Old men, strawberries, and television—that’s what.
3NINA
I’ve been watching the screen mindlessly for hours. My mind keeps racing back to what my life will be like in the upcoming weeks.
Once he has me in his bed, there won’t be much to my life anymore. I will just become the woman viewed as a gold digger and impregnated by the hellion himself. I would rather kick the bucket than let that happen.
I need to talk to my brother—he is the only person who would want to help me with my situation. He is the only person who will ever be able to help me.
My bedroom door creaks open, and light from the hallway floods my dark room.
“Nina?” My sister walks in, her body becoming a silhouette.
“Yeah, I’m still awake,” I tell her as she climbs into bed with me. She always hogged the blanket when we were younger, but things have changed now.
She hasn’t. She still takes the majority of the blanket, but now I have a huge bed.
The light from the screen brightens her face. “You’re a tomato, Ana.”
She pulls the duvet over her face, trying to hide her flushed cheeks. “Nina, it was amazing!” She’s hardly able to contain her excitement.
“I’m so glad to hear it.” I try to hide how envious I am. My younger sister was able to marry before me by the good grace of my father. She was able to have her first time with the man she is in love with—and I will have mine with a man who probably can’t even get it up anymore.
God, that is freaking embarrassing. I can’t even blame anyone but myself. I signed myself up for this.Literally.
Her dyed blonde hair relaxes in a bun on top of her head, stray hairs frizzed. “I heard about Kirill.” Her face creases with embarrassment for me. “I’m really sorry.”
I sigh and throw my arms up from under the covers. “It’s not like much can be done now.” I let out a sad laugh.
“Well, you could get Giovanni to kill him.”
My expression shifts as I stare at her, trying to figure out if she’s making a ridiculous joke.
She is serious.
“I don’t want murder on my hands, Ana.”
My sweet, stupid sister doesn’t know what’s good for her. “Giovanni would do it—he wouldn’t even blink. You’ve heard of the things he does, right?”
I slouch further into my bed, trying to disappear from this conversation. Based on the experiences Giovanni and I share, I know for a fact he wouldn’t blink.
One time, Papa made us go pick up cigars for him, and the clerk complimented my blouse. Giovanni pulled my arm back and told me to wait in the car. Every other time I’ve been there with my brother to pick up more for our papa, I haven’t seen the man once.
So,yes, Ana. I know exactly what he does.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I say.
I could use the one attached to my room, but the one down the hall has a better shower. I walk to my closet, pulling out clean clothes to change into. I need to wash away the sickening feeling overwhelming me.
As I walk down the long hallway and turn to go into the bathroom, my body gets slammed against the wall. The back of my head feels like it’s been smashed with a baseball bat. I open my eyes.
Kirill.
“Stop it!” I shout before his hand covers my mouth, muffling any sound I could make next.
“Stop being disobedient,” he whispers in my ear. He lifts my dress, grabbing my thigh hard, pinching my skin between his fingers. “You are promised to me already. Let me teach you how this is going to work.”
I drop my clothes as I try to push away from him, but his grip is too strong. I force my head away from his as far as I can, but his hands hold me still.