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“Why the tears, Adalina?”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t been honest with you. I am getting married in a few days to a stranger. It is an arranged marriage.” My voice breaks.
“Why are you marrying a stranger?” I expected Nikolai to be shocked, but he gently touches my face with a fingertip. I close my eyes.
“My father is forcing me to.”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” Nikolai tells me.
“I have to. My father told me that if I didn’t marry Mario, he would give my baby sister to him when she turns 18 after he throws me out on the streets.”
“You always have a choice, Adalina,” He tries to reassure me.
“I wish it were that easy.”
Nikolai is an outsider. He will never understand.
“Tell me about your fiancé.”
“He is a criminal. He is mafia - a captain of the Chicago Outfit. I don’t know that much about him, but my family is part of the New York Mafia. One of our customs is arranged marriages. Mario chose me. Lucky me. He saw me at a family party in Manhattan. I despise him. He is a creep.” My voice is filled with disgust.
“Where did you get this bruise, Adalina?”
“My father hit me when I refused to marry Mario.”
Nikolai tightens his hold on me.
I rest my head against his shoulder. Wishing the world would stand still so I could stay like this forever.
Chapter 10
Nikolai
Fucking Adalina? The pleasure was intense, almost overwhelming, and I felt Adalina's body responding to mine in perfect harmony. For hours we explored each other, our bodies moved in perfect sync. The room filled with the sound of our breathing and our moans of pleasure.
My anger flared when I noticed the bruise on Adalina's beautiful face. Fuck! Why is her father handing her over to that bastard Alonzo? She deserves better.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I'm plagued by thoughts of what could have been if I were a different man, and not a fucking sociopath. If Adalina were mine instead of Alfonso's, would I have the capability to handle the responsibility that comes with being with someone like her? Or would I inevitably end up hurting her? Most likely.
Adalina lies naked and vulnerable next to me, her eyes closing as she drifts off to sleep. I rise from the bed and retrieve my cellphone from my suit coat. I capture a picture of her lying naked in my bed, as well as a selfie of us together, entwined in the sheets. I'm unable to resist the urge to document this moment, to have some proof that it happened. I plan to send the pictures to Alfonso on his wedding night, a twisted wedding gift.
Nudging Adalina awake, I suggest, "I'll walk you back to your hotel. Why don't you freshen up first?"
As she enters the bathroom to clean up, naked and holding her cellphone, I can't help but be captivated by the curves of her body, the sensual sway of her ass. It's as if I'm seeing her anew, and a wave of desire washes over me. Fucking Hell!
While waiting for her, I glance at the sheets and notice a prominent bloodstain. It serves as a stark reminder of what we've just shared, of the fact that I've taken Adalina's innocence and put her in danger by getting involved with her. I take a picture of the bloodstained sheet, another twisted wedding gift for Alfonso. I find my knife in its sheath lying on the floor. I cut a swath out of the bloody sheet, which is stained with Adalina’s DNA. It's evidence that his bride is not a virgin. Alfonso won’t want that getting out. I can use this as leverage against him.
Adalina emerges from the bathroom, now dressed in a white robe. Holding her cellphone, she gazes at me with gratitude and sadness. "I need to sneak back to my hotel down the street before I get into too much trouble. Martina is already back, and she told my parents that I'm sleeping in her room."
We both gather our clothes and get dressed.
After we are dressed, Adalina wraps her arms around me. She leans up to look into my eyes. I lean down and gently kiss her. What am I doing? Adalina grabs my shoulders and deepens the kiss. I can still feel the warmth of her body and the intoxicating smell of her hair.
As Adalina collects her belongings and prepares to leave, a twinge of annoyance surges within me. I don’t understand why but I don't want her to go. Yet, I know I have Bratva business to attend to.
I walk alongside her down the street, she clings to my hand. The warm summer air is heavy with the scent of flowers, and I can’t deny there is electricity between us. But it was just one night of passion shared between two strangers, and nothing more.
Upon reaching the entrance of her hotel, Adalina turns to face me. "Thank you, Nikolai. I will never forget this." Gratitude shines in her eyes, accompanied by a spark of desire that quickens my heartbeat. Acting on impulse, I gently draw her closer and lightly press my lips against hers.
