All Stays In the Family

A hysterical laugh broke through my throat. “You're insane! You're going to marry my sister, for fuck's sake!”

His brows rose, his lips curving into a cold smirk. “So? You know I don't care about Portia. She will be my wife in name, but nothing else. The one I want in my bed is you.”

My mouth opened, but I struggled to come up with any response. I had already learned how cold and calculated he was, but this? Every word he said filled me with sheer disgust.

“Think about it, Cat,” he went on. “This can be a perfect arrangement. We can still be together.”

Fury heated the blood in my veins. “Together? What makes you think I could ever become your mistress?” I strained through my teeth. “You broke up with me. You humiliated me. Why do you think I would let you touch me again?”

“I didn't have a choice back then!” he growled, and I stiffened, repressing a flinch. “You know how my mother is. I could have never married someone like you... It doesn't mean I didn't love you.” He took another step forward. “I might still love you…”

His hands extended toward me, but I leaped to the side, barely escaping his grasp. “Love?” I gritted out. “You don't even know what that word means!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don't be foolish, Cat. I want to offer you an easy life. Don't be an idiot and just accept my offer.”

I studied him for a few heartbeats and realized he truly believed that becoming his private whore would have been the best I could get from life. I began to wonder if those months I had been in love with him had happened due to my temporary insanity. My free hand fisted. Rage built up within me, threatening to erupt.

“I have a better offer for you, Calvin.” I locked my eyes on his. “Get the fuck out of my room before I use one of my heels to castrate you.”

His gaze traveled to my nude stilettos, and he shook his head. “We both know you don't like violence, Cat.”

I ground my teeth. “Doesn't mean I can't make an exception.” I bent down and grabbed my shoe, pointing its sharp heel at him. “I'll count to three. One. Two—”

He burst into cold laughter before turning around and slowly walking to the door. “You never seize to surprise me, Cat. Maybe that's why sex with you was never boring.” He grabbed the door handle but then halted and looked over his shoulder. “You should stick to that, you know? A lot of rich men I know would pay decent money for a fine piece of ass like—”

My hand moved on its own, sending the shoe flying. The heel hit the door, a few inches away from where he stood.

He cursed and jumped away. “You crazy bitch!”

I quickly reached for my other shoe. “I warned you. You didn't listen.” I squeezed the shoe in my trembling hand. “Now get out of my room,” I snarled.

His lips peeled back, his hands fisting. “You will regret this, Cat. I'll make you pay for this. Mark my words, you will pay.” He yanked the door open and stormed out.

I spent another minute or two holding the shoe in my hand and staring at the door. A part of me knew he might come back, seeking vengeance. I didn't doubt he meant everything he said. Sick fucker.

Finally, I drew a deep breath and walked to the door. Then I carefully closed it and pulled the chair to block the handle. I didn't let anyone in until the next morning.

***

I wished this day was over even before the whole shitshow truly started. Unsurprisingly, as Portia's “favorite” bridesmaid—a polite word to call her slave—I was running around bringing the soon-to-be bride everything from a glass of sparkling water with a single, perfectly square-shaped ice cube to the special velvet cushion she couldn't live without but left in the hair salon, ten miles away from the residence.

I was actually glad for the latter assignment since it gave me an excuse to leave this mess for a while. Unfortunately, as soon as I returned, velvet cushion in hand, I ran into Regina. The woman's lips curved downward, her hands folding across her chest. “Where the hell have you been?” she hissed, her hazel eyes flaring with rage.

“Your precious daughter wanted a cushion.” I waved the velvety thing in front of her. “Now would you excuse me…” I pushed past her, but she grabbed my arm, pulling me to a halt.

“Catherine, just don't you dare ruin this day for her.” Her grip on my arm tightened. “It will be best if you smile at the ceremony and then disappear.”

I suppressed a chuckle and nodded. “That's the plan.”

She narrowed her eyes on me. “Many important people will come today, important and dangerous. Even the future Don Cartelli confirmed his presence. Don't you dare come anywhere near him. If you even remotely disrespect him, it can easily affect the whole family.”

Did she honestly think I was an idiot? I might not know who this future Don Cartelli was, but I knew whom my father did business with. All those bulky men who frequently visited my father's office didn't exactly hide their specific tattoos or the fact they carried guns to their meetings. I highly doubted that anything they discussed at those meetings was legal.

“I don't have a death wish.” I locked my eyes on hers. “I swear I won't cause any trouble.”

Regina held my gaze for a moment before barking out, “Better behave, brat.”

She released my hand and strode away. An older, crankier version of her daughter. Thankfully, today, she was mostly busy preparing herself for the ceremony. Had she lingered in her daughter's dressing room leaving me to deal with both of them at once, I might have resorted to violence.

Finally, Portia put on her over-four-hundred-thousand-dollar-worth wedding gown and was ready to walk down the aisle. I quickly got dressed in the pink bridesmaid gown I had spent several hours readjusting and followed her through the long corridor leading to the garden, where the ceremony was about to take place.

The next forty-five minutes were a blur. I vaguely recall Calvin's lustful gaze on me, the priest's blessings, the vows, Regina weeping in the front row, or my father silencing her. Then I was dragged to a photo shoot—everything to present the married couple and the rest of the “happy” family.

Fortunately, my part had finished quickly. Then I just stood on the side, watching those who actually enjoyed being here. I saw my father—the quite handsome, blue-eyed brunette—embrace his favorite daughter. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. The picture seemed so genuine something in my chest clenched.

I knew I would never get a smile like that from him. I told myself I didn't want to. I hated that man. And yet, a silly part of me envied Portia. As screwed-up family as the Duncans were, at least they were a family. My only family, my mom, was currently in a coma, and she might never—  

No, I wouldn't let myself think about it. I would get her the treatment she needed. The doctor said there was a chance—she had a chance—and I would stick to it.

The official part was over, and I could finally hide among the guests. Fifi, as a young heiress of the Melott Hotels Group, was also somewhere around, but I had yet to find her. Her presence here was my only consolation and a chance to survive this hellish day.

Since I couldn't find Fifi, I needed the next best thing this wedding party could offer: a drink. I grabbed a glass from one of the cocktail bars and strode off, searching for the least-occupied area of the venue. I walked down the sandy path and found a quiet spot where three smaller tables were set between the hedge walls. Perfect.

“Hey! You're Catherine, right?” a deep voice called.

I turned around and saw a tall, bulky man with a combed back, brown hair and dark eyes. He smirked and stepped closer. Only then did I notice a tattoo peeking out from beneath his partially unbuttoned white shirt—thorny vines crawling up to his neck along with a few words written in Latin.

“I'm Giulio, and you look like you can use some male company,” he went on, his eyes drifting down to my cleavage.

My jaw clenched. I might have fixed the popping-out-boobs problem, but it wasn't like I could make my breasts disappear, especially not in that freaking dress. “I'm good, thank you.” I gave him a flat smile. “I don't particularly enjoy male company. I was just looking for my girlfriend, and—”

“Not what I heard.” A wicked grin stretched across his face. “I heard you're rather desperate for a good cock.”

Everything within me froze. Calvin. I just knew that son of a bitch had sent him. I stepped back and looked around. Empty. No one in sight. Where had everyone gone all of a sudden?! I might have been looking for a more secluded place, but come on!

He glanced lower and dragged his teeth over his lower lip. “Is that pussy aching for me already?”

I took another step back, leaving my drink on the nearest table—empty table. “I told you I'm not interested. Leave me the fuck alone,” I hissed.

A cold chuckle escaped him. “You'll change your mind in a moment.” He lunged at me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me further into the hedge maze.

“Help!” I screamed, kicking him and scratching his hand, struggling to free myself from his grip. “Somebody, help me!”

He only laughed. “I always enjoy it more when they fight.”

My stomach turned into lead. His grip on me tightened. My shoes slipped off my feet as he dragged me further away from anyone who could see us, who could hear my cries...

Suddenly, the grip loosened, and I was pushed to the side. I regained my balance and straightened up just in time to see a dark-haired man punching Giulio before twisting his arm back. A sickening crack came, followed by Giulio's cry. Did that man just break his arm?!

My attacker went down to the ground, whimpering. I could barely breathe as I slowly shifted my gaze from Giulio to the one who saved me.

“Oh… fuck,” I breathed out, my eyes widening.

Hunter Thorne. He looked even more stunning now than when I'd seen him in the club. He stepped toward me, a sultry smile parting his lips. “You're welcome, firecracker.”