The devil's bride

What's

room, a big blanket wrapped around her like a cloak. A sketchpa

s that she looks so much like my dad sometimes: same green eyes an

ike Nina that it almost hurts sometimes: that same innoc

that life was

a soft spot for Aria. I'm also not that much older than her, and especially now t

o be brutally honest with her inste

o thinks the whole world should bow and kiss his feet just because of

e. Then she nods, forcing a small smi

as I realize h

t I meant. I mean, yes, the man is classically good-looking, I guess. If

ctive if you li

tting on the edge of the bed to grab a pillo

robably jerks off in front of a mirror.

that second part more.

ns a fucking sex club, Aria.

etchpad. "You don't have to sell me on not wanting to marr

h

kly to hug her close, stroking

lder before pulling away with tear-filled eye

chest constri

pening? Why are

rom another loved one, echo in my memory. My b

ea

centered and focused on Aria and not on m

this out, okay?" I sa

un away, or point out the fact that she's eighteen

tly under Frederick' roof, but

he sheltered, privileged life she's lived so far. But Frederick or Matteo would find her eventually, probably

of predators who are out there prowling around

t of their element and lo

na and

grandfather wields a substantial amount of power on the Crown and Black board of directors, much as James and Aiden hate it. Most of the time, him ha

ecause I don't have a job, or any money of my own, and still live in m

cause I won't be here for very long. No

cil and idly starts to move it across the page. It takes me a second before I glan

angrier for everything she

d never wanted the life Frederick set him up for: one of grifting, skirtin

rnor's daughter rather than the mafia pr

der Frederick' mob-like influence. And I ha

is going to be wasted when Frederick forces her into a marriage with Mr. Cocky Psychopa

t mention a time

rror, my mout

ha

or anything. But I'm supposed to go to Mr. Bell

ick. Fuck you. F

fia-world bond of a blood marker: a bullet-proof, inked-in-literal- fucking

rce, or annu

marker, and Frederick knows

hug her just as the tears

ly scared

ietly as I hold her tight. "I

ow

n't

s this hurts so much: I'm not able to do a damn thing to get Aria ou

cry, because I've already cried all the tears I have

till have a heart. And drive. And a burning ho

my skin, it hits me with blinding cl

dea forming in my head a

st fantastically po

n control a woman's life just because they're men. It's also the

ause of my big sec

short one. A cautionary tale, if you

I die at

I take that pri