Page 41 of Beautiful Revenge

“Why don’t we go show him?”

“Why don’t we?” I make my legs move as I follow Amanda to the main section of the store. Finn is lounging in a chair, looking like a man without any cares in the world. And for him, that’s true. He’s the bringer of destruction. He’s never the one hurt.

“What do we think?” Amanda asks, motioning towards my dress.

Finn’s eyes lock onto me and he sits up straighter in his seat. For a second, he looks surprised. It surprises me that I could take him by surprise.

But then his usual wicked expression takes over. “She looks beautiful.”

I shiver. I don’t want to hear Finn call me beautiful.

At least, I don’t think I do.

For just a second, I saw a flash of vulnerability in his eyes when he first saw me in this dress. I’m desperate to know but I’m not a woman who ever shows desperation. That’s for weak people and I am not weak.

“I don’t like this one,” I blurt out. It’s a complete lie but I don’t like the way Finn is looking at me. Like he wants to both consume me and kill me at the same time. I want him to find me ugly. I am not attending this wedding of my own accord. By choosing a dress that I love, I worry that Finn will somehow ruin it.

That will be ‘the catch.’

“I like this one,” Finn says. “We’re getting it. Amanda, ring us up.”

“If the bride doesn’t like it, there are other dresses we can choose.”

“No,” Finn says, overriding her. “This one. Right, princess?” His smile tells me not to do anything stupid. That he will kill everyone in this room if I do.

I grew up with Mafia men, knowing the kind of things they did. I’ve always known Dante and my father were not innocent. They’ve killed people. Frankly, they’re not better than Finn is in that regard.

But Finn relishes in killing people. That’s a sort of madness I’ve never seen before and it makes him unpredictable. I can’t risk upsetting him.

“We’ll get this one,” I mutter. Amanda looks uncertain but after I nod, she nods back.

“Ok. I’ll ring you up.”

“We’ll take it right away,” Finn says. “She can keep wearing it. We’re going to get married today.”

“Oh.” The surprise on Amanda’s face is noticeable.

“Is that a problem?” Finn’s tone doesn’t allow any objections.

“No. Not at all. As long as you can pay, you can leave with the dress today if you want. It’s just… normally we have multiple versions of the dress and they need to be altered to the specific bride and –,”

“We’re taking this one!” I snap. I just want to get the dress and get out of here before Finn kills everyone.

Finn gives me a smug smile, knowing what he does to me.

Amanda finally rings us up and we leave the boutique with me in my wedding dress.

“Onto the rings,” Finn says once we’re in his car.

I feel ridiculous walking around in a wedding dress as we enter the jewelry store. People give me curious looks.

The woman behind the counter gives me a large smile. “Congratulations!”

I can barely keep the scowl off my face.

“We’re looking for some wedding rings. Also a nice diamond ring for my fiancée here. We’re getting married today.”

“Oh. Well, then… Price range?”

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