Page 14 of Pretty Poison

“I don’t know how many times I’ve asked you to stop spying on me in my office, Silas, but apparently, I have to ask again. Just because you have access to the cameras doesn’t mean you can use them for your own pleasure.”

“Hey,” he says, holding up his hands in defense, “you knew what you were getting yourself into when you asked me to install those cameras. The least you can do is let me watch the footage. It’s not like anything interesting ever happens. Except that little spitfire showing Red what she thinks of him. That was the best cinematic performance I’ve ever witnessed. Pure gold.”

“Just wait until it’s your turn to piss her off. You won’t know what hit you.”

“Lucky me, I have front row seats to your pain, so I think I have a rough idea.”

Red scoffs, burying himself further into the cushions of the couch.

“She’s awake, Rio,” Remi says, bursting into the room.

“Who’s awake?” I ask, rushing to my feet at his sweaty appearance.

“The girl in cell 2B. She’s awake and won’t stop fucking screaming.”

“Alright, lead the way, Rem,” I reply, darting towards him before he takes off running again.

Without hesitation, Cassian follows behind, then moves in front, slipping through the soldiers’ house door ahead of us.

Seven

LIANA

“So, what’s the verdict, Lia?” Katerina asks, an excited bounce in her step as she walks closer. I think she’s more excited about this than Elaina is.

“I don’t know,” I breathe, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. “It’s a lot, especially with the wedding preparations on my plate. I don’t think I can do both.”

“The ball isn’t for three months yet,” she says softly, perching herself beside me. “Once your results are in from the clinic, the wedding will take place within days. You’ll want something to take your mind off it afterwards. I think this is a good way to help you do that.”

I sigh, tilting my head to the ceiling as if the white paint will bring me the answers I so desperately need. Levelling my head again to face her, her eyes are filled with a silent plea. “I feel like I barely know you, Lia. This can resolve that; I’m sure of it.”

“Okay, but you have to help me with wedding shit. I can’t do that alone.”

A smile spreads across her lips. “Well, that’s a given. That was already on the agenda. I loved planning my own wedding. It made me feel included in the family before I took my vows. And not to toot my own horn, but I did amazingly well. It was exactly how I pictured it would be.”

A soft laugh escapes me. “Okay, good. I’d be lost already if Dario hadn’t given me a strict set of things to include. That is definitely a plus.”

She rolls her eyes. “Lemme guess, everything has to be black and void of personality?” I nod. “Yeah, that describes him as a person, too. If it’s not black and white, he doesn’t want any part of it.”

“That’s the only thing about him that I know for certain,” I tell her. “Everything else about him is a mystery, including his adamance that I work for him. As if me sacrificing everything to marry him isn’t enough.”

She recoils at my words, and her eyes squint. “Work for him? In what context?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. He just sprung it on me. He didn’t give anything away, just expressed his severe doubt in my ability to look after myself.”

“Then the only thing you can do is prove you can. If there’s anything I know about Dario, it’s that he always, always, gets what he wants. If there’s even a shadow of a doubt that you can’t live up to his ideal version of a wife, he will force you into a role that diminishes everything you’ve ever worked for in life.” She pauses, glancing over to Elaina who still stands in my doorway. “He was raised right, but his views on life changed the moment he stepped up as don.”

I sigh, rubbing my face. “But he’s right. I can only defend myself so much. Like he said, in a fight where your opponent wields a weapon, you never show up unarmed. Expecting to deal a significant amount of damage with your fists being your only weapon is stupid. A single punch from me would be enough to anger them to the point where their bullet finds its place in my head.”

“I never thought I’d hear anyone besides his brothers ever say Dario was right,” Elaina chimes in, inching closer.

“We all think it, but we never say it, afraid we’ll boost his ego so high that it won’t ever come down,” Kat adds.

“Yeah, I can see that.” I agree with a nod.

“Well, you can also take those training sessions he’s arranged for you and see where it leads you,” Elaina explains, getting back on topic. “Even I went through extensive training when I married my first husband. It was hell, but it shaped me into the perfect wife, fighter and the person I was destined to be. It will help you gain the voice you need to be heard, too.”

“Well, that sounds just… peachy,” I reply. Glancing between them both, I try to force a smile, but my lips press together, forming a straight line on my face.

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