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ABOUT STOLEN BRIDE
The Hairstons and Arroyos have been killing each other for longer than I’ve been alive. My father’s solution is to offer me up as the sacrificial lamb, the Hairston’s sheltered oldest daughter.
To do so my father has contracted the most successful promnestria around to broker peace through an arranged marriage. The man is supposed to find the Arroyo most likely to end the war between our families.
No one expects the matchmaker to take one look at me and steal me away. Or that a new war will break out with me in the middle.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
In Stolen Bride, you will find the following topics.
Kidnapping
Voyeurism
Violence
Murder
You can also find a full list of warnings on my website: https://melvernamcfarlane.com/trigger-content-warnings/
Please keep your mental health in mind if you find these topics distressing or triggering.
CHAPTER ONE
Today marks the first day in my countdown to a new kind of captivity. To commemorate the occasion, my irreverent sisters have decorated my sitting room with lavish symbols representing my new status as the Hairstons’ first sacrificial lamb. Although I am the first, neither of us doubts our father, Lavaughn, intends to do the same with Kayla and Trinity. He’ll stop at nothing to make the Hairstons the most powerful family in the world.
One thing for the old man is his ambitions aren’t small.
Kayla, my middle sister, raises her mimosa and bows her head. “We gather on this day to show our support of our older sister, Aniyah. As she throws herself on the pyre to end this long-standing war with the Arroyos, we pray that her intended will not be a pompous asshole and will know how to give tons of orgasms.”
In an overdone performance, Kayla does a dance that reminds me of the banquet in Coming to America, all the while holding her mimosa like a sacred item. I try to withhold my laughter, but I fail. The moment of levity lightens my distress, even if only for a second.
While I sit on a raised dais in front of the open balcony overlooking the Aegean Sea, dressed in a gauzy Greek-style dress with my braids in a braided coronet—my sisters go all out for their vision—the reality awaiting me will not allow me to enjoy their full efforts. Soft breeze and the noise from mating sea birds filter in. If only the peaceful surroundings could magically spread to calm my chaotic thoughts.
“Kay, how long do you plan to play this out?” Trinity’s question causes Kayla to stumble to a halt.
Kayla glances at me, then gulps her drink.
“Haven’t you noticed Aniyah isn’t enjoying all this?” Trinity joins me on the dais and pours me another glass. Sunlight bounces off the charm bracelet on her wrist.
Kayla and I have matching bracelets, a gift from our mother. Whereas Kayla and I wear ours for special occasions, Trinity never takes hers off.
“Sorry, I got carried away.” Kayla slumps beside me, sandwiching me between them.
We must look like the muses from the animated Hercules film if they were all short with thick curves. We look gorgeous and sexy and it should make me feel some level of confidence, but that kind of self-assurance is noticeably missing for me today.
I shrug. “Joy will be fleeting until I know what that stranger decides.”
“Aren’t you curious, though? We’d never heard what a promnestria was until a few weeks ago. And to think Dad would give up that type of control over our futures is unheard of.” Despite sharing my anxiousness, an inquisitive light brightens Trinity’s eyes. She always finds hope in hopeless situations and her smile usually works to brighten everyone’s day.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that this mysterious person with my fate in his hands intrigues me. He brokers peace for families like ours by arranging marriages. After all the losses we’ve suffered, I understand why my father thinks he must relinquish the hold he’s had on my life until now.
The only reason he married and had kids was to further his aspirations. First, he married my mother to solidify his foothold in the Tri-state area. Now, my marriage to the Arroyos will give him a foothold in Mexico. Lavaughnn Hairston has controlled every aspect of my and my sisters’ lives from our birth until now, yet I continued to hope that this would be one area I could make my own choice.
“Here, have a slice of disappointment cake.” Kayla offers me a plate with strawberry mango cheesecake. “It can’t change things but it’s sweet.”
