CHAPTER SEVEN. 

             “I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.” —Walt Whitman. 

                     CHERRY. 

My face looks dull and my friends are gonna freak out. Unfortunately, I wasn't bothered by my pale skin. I don't even care if I slump and die. It will probably be the best solution for my current situation. 

There is no escaping him, he isn't like those frat boys at college I fooled around with, he isn't like my dream partner, the sweet man that would worship me. 

It was all a dream. 

I got the worst man I wouldn't even wish for my enemy and he hates me. 

And oh did I forget to tell you he hates me for no reason, I need answers from my bloody father. I might kill him if I see him today. He has always been a pain in my ass and I would be glad if he's gone, even if Aunt Juliette will be exhilarated to discuss his will. 

My friends came as soon as I sent the address I got from one of the maids to our group chat. They are the best and I honestly do not deserve them. 

Oaklyn scrutinized my body like she was searching for something and Jessica squeezed the life out of me, oh she was hugging me but it didn't feel like a hug. 

Cecilia being her usual self searched the living room for cameras or voice recorders, she claims he might be watching like some sort of creep. 

I wanted to tell her that it only happens if he's interested or obsessed with me, which he isn't. He loathes me for a reason and I hate him because he took a huge piece of my life from me. 

Wearing a ring and being betrothed to an unknown person are different from being engaged, my father made sure I didn't date or fuck anyone I tried to defile those rules but it was impossible. 

Anyone I got close with disappears before we even get to that part, the only thing I got away with was making out and foreplay, when I decide to get more intimate they are suddenly nowhere to be found they just disappear. 

Now I know why, he murders them because he thinks I'm his property. 

"This isn't good" Oaklyn isn't one to mince words so she sat beside me giving me a pitiful look, "You are hurting, I haven't seen you like this since..." She trails off biting her lower lip. 

Since my mother. 

"I know I will be fine. Right? I mean being engaged with a mafia that hates you is good. Right?" I broke down immediately and they hugged me. 

"I'm so sorry baby" Jessica cooed, patting my back. 

"It's gonna be alright, it's not the end of the world" Oaklyn added. 

"And you are strong, you can do this I'm sure you will come up with something to keep this jerk on his toes" Cecilia interjected and I tensed straightening my posture they all stared at me with a look of pity I despise. 

"Thank you for coming" I know I sound stupid but they had jobs and they have their own lives but they are here for me. 

"Bullshit, that's crap you know we will always be here for you" Cecilia smiled and I wiped my tears putting all sad thoughts away. 

"Who is going to do me the honor of being my maid of honor?" I laughed as an argument broke out between Cecilia and Jessica. 

One saying she deserves it while the latter saying it's her duty as my best friend, Oaklyn just continued staring and I gave her a forced smile which she didn't return. 

"You should eat more, don't let this break you. Pain makes us stronger, Fear makes us brave and heartbreak makes us wiser. You are better than this and I know you can do anything if you set your mind to it" She has a way with words and it's not just because she's a good psychologist or therapist, it's because she's the smartest in our group but I would never tell her that. 

The door creaked open and Dante waltzed in as if he owned the house, it's not mine but it will be soon and I should face reality like he said. 

"Didn't know you had visitors, Tesoro, I would have brought gifts" He smirked at Jessica while Cecilia scowled, Oaklyn looked uncertain and she furrowed her brows in question. 

"This is Dante, he's a friend I guess" I introduced plainly. 

"Guess? Psst she loves me to death" Dante waved off and Jessica scoffed. 

"I doubt that," She mumbled. 

"What are you doing here? He's not here and he won't be until the wedding" I informed but I have a feeling he already knows that. I remember their argument when he said I wasn't worth the hassle. 

"Yeah just wanted to check up on you, now that you are occupied I will leave you to it" He smiled at the girls before apologizing like a gentleman then he left. 

"More like to catch you off guard, be careful around that one" Cecilia warned as soon as he left and I almost laughed. 

Dante knows his friend owns me and he wouldn't dream of it, besides it's typical Cecilia she hardly trusts people. 

"She's right," Oaklyn added flatly. 

"Of course she's right both of you have trust issues, deal with your shit and don't drag my girl with you" Jessica sniped and Cecilia scowled. 

Just like that I was smiling again and then laughing, I have the best friends anyone would ever ask for and I'm so damn lucky. 

They left when it was dark and it felt really painful to see them walk away. I wish they could stay but they had things to do. I pretended not to notice how they kept their phones away to focus on me. 

"Look on the bright side you won't have to worry about your step brothers harassing you again, think of this as a break from them" Cecilia joked as she hugged me before saying goodbye. 

They promised to call but I dismissed it. They had their own lives, and I can't be so greedy and pathetic. 

Just as they left a black BMW drove into the manor and a feeling of unease sat in my stomach, he was late as usual. 

I hope he dies so this can be over but I doubt if Ace would let me go, from what he said he was pretty possessive, and if he didn't get what he wanted then hell would break loose. 

Even now I wish I had a gun right now. I would shoot him myself for ruining my life and using my life as a gamble to deadly mafias. 

Oh look I'm starting to think like the wife of a mafia, if I am going to be Mrs Russo I might as well act the part, I have never held a gun or even thought of holding one before until my father sold me off to the Russos, now I felt the urge to shoot something or someone and my father would be the perfect experiment.