This dark world of criminals I woke to, the world I was apparently born into, would see me dead before I made it out the door should I change my mind. And, even though the person I was wanted this in the past, I can’t make myself want it now. The only thing that seems right anymore is the feeling of belonging to a dark life of sin. A destiny of carnage and ruin. Starting with my own father, who almost killed me.
Elio wanted a small wedding. He said he wanted to cherish the moment with a more intimate ceremony. I break my gaze from Elio, looking around at the small crowd. Everyone here is close family with the Riccis and no one is here for me. It makes me wonder if my family hated me so much that I didn’t have a single person in my corner. Even knowing I was beaten and left for dead for Elio to find, I still wish there was someone here to celebrate this moment with me besides these people. The only support I have comes from Tyjae and Griffin, who are employed by the Ricci family.
A nagging feeling of uneasiness settles into my bones, making me shiver as I get closer to Elio. If it’s a warning, it’s one my mind refuses to let me in on.
I reach the platform Elio and his father, Giovanni, stand on. Climbing the few steps, I come face-to-face with my future husband, the man I’m spending the rest of my life with, whether I like it or not.
Giovanni begins speaking, moving through the daunting task of our vows as he officiates our wedding. I tune out the sound of his voice and the words he reads from the Bible, chaining me to his son through a god who wouldn’t condone the things they do for fun.
I smile when Giovanni makes a joke or inserts some commentary, not hearing it, just reacting the way I see Elio react as he stares me down.
“Do you, Malia, take Elio as your lawful husband?”
Giovanni turns to me and my heart hammers in my chest. The urge to scream ‘go fuck yourselves’ is stronger than the need to breathe.
“I do,” I breathe, thankfully sounding like I’m swooning rather than forcing the words out.
Both Elio and Giovanni smile at me and I return it as sweetly as I can muster.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Giovanni proclaims. “You may now kiss your—“
Chuckles sound around us as Elio pulls me into him and claims my lips in front of everyone. He places his hands on each side of my face, locking me in place while his tongue forces its way between my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, not having any other option as people whoop and cheer for our union.
Elio breaks the kiss, bending down slightly to pick me up and throws me over his shoulder. He stalks down the stairs and saunters out of the chapel with me in tow. Once he makes it through the double doors he veers left in the direction of the bridal suite.
“Elio,” I say, knowing exactly what’s on his mind.
I made him wait a week, until we were married, to fuck me. As of two minutes ago, I’m officially his wife and he’s done waiting.
“Elio, wait!”
I wiggle trying to get down on the ground to stand on my own two feet. He doesn’t answer me or release his hold on me, just charges into the room, kicking the door shut behind him once he crosses the threshold. Elio roughly puts me on my feet, immediately pawing at my dress.
I grab his hands to stop him, and he growls, narrowing me with a gaze.
“I need my medicine,” I plead, raising my hands and showing him how shaky they’re becoming.
Elio keeps my medication with him. The doctor said I would need it for the trauma my brain endured when I was injured. I find myself craving it more and more as the days go. It numbs me. Elio can fuck me, and I’ll hardly notice. That’s what I need right now for this to happen. Or it’s the excuse I’m giving myself. I don’t know which is worse.
He squints, then sighs when he sees the trembling in my limbs. Truthfully, it’s not that bad and I had to exaggerate it slightly. The cravings always start with the tremors, sometimes the symptoms follow faster than at others.
Ever since I had the dream of the man who told me he loved me; my cravings have become stronger. Those few, brief dream moments with him felt more right than all the hours I’ve spent awake with Elio. I still don’t know if it was something my brain made up or a real memory.
This is my life now, though. Chasing the man in the dream through my medication. And, as sad as it is, Unless I get my memory back—along with my feelings for my husband—it’s going to be the only way I’m going to get through this marriage.
Elio cradles my forearm, piercing my skin with the needle. I shudder at the burn, the feeling less painful and more familiar than in the beginning. My body instantly deflates, soaring off into the place I like to hide, while Elio rips apart my wedding dress.
24
Tyjae
ElioRiccistandsinfront of me with anger rolling off of him. His jaw is rigid with tension as the muscle flexes while he grinds on his teeth. The Ricci’s are a family of monsters. Their wealth and power come from drugs and the skin trade. Though the skin trade part isn’t common knowledge.
Fixing the hole in the wall that Griffin blew to bits has been taking longer than Elio is happy with. Spewing bullshit about his future wife’s safety and… I stopped listening to his tirades a long time ago. He has a knack for taking out his frustrations on the people under him now that he’s beaten Malia’s mind to mush and keeps her drugged up on downers to make her a good little puppy.
After what seems like an eternity, Elio dismisses those of us he’s decided to torture today, and honestly, thank fuck for that. My head throbs around my temples from his yelling for what I’m sure was at least two hours. Deciding I need fresh air, I stalk out of the double doors that lead to the large garden the Ricci’s have. There’s a path I like to walk when I need to center myself and it keeps me from doing stupid shit that someone else might have to pay for.
For every step I take away from the mansion, my headache eases. I come to a stop in the winding path that surrounds the garden, enjoying the sun on my skin. Leaning my head back, I breathe in and out, letting the air recycle throughout me, purging out anything tainted that I soaked up standing so close to Elio.