being someone who never judges a book by its cover, I try not to judge the woman who comes walking into the mansion like she owns the place, a sneer of disapproval on her face when she spots me waiting for her.
“Dove?”
“The one and only. You must be Sophia.”
“That I am. Now, I’m not one for pleasantries, so let’s get on with the shopping. We have money to spend and dresses to try on.”
Well then. I follow her out to an SUV and climb into the back seat while she takes the passenger seat up front. One of Matteo’s men drives and another comes as security. No one says anything to me the entire drive.
The rest of my day is spent trying on dress after dress while Sophia critiques every single one. That one is way too short. Ugly. You look fat. Are just some of the remarks I have had to withstand. By the time we’re done, my ears are bleeding, and I feel like going back to the mansion and drowning myself in the bathtub, but that can’t happen because first, I have to get my hair done. Sophia ships me off to the hairdresser, whose name is Bernarto.
“You’re gorgeous, sweetheart,” he purrs in my ear while running his fingers through my hair. For the first time all day, I smile.
“Thank you,” I say.
“What shall we do…” He drums his fingers against his chin and takes a step back, eyeing my head. After the day I’ve had, I don’t really care what he does. Making up his mind, he gets to work, and three hours later, my hair is colored, trimmed, and styled. Surprisingly, I feel a little better. Sophia scoffs when she sees me and rolls her eyes before typing out something on her phone. Then, all over again, we’re getting into the SUV and heading back to the mansion.
When we arrive, I all but dart from the car, needing to put some distance between Sophia and me. She didn’t say anything directly to hurt me, but she sure as hell didn’t make today fun either. Walking through the front door, I can make out the sound of voices. They’re loud and manly and carry down the hall and into the foyer.
Both I know, one belonging to Zane and the other Matteo. Tiptoeing down the hall so I can hear more of the conversation, I hold my breath when Zane starts to speak.
“Fuck! I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me. All I want in return is to know that you won’t marry her off to someone. Promise me you won’t do it.” The anguish and despair in his voice makes me take another step forward. There is a pause, and Zane starts to talk again. “If you’re doing this to hurt me, then I’ll break it off with her. I won’t be with her anymore, but please, don’t ruin her life just to get revenge against me. Dove deserves more than that.”
A chair creaks, and I know it’s Matteo’s. “Listen here, boy. Dove is my daughter, and because of that, I get to make the rules here. She is marrying whoever I choose, when I decide. I’m not doing anything because of you. I’m doing this because it’s my right as her father.”
Zane growls, and I can feel the sound in my bones. “I won’t let you do this. You’ve hurt her enough already.”
Matteo chuckles, but it isn’t filled with amusement, no it’s the kind of humorless laugh that makes your shiver and piss yourself.
“I’m warning you now because I know Dove is fond of you, but if you interfere in any way with the plans I have for my daughter, I will have you killed and disposed of at the bottom of the harbor. Do you understand me?”
His statement sends shockwaves rippling through me. I’ve always known that Matteo had the power to try and take Zane out, but part of me never thought he would. Now that I’ve heard the words come out of his mouth, I know he’ll follow through. Just like Zane won’t ever give up on protecting me, making sure that my father doesn’t marry me off to some man just for the sake of it.
Zane’s determined, and he’ll die before he ever lets Matteo do something I don’t want.
“No, I don’t understand, and I never will. Dove’s happiness should be your number one priority. Marrying her off to some douchebag isn’t going to make her happy.”