hear the faint sounds of cars. I’m close, so close. I don’t let my legs slow down as I run. Even though my body aches with pain and exhaustion, I won’t let myself stop now. Not until I’m on a plane back to America will I allow myself to slow down. Even when I get to town, I will have to carefully choose whom I speak to since I’m sure half of the town is indebted to the Carini family.

  I make it to the edge of the woods and finally to a street that leads into town. All have to do is follow the road for a quarter mile, and I will have made it.

  It feels a bit dangerous, coming out of the woods and out into the clearing, but it also feels empowering. I can make it.

  I stop suddenly as I see a car drive by, heading into town. I could try to flag a car down, but who would stop for me, and what would I tell them if they did stop? I can’t tell them the truth. No one would believe me, and those who did might try to take me back to get a reward or get their owns debts erased. I can’t trust anyone. I just need to borrow a phone to let Heath or Eden know I’m safe, and then I need to get to an airport. That’s it.

  I let the car pass, and then I walk out of the woods and begin following along the side of the road toward town. I continue to jog, hoping that anyone who sees me will just assume I’m a jogger and not think anything about it even though I’m dressed poorly and covered in dirt and sweat.

  Car after car passes me without a second glance back. I keep running until I finally make it to the center of town. I bend over for a second to catch my breath as I glance around, trying to figure out how I’m going to get someone to let me borrow a phone without drawing too much attention to myself.

  I decide to duck into the church up the street. It will get me off the street, and they will probably just think I’m a homeless person. Surely, they will let me borrow a phone and get me a cab ride to the airport.

  I start walking up the hill to the church, hating walking at a normal pace but feeling like I need to in order to not completely stick out in the crowd. My heartbeat quickens more with every step as my excitement builds because this nightmare is almost over. Just feet from now, I could be one step closer to being free. Just one last step, and I’m there.

  I stop for a second, waiting for the streetlight to change. The second that it does, I begin lightly jogging across the street.

  I feel the danger before I see it. I hear the tires. And then I feel the force of the car hitting me.

  25

  Nina

  “Wake up, slave,” I hear Enrico’s voice echo through my ears.

  I don’t want to wake up. And, even if I did, I’m not sure I can.

  I feel a hand slap me hard across the cheek, and I jolt my eyes open from the stinging pain. That was a mistake. The second my eyes open, it all becomes real. The pain and terror explode all over my body.

  I try to figure out where the pain is coming from. My head? My chest? My stomach? My legs? Where? It doesn’t take me long to realize that I feel the pain everywhere. It’s not in one place where I can focus and then forget about as I realize how strong the rest of my body is. It’s everywhere. Just like it was after Enrico raped and beat me.

  I take a deep breath. I’ve dealt with pain like this before and survived. I can deal with this, too. But just breathing is almost unbearable. My chest is on fire with every breath. Every rib in my body feels broken.

  I need something to focus on that isn’t my body. My eyes turn to Enrico standing over me.

  “I really appreciate you running. It made it that much easier to capture you. I thought about stopping you after the first mile, but what fun would that have been?”

  “How did you track me?”

  He smirks. “I’m not giving up family secrets.”

  I frown.

  “But then again, you are most likely going to be dead by the end of tonight, so what harm would it do?” His eyes glare into mine every time he speaks. Trying to push more terror into my soul. Trying to play the game and control me.

  He won’t ever control me again. I won’t let that happen. His sons won’t let that happen. I’d die first rather than let him touch me.

  “We injected you with a tracker years ago. It was all in the contract. That way, we could always find you. That silly little bracelet of yours was Matteo’s idea. He thought it would be a fun way to mess with your head.”

  I take a deep breath rather than react. I don’t care about what Matteo did to hurt me when I first arrived. He’s more than made up for it since. I know how he feels about me. He won’t hurt me.

  “Speaking of my sons…” Enrico turns, and that’s when I see a dozen men standing around the room.

  He motions to one of them. The man turns and walks to the door in what I finally realize is Enrico’s bedroom. I should have known where I was from the disgusting stench I smelled the first time I entered.

  He opens the door, and then Matteo and Arlo walk into the room, both scanning the room, trying to assess the situation as best as they can. I don’t see any emotion in either of their eyes, which is probably a good thing since there is no chance I will survive.

  “What are we doing here?” Arlo asks his father. “I have a meeting set up for this evening, so this had better be quick.” His voice is ice-cold, like he feels nothing.

  I try not to look at him as he talks so that it doesn’t hurt me. I know he won’t save me. He’s already said as much numerous times, but I can’t keep it from stinging me when he speaks and doesn’t even bother looking at me.

  I look down at my body instead, where blood is pour
ing out from who knows where, and bruises cover every inch of skin that is visible. Enrico didn’t even bother tying me up as I lie in a broken pile on the floor, and even if he had, there is no way that I could fight off the dozen men in the room.

  “Your meeting doesn’t matter. We are here to finish the game and crown a new Carini leader.”

  I glare at him because I don’t have many options for anything else. I knew that was why I was here. Everyone knew already, even Arlo; it just had to be said.

  Arlo narrows his eyes as he looks at his father. “Why now? Our time isn’t up yet. Are you really ready to give up being the head of the family?”

  Enrico glares at his son. “I’m ready to finally see one of my sons step up into the role he was born to do. I’m tired of having to deal with the daily grind. I want to be around long enough to see one of you bring this family to the next level.” He looks back and forth between his sons, both standing strong and silently.

  Enrico smiles as he turns his attention back to me. “I’m sure, by now, my sons have told you plenty about why you’re here, but I doubt they told you the whole truth. It’s time you learned your place in all of this, slave.”

  I feel my heartbeat speed up every time he uses the word slave, my rage building slowly. But I don’t let him know that he can affect me with just a word. I sit as silently as his sons stand.

  “Many years ago, my beautiful wife told me she was pregnant with twin boys. You don’t know how much that thrilled me to have two heirs to take over for me and continue the empire that I and generations of Carinis before me have worked hard to build.

  “The night that my sons were born, I was away in America, signing a deal that would bring this family more money than it had ever seen. When I came back, I had two beautiful sons. Two heirs.

  “I soon realized that I had a problem. Two men couldn’t run this empire. It is impossible for two sons to work together. There has to be one leader.