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Before, I felt his curious scrutiny without looking at him. In comparison, seeing his interest feels a thousand times more acute, like traversing a room filled with live wire emitting electric sparks everywhere. One misstep is lethal and the only safe place is where I stand, yet everything in my body zings with life and awareness.
“Well said, Niyah.” My father’s praise is an intrusion and a lifeline into something uncomfortable. “Now which one of Arroyo’s prodigies will I be welcoming into the family?”
CHAPTER THREE
The return walk to my room is one of shock and disbelief. I haven’t processed everything when I open the door to Kayla and Trinity. They jump up from their seats and rush to my side.
“How did it go?” Kayla anxiously studies me.
“Do we need Bey? Because she’s got something for every occasion.” Trinity grabs my hands and leads me to the dais.
“I don’t know.” I glance from one sister to the other without seeing them. Everything is out of focus.
“Well, tell us who you’re marrying, we can decide what mood to set,” Trinity says.
“I can’t.” The disbelief in my voice gets them to hone their attention on me.
“What do you mean you can’t? Make sense Niyah. We need to make plans about how you’ll survive with the Arroyos, but to do that we need a name.” Kayla slams her hand on the seat. “The whole reason we’re here is to find out who your future husband is.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I yell, but the immediate guilt causes me to apologize. “Look, I can’t tell you because when Dad asked the matchmaker, he said he’d be in touch, then he left. That was over an hour ago. Ever since I’ve been on the receiving end of one of Dad’s lectures. I wish I had more to tell you, but I’m just as in the dark as you.”
“Okay, no need to panic. This isn’t all bad. No name means Ignacio isn’t a done deal.” Trinity jumps up to retrieve items from the mini fridge in the corner. “We have leftover cake and enough alcohol to help us all relax.”
“On another note, tell me more about the matchmaker. I can’t imagine what kind of person he must be to work with people like our father. What was the guy like?” Kayla holds her hand out for the alcohol already in transit.
Trinity hands her a bottle of vodka. Without waiting for a glass, Kayla takes the bottle to her head and downs it like she’s at a frat party, which neither of us has ever attended.
An image of Aris pops into my mind, though in all honesty he’s been a fixture since our staring competition. “On the surface, he seems sophisticated, but…” I shiver, recalling the my reaction to his proximity. “He doesn’t show it, but I’m sure he’s more dangerous than Dad.”
“That makes sense, I suppose. Only an apex predator can keep other predators in line.” Trinity hands me a mixed drink and a slice of a strawberry lemon cake.
“No more cheesecake?” I ask.
She shoots a glare at Kayla. “Blame her.”
I shrug and fork a mouthful while Trinity’s words circle in my mind. Her description of Aris as an apex predator feels more accurate than anything I can think of. Those mismatched eyes see too much while revealing nothing; they continue to haunt me, his unsmiling mouth speaks of an unbending will, and the crooked nose shows he is no stranger to violence.
I gulp down my drink and snatch Trinity’s before she can take a sip. Aris disturbs me in a way I’ve never experienced, and I need him out of my head if I’m ever going to be ready to do my duty to my father.
By the time Kayla and Trinity leave, I’m barely able to stumble to my bed. I pass out in the middle of undressing, wishing never to see Aris again.
A jackhammer assaults my skull with its harsh pounding. I moan and turn to bury my face in my pillow. Instead of downy softness, my face meets with an unyielding wall.
“Ow,” I groan without opening my eyes. “I don’t even want to know what Kayla and Trinity did to my bed,” I mutter.
“Since this is my bed, I can assure you they did nothing to it,” a crisp masculine voice says in my ear.
Although low, there is no disguising the crackling quality and sensual accent that has haunted me since hearing it for the first time yesterday. I still my breathing. This cannot be real.
“Your bed?” I shoot up and groan with instant regret. I cover my eyes from the brightness in the room. “How?”
His deep chuckle has a sinister feel underneath. “Either your father’s security is severely lacking or he doesn’t value you nearly enough. But I’m not complaining.”
As his words begin to make sense, dread creeps up my throat. I’m not in the relative safety of my home. The bedroom is small considering Aris’ status. Despite the size, the furnishings scream understated wealth. A cream suede sofa sits in the corner, blackout drapes block out my view of the windows, and the unfamiliar bed I’m in must have been sewn from dreams and clouds.
As much as I wish my situation is the product of a drunken nightmare, I can’t dispute that I’m in bed with a dangerous stranger powerful enough to snatch me from my home. Panic causes me to search my body for signs of the unthinkable. I exhale in relief when my body feels like it should and I’m wearing the same dress from yesterday.
“You don’t know me, so I won’t take insult from your actions,” Aris’ voice cuts through the air. “I don’t rape unconscious women.”
