“Do you need me to put a stop to this?”
“There’s nothing you can do.”
“Trust me, there’s always something I can do.”
“Like what? Take my place?”
Cassie had frowned but I knew if I said thatwas what I wanted, she would have done it. My sister did love me. No one knew it. Not even Rage. After some of the beatings my father had given, it had been Cassie who helped me. She had treated my wounds, and she had been so angry. She had wanted to run away several times. She even tried to call Social Services, but with how powerful he was, nothing had happened. One of the people on Dad’s payroll had told him someone had called, and I paid the price. Cassie never called again, but she tried every single time to make my life better.
“You don’t deserve this.”
“Dad always said I was destined to die. I guess this is the way I get to go.”
“No. You don’t get to talk like that. This is so unfair.”
I’d smiled at Cassie. I told her I would be fine. I was a survivor and if I could take on our father, then this was nothing. I still breathed, even when he gave up on me. He’d wanted to turn the whole club against me.
Instead, he was dead, I was alive, and married to one of the most powerful men and a true enemy of our father’s. What could go wrong?
Therewas a lot that could go wrong. The gun opposite was proof of that. Ive was going to try and ruin me. If that was his plan, it would take a lot more than a purposefully placed gun. I was not stupid, and had survived worse.
I picked up the towels and thenwalked toward the bathroom. Stepping inside, I ignore the man in the shower, dump the towels on top of my wedding dress, and grab the brush I spot on the counter.
Leaving the bathroom, I run the brush through my hair and smirk as I imagine opening the shower and swatting him on the ass with my hairbrush. I wonder what he would think of my weapon of choice. I don’t even know what I’m thinking anymore. Nothing makes any sense. I finish brushing my hair and then move toward the bed, throw back the covers, and climb in.
This had to be one of the strangest days of my life, and this was my life, so I had a lot tocompare it to. Also, in a rather strange way, it had also been one of the best days of my life. If I really allowed myself to analyze and think about it, I loved dancing with Ive. He was a good dancer, not that I had anyone to compare him to. He moved gracefully and when his hands were wrapped around me, I truly felt protected.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Ive
I heard Charlotte enter the room. Did she realize I saw her easily through the glass? The curtain was closed at the end of the shower, but I stood in the frosted glass. What would she do if I pulled her into the shower and forced her to wash my back? I wouldn’t do it.
Charlotte put on a brave face but I knew there was a delicate and frightened woman behind all the brazen words and scream-fest she had while being locked away in my home. Her scars told a story of their own, as well as her words. She tried to hide that side of herself, but there was no hiding or running from the truth.
This was my wedding night, and all dayI’d been able to keep myself under control but right now, I sported a fucking hard-on that didn’t want to go down. It had only begun to thicken when I watched Charlotte enter the bathroom.
Icouldn’t be attracted to her. She was eighteen fucking years old. A little too young for me and my tastes. But even though she was young, I saw the age in her eyes and it made me hate her father even more. I knew firsthand the kind of monsters that surrounded us. I was one of them. I’d never understood the morons who’d attacked their children for no good reason.
Yes, Charlotte’s mother had passed away during childbirth but she’d not asked to be born. Once again, passing the blame to someone else rather than accept responsibility themselves. Her father and her mother were the ones to blame. They were the ones who fucked in the first place and created a baby. Fucking assholes.
I hated people. And my dick finally lost its erection. Great. Not that I’d be able to do a whole lot with it. There was no way I’d be fucking Charlotte.
I finished washing the soap from my body and quickly did my hair, before climbing out of the shower.
There was a towel waiting for me, so I grabbed it, wrapped it around my waist, and stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Charlotte was already in bed.
“I didn’t know what side of the bed you’d take so I took this one.” Staring at her, she was on the right side.
“It’s fine.” I honestly didn’t give a flying fuck about the bed. I was exhausted. This wedding had been a hard one. With most of the Volkov Bratva in residence as well as the Evil Savages MC, I had to be ready for whatever went down. I had no doubt someone wanted a fight to start.
Laidout on the bed was a pair of boxer briefs for me to sleep in. I often slept naked, but I doubted Charlotte would want me naked beside her. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I run a hand across my face. This whole day was a fuck-up.
I still didn’t completelyunderstand why Ivan wanted me to marry Charlotte. I know from him getting Slavik and Andrei to marry the women he did, Ivan had a soft spot for broken and damaged females. Aurora and Adelaide had stories of their own. I didn’t know them, but I was aware they didn’t have easy lives.
Charlotte was like them. Her life hadn’t been easy, but taking her had been the fuck-up of Andrei’s men. They paid for it with their lives. Our original target had been Cassie. Their father hadn’t wanted to save Charlotte. In fact, we had it on good resources that he intended to use her freaking kidnapping to manipulate the club and insinuate she was a rat. That she ran to us to spill all the club secrets. Once again, I wished her father was alive just so I could kill him this time. Sick fuck.
“Did you have a niceshower?” Charlotte asked.
I turned to look at her. She was curled toward me, her eyes wide, and she nibbled her lip. Did she even realize she looked afraid to have spoken to me? What the fuck was that all about? I wanted to tell her not to panic. I wanted to tell her I was nothing like her father and she had nothing to be afraid of. Who the fuck was I kidding? I was worse than her father.
I grabbed the boxer briefs, and I knew Ivan had a fucking hand in these being made. They were white with pink frills. Why the frills? I didn’t understand that man. Shaking my head, I slid them on and refused to believe they were comfortable. No way would I agree they felt nice. Not a fucking chance.
I picked up the used towel and took it back to the bathroom to toss into the laundry basket. Walking back to the bed, I pull the blanket back and then climb inside.
“Would you like me to sleep on the floor?” Charlotteasked.
I didn’t respond right away and settled onto bed. I turned toward her. “Do youwantto sleep on the floor?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Answer my question, Charlotte, and don’t give me any crap.” I had a feeling she’d give me some kind of crap.
“No.” She spoke so softly. If Ihadn’t been paying attention to her, I had a feeling I’d have missed it.
“Then why the fuck would you suggest it?”
“I don’t know if you’re used to sleeping in a bed on your own or with a woman.”