Page 6 of His Queen

My nerves are on end, and everything seems dark. My hands ache to be warm. Shit is really real and I can't pretend any longer that I have a choice in the matter. I don't. I no longer have that. Sal tries to smile at me, but it's more of a sneer when he sits beside me.

"Well, nice of you to finally grace us with your presents, fiancée." He leans in, placing a kiss on my cheek.

He is getting too close and I turn in the other direction, quickly removing his lips from me. Just the feeling of his lips on me gives me the creeps.

"Save it," I say. The venom drips and Sal sits back.

Just him being this close is enough for my stomach to rebel. My dad looks up, his face shows his irritation at my behavior. Oh, and fuck him so very hard because how dare I, the one that is unwilling, not wanting to be touched by Sal? He is a slimy rat.

Fuck him sideways! His nostrils are flaring, and honestly, I couldn’t care less about whatever he’s about to say. I’ve reached a point where I no longer care about Salvatore’s identity or how others perceive the predicament I’m trapped in. Doing this was the last thing I wanted, and now it’s even more undesirable.

It's the whole reason I was at the bar getting drunk. But then I had to meet the man of my damn dreams. The kind that is in every book and romance movie I've ever watched. The kind that brings you straight from dreamland into a love-filled fantasy world.

Something I can never have. That’s all it will ever be. A fantasy. It's all being ripped to pieces and all I can think of is just waking up and ending this miserable nightmare. If I was brave enough, I would just end my life. Let me tell ya, a single grain of sand in the world is something that isn't missed. No one would miss me. My father would be upset over the loss of money, not that I was dead.

Fuck. I have never wanted to kill anyone so much. I want to watch this family suffer and lose. I wish I could find Vlad and run away from this. But it was one night. He made it clear that is what he was after and so did I. How can one night change me so much? It’s not supposed to be like the books I read. You meet the man of your dreams and have an instant connection so strong you crave it like an addict. But I will never have that happily ever after. Just the memories of it. The feeling of his hands on my skin, his lips on mine.

Everyone thinks being a Mafia Princess is the best thing ever. So many girls wish for this life. Well, someone should warn them that being a Mafia Princess is a dirty, treacherous life where you have no control over your choices. People are ready to steal the shirts from each other's backs. These so-called people call themselves family. What a joke.

Then they give the ones that are supposed to protect and love the worst treatment of all. I will never have a love anywhere close to the ones you read about. Men who cherish the woman they love. I won’t have that. Not even close. God, I have a love/hate relationship with my love of books.

Sal will be the asshole that they have in every story. I'm truly scared of what he might do to me. Feeling a tap on my arm, I get pulled out of my thoughts, only to realize they were speaking to me.

"Can I go now?" I ask. The way he glares at me does nothing to lessen the bitterness I feel toward him and my father.

"Why would you leave? As soon as your dad leaves, we are going to have an audience with our priest to talk about what details the wedding should have."

"I already told Lena I don't give two fucks about it and she could handle it all."

My father glares across the table at me. He nods at Sal, who also narrows his eyes at me.

"I guess teaching you some respect will start early."

My head hurts with the speed at which I whip it around. What the hell does Sal mean? Teaching me respect will start early?

"Sal, is it wise to speak to me in such a disgusting and disrespectful tone?"

I don't even see him move before I feel the sting of his hand cracking me across the face. It happens so fast and so quickly that the initial shock registers long before the pain. That first contact left my head hurting and a searing throb burns across my temple.

Then, I'm angry, my whole body tensing. The room has quieted except for the crack of his hand on my face. Sal squeezes my thigh so tight that pain courses up and down the limb.

"Now you will stop talking back to me or face the consequences."

I look at my father in shock. How can he allow this? I am his only child. But he just gave his okay. What the fuck? I look at Lena and she can't meet my eyes. She looks down at her hands. It's apparent to me that maybe I have misjudged her. I can see by her expression how unhappy it made her to see that.

But none of it matters in the end, because now I feel defeated. There is no hope, no light to be seen on the horizon, and all hope is gone. He could hit me again and again. I will have no way to escape. No one will care and no one will help me. Not even my father.

I am just a dollar sign to him now. I can’t help the last sting of betrayal at that realization. I had felt that way. But I never honestly felt my father would allow him to abuse me in front of him. But from the look on his face, I can tell he isn’t the same man I grew up with anymore.

"You will not look to your father for help. As he is no longer your rock for strength. My name is the first word out of your mouth every single morning and the last one that you will fall asleep whispering. I will be there looking over you, inhaling your scent as your breath floats across my skin. I will be leaving my mark in the deepest, darkest recesses of your body. You'll never be able to tell that another ever laid claim to you because once I put my seed in, nothing can remove it. I paid for you and you will plan this wedding and act happy about it. You will not embarrass me. If you do. There will be consequences."

I have to swallow down the acid bubbling up in my gut. The vomit licks the back of my throat. Burning its way up. My body trembles and I want to fold into myself. I will the emotion down my body as I shudder, trying not to throw up.

“You’re aware that I have the freedom to make decisions regarding our relationship. We’re going to start planning for our future together, including having children. Therefore, if you’re currently taking any medications or contraceptives, it stops now.”

Oh, my god... did he seriously just say that to me? My throat goes dry. Chills race along my arms, neck, and down my spine. Never has anything frightened me more than this statement. I know about him. I’ve heard things. Unspeakable things.

How can my father let that come out of his mouth and not react? No man should think about those types of things or have no fear of what the consequences would be for said actions. I look at Lena and once again she cannot meet my gaze. Did she choose to marry my father or was it forced on her too? I look at my father. The man I grew up with is no longer there. He is a stranger now.

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