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“Didn’t you see him? Marco was standing below the balcony discussing how difficult it would be to fuck me.” I shrugged. My sister was young, but I’d explained sex to her. The only thing she’d learn from our mother was that she’d be saving her virginity for her future husband.
“What did he say?” she asked.
“Enough. He doesn’t think I’m beddable.” I glanced at the modest dress. “If I go down in that, I’ll prove him right.” I pointed a finger at her. “Stay away from Orlando Bruno. Apparently, he’s experienced with married ladies and young girls.”
“If he looks like his brother, I’m pretty sure they can get their dicks wet in whomever they want.”
“Deidre!” But she wasn’t wrong.
She followed me into my closet. “Are you sure you want to piss off Mommy?”
I flipped through my dresses. “What’s she going to do? Cancel the wedding? Let her.”
Deidre pulled a short black dress more fitting for a club than a dinner engagement. I shook my head. “I don’t want to look like a whore.”
She snorted.
“Not yet,” I said with a smirk. Maybe not ever now that I understood I’d have competition for my husband’s attention.
“Eat a banana during dinner.” She giggled. “Or ask him to prove his skills first and give him a juicy peach to eat.”
“I’m a bad influence on you.” I grabbed a floor-length, black dress with a slit to my hip. After handing her the dress, I crouched low to find shoes on the shelves.
“Oh my god, Ally. What did you do?” She plucked a twig from my hair. “I’ll do this. You need to clean up. Mom’s going to kill you. Was Knox worth the risk?”
I stilled and stared hard at her. “Yes.” I never had to question my worth with him.
A determined fist rapped forcefully on the door. “Allegra Louise Jilani,” my mother chastised. “Open this door.”
I smirked. It was serious if she was using my full name. “I’ll be there in a minute.” I spun to Deidre. “Go. Distract them until I’m ready.”
“How?”
“Regale them with reenactments from Taylor Tomlinson’s Netflix special.”
She headed for the door. “I’m not getting my ass handed to me to save yours.” She glanced over her shoulder, “Except for when it comes to Knox. Hurry. I’ll be the annoying younger sister and ask your fiancé a hundred and one stupid questions.”
Once alone, I ripped the ponytail from my hair, stripped out of my clothes, and rushed into the en suite. Leaning into the mirror, I covered the scratches from the ivy and the jog through the woods with makeup. I finger-combed my hair into loose waves.
Not bad for a five-minute fix. The satiny fabric of the dress hugged my curves. Without a bra, the plunging neckline revealed the shadow of my breasts. A tear-shaped diamond on a platinum chain draped my neck and rested against my skin.
I sat on the edge of my bed and slipped on three-inch Louboutin heels. Crystals lined the strap coiling like a snake around my ankle. The final accessory—a six-inch blade in a black leather sheath bound to my upper thigh.
Thank you, Knox.
Chapter Two
Marco
Two weeks of this hell. I nodded, smiled, and sipped my drink. Not only was I tired, but I hadn’t had anything to eat. The alcohol was hitting my head, but not enough to turn the encounter with Elise Jilani into an enjoyable conversation. I didn’t give a fuck about her charity work and the upcoming City Gala.
A young woman entered the room. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders. Straight white teeth sank into her lip as her gaze shifted about the room, as if searching for someone in particular. And then finding me. She stumbled in her steps. She forced her mouth into a smile as she approached.
Far too young to be my fiancée. She had the same features as the woman making me wish for an ice pick to stab into my ears just so I wouldn’t have to listen to any more of her annoying commentary. Or maybe I could do everyone in the room a solid and slit her throat. Then no one would have to hear her speak.
A dark green, halter dress hugged the girl’s slight curves and draped to just below her knees. It was like a mirror to the past, and the first time I’d seen Allegra.
As the girl approached, her intense green eyes lingered on Orlando. Full lips with a swipe of pink lipstick tilted up on the corner in a shy but practiced smirk.
