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I swallow hard, hoping to dispel the lump in my throat. “We’ll talk in the bedroom,” I manage to say.
Nina links arms with me and nods. We make our way to the bedroom we share, despite living in a mansion. Ever since Nina’s last attempt to take her life, we’ve shared a room for her safety. And to be honest, we both prefer it this way, as we are sisters second and best friends first.
Once we’re in our room, I shut the door and lean against it. “They’re marrying me off!” I blurt out.
Nina’s eyes widen. “Who the hell to?”
I shrug. “It’s not decided yet. Dad’s throwing a party tomorrow evening so I can meet all the eligible bachelors. In other words, thugs and criminals like Dad.” I mime puking. “Kill me now.”
Her expression turns grave as she grabs my hand. “You can’t leave me here all alone, Bella.” Tears gather in her eyes. “What would I do without you?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got no intention of marrying any of them, no matter what they say.”
“I’d like to know how you intend to pull that off. Mom and Dad won’t accept you refusing. They’ll probably force you down the aisle.”
“Probably,” I admit, swallowing hard. It will be difficult, but I’m just not willing to accept that this is what my life will be. A life beholden to a man I don’t even fucking know. “I’ll fight it as hard as I can is all I’m saying.”
Nina releases my hand and rushes to her bed, flopping down on it and dramatically holding her wrist against her forehead. “What the hell will I do without you?”
The honest truth is, I don’t know how Nina would cope here without me. She doesn’t have anyone else in this family that gives a damn about her. Our two younger sisters are self-centered and immature, our brother is compassionless, and my parents don’t have time to pay attention to each other, let alone us. Uniquely, their marriage was one of romance rather than arrangement.
“You’ll be fine.” I swallow hard. “The question is whether I will be. God knows what monsters Mom and Dad have got lined up for me to meet.”
Nina nods. “True.”
I glare at her.
“What?” she asks.
“You’re supposed to lie and tell me my future husband will be lovely.”
“You know me.” Nina shrugs. “I don’t lie.”
We both laugh. Nina is the only person who has been there for me since we were little, through thick and thin, and vice versa. We stick together no matter what, and the idea that our parents intend to rip us apart doesn’t sit well with me.
“Perhaps my husband will let you live with us,” I suggest.
Nina gives me a look that says it’s wishful thinking. “I highly doubt it. The men that father has lined up are more ruthless than he is.”
My brow furrows. “Are you saying you know who he’s inviting?”
Nina nods. “I didn’t know what it was, but I saw a list of names on his desk earlier this evening.” She purses her lips. “It must be the guest list for the party.”
“Oh great. Who was on there?”
Nina looks worried about answering. “A lot of old, ruthless men.”
I stick my fingers into my throat and pretend to gag. “I’m not marrying a man as old as Dad.”
She shrugs. “There were some young suitors on there. And a few I’ve only heard of, like Isiah Darcy.”
“British?” I confirm, as I’ve heard of the infamous Isiah from across the pond. He’s vicious and the son of a man who was shot dead two weeks ago, hence why his name is fresh in my mind.
“Yeah, he’s in his late twenties, I think.”
I twirl a strand of my hair around my finger, wondering what he’s like. British men can be so stuck up, but then he’s probably better than any of the other old balding perverts that my dad has picked out.
“It’s weird,” Nina says, shaking her head. “There are no pictures of him on the internet at all. He leads a very secretive life.”
