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And then it happens.
The final step of this particular plan falls into place when Paulie’s temper snaps.
When he turns around to face me, pulls his hand back, and backhands me across the face.
And I let him.
I let him use his full force to hit a woman who did nothing but ask a question in front of all of the men who he thinks are most loyal to him.
I let my body move to the side, let the papers falls to the ground and scatter, showing different wedding information with sweet hearts doodled in the margins, like I’m actually in love and excited for this sham.
I let the pain take over as I fall to my knees, making sure it’s written all over my face, holding the place where he struck me.
And even though I was hoping this would happen, even though I wanted this, I look up at the man who struck me with watery eyes. The wateriness is from the hit, not emotion, but I know when I widen my eyes and let them water further, the men in the room will catch it.
The men whom I’ve slowly pulled to my side.
Three men who were sitting and smoking cigars stand quickly in response, the others moving to where I am.
“What the fuck, Paulie!?”
Gian and Tino rush to me, taking an arm each and lifting me from the ground.
Jason is already to Paulie, holding him back, seeming to be worried he might hit me again.
“Why the fuck would you do that?” someone asks, but Paulie keeps staring at me, his chest rising, anger clear on his face. Not a hint of remorse.
Not a hint of concern for his sweet, young bride-to-be.
“You did this to yourself, Lilah. Learn your place.” I let my mouth open in shock, not speaking. I keep my eyes wide, move a single delicate hand to my chest. I don’t want to cover the place I know is already blooming with red as I lean into Tino, his arm wrapping my shoulder.
I play the part I was born to play.
The princess who needs to be protected at all costs.
I let the men think they need to save me from the dragon in the room, not letting on that he only blew fire after I poked him with a needle.
“You’re outta line, Paulie,” Dario says, his voice low but firm as he steps between Paulie and me, cutting my line of sight off. It takes everything in me not to lean over to get a better look.
“The fuck are you saying?” Paulie says, trying to shake off Jason, but he holds on tighter.
A flash of pain runs through Paulie’s drunken eyes as Jason’s hands hold him—he’s holding him too tight.
Good.
God, this is going better than I could have ever anticipated.
It takes everything to fight a smile from creeping onto my lips, from letting Paulie see just a hint of how I manipulated this situation.
“You don’t hit a woman, Paulie. Definitely not your fuckin’ fiancée. And sure as fuck not Lilah,” Tino says, and a chorus agrees with him.
“She was just asking you a question, man,” Gian agrees. I sniff, moving my face into Tino a bit as if I’m about to have a breakdown, as if I want to hide from the monster who hit me.
“Are you guys fucking kidding me? You’re giving me shit because I put this fuckin’ puttana in her place?”
“She’s not some piece of ass, Paulie.” I’m not sure who says that, but it doesn’t even matter anymore.
It’s the fact that someone said it.
