Page 48 of Beautiful Revenge

Her mouth opens and closes as she thinks of an answer. “But you have clothes here. I’m sure you do. I can just borrow something of yours.”

“I never said you could wear my clothes, princess.”

“I am not walking around naked in front of you. Not again.”

“That’s a shame.” I let my eyes rake over her. “You have a sexy little body.”

“Ew.”

Her utter disgust makes me laugh. “Fine. The bedroom is upstairs. Go take your dress off. I won’t bother you.”

“You won’t?” The disbelief in her voice is strong.

“Call it a wedding gift from me to you. For tonight only, I’ll let you be.”

She eyes me over with distrust but she still heads upstairs as fast as she can.

I just made Aria my partner in crime tonight. The only person I’ve ever worked with before as a true partner was Aiden. I thought my brother would be the only one I’d ever want as a partner in crime.

But I didn’t mind it with Aria. In fact, there was something exciting about it.

For the first time since meeting Aria, I feel a strange softness for her. What the hell is happening to me? I don’t get attached. Aria is my prisoner. She is my key to destroying Dante.

But she’s also my wife now.

And I don’t know how to feel about it.

Aria

The bedroom, like the rest of the house, is small in a cute way. It’s comfortable, not cramped. That’s unusual for me since my bedroom back home is bigger than most peoples’ apartments in New York.

But I’m not in the city any longer. I’m in some backwards small town, having helped cover up a murder, and now, I’m trying to take my wedding dress off.

The problem is: it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be.

The sales woman at the store helped me into this dress. I never got out of it since we bought the dress with me in it and left. My hands strain to reach all of the buttons. I can get some of them undone but I can’t reach them all.

My hands flap down to my sides. This is so stupid. I can’t get the dress off.

I imagined my wedding day and wedding night for years. How my husband, strong and handsome, would carry me to bed and undo my dress with delicate, respectful fingers. Except, the man I am now married to is the least delicate and respectful man ever. He’s a colossal asshole.

How can I be married to a man like him? He ruined my life with this. Even if Dante manages to find Finn and kill him, I’ll be tainted. No man will want me now. Finn has effectively destroyed me for all future men. Even if he dies, he’ll be haunting me from beyond the grave.

I can’t get this dress off and I really don’t want to sleep in a dirty, muddy, bloodstained gown all night.

With one last ditch effort, I try tearing the dress to get it off but it’s a lot harder to tear fabric than any movie has led me to believe.

I’m stuck in this dress.

There’s one way out of it and it’s not something I want to do: I have to ask Finn to help me.

With a shudder, I head back downstairs. Finn’s smile is smug like he knew I would come back to him. Bastard.

“Yes?” he asks, opening his eyes wide and pretending he’s innocent.

“I need help with my dress. I can’t get it off.” I turn my back to him. “Get it off me.”

“So bossy. But you’re not in charge here, princess, I am.”

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