by Savanna Gray
After I showered, I slipped into a pair of jeans and a cranberry colored tunic. I sat in front of the vanity and added some product to my curls, fluffing them with my hands. My father had the same loose curls, which he kept short. We looked alike in so many ways it sometimes sickened me. He was an evil monster, and yet when I stared in the mirror, it was like looking at his reflection.
I wondered if one day I would end up like him. If it was even possible for someone to be so cruel and still live with themselves. He made my blood run cold. His presence sent chills up my arms.
A little concealer under my eyes helped to cover the dark circles. Accompanied by a light gray shadow and pink lipstick, I looked more like myself. I inspected my appearance in the mirror one last time, before I slid a winter coat over my shoulders and grabbed my handbag from the chair in the corner of my room.
My father was in his study, which made it easier for me to creep out the front door and slide in the back seat of the black Mercedes parked in the circular drive.
“Hey, Fernando,” I said to our driver. “Can you take me to the Strand Bookstore in Manhattan?”
He smiled at me in the rearview mirror. “Of course, Miss York.”
I had a driver’s license sitting in my wallet, and still, my father wouldn’t allow me to have my own car. My trust fund was on lockdown until I turned twenty-five. Over the years, I’d tried to take the train several times. Hell, I’d even walked off the property to escape, only for him to hunt me down. It was easier for him to stalk my location if Fernando drove me everywhere. And that made my life somewhat simpler because I didn’t have to argue.
Avery waited for me out front of the bookstore in a pair of loose jeans, sneakers, and a black North Face jacket pulled up to her mouth. She rubbed her hands together and approached my car, tugging on the doorknob.
“You’re here,” she squealed. “We’re going to have so much fun today.”
I thanked Fernando and told him I would be a few hours. He sped off down Broadway, disappearing into the masses of cars. Manhattan was the complete opposite of where I lived—overcrowded and far too loud. But I loved it.
I raised my hands above my head and closed my eyes, taking in the sounds and smells of the city. “What book signing are we attending?”
Avery flicked her blonde off her shoulder and laughed. “Technically, I didn’t lie about that part. But it was just an excuse to get you to come into the city.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What did you do?”
She bit the inside of her cheek with a sneaky look on her face. “I invited someone.” Avery hooked her arm through mine and led me inside the bookstore. “Well, he kind of invited himself and asked me to make it happen.”
We moved through the stacks until we reached the back of the store, where Marco was waiting for me.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “Marco asked me to help him. Don’t be mad. I know your dad hates him, but I also know you have a crush on him. So…”
The muscles in my face hurt from smiling so much. “Mad? No way. This is the best surprise ever.” I hugged her and whispered into her ear, “Thank you. You’re the best friend ever.”
Marco approached us, dressed in fitted dark jeans and a long-sleeved gray oxford rolled up to his elbows, with the top two buttons open. His black hair had a slight wave to it, a few strands falling onto his forehead.
“I had to see you,” Marco confessed. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
I blushed from his words. They were so sincere and sweet. “I would’ve seen you tomorrow at school.”
He shook his head, unsatisfied with my answer. “I didn’t want to wait another day.”
“This is a big risk.” I sighed, keeping my fingers crossed my father didn’t know Marco was here. “I could get in a lot of trouble.”
“I was careful.” He tugged on my hand to pull me into his chest.
His breath on my lips forced me to close my eyes and suck in a deep breath. He gave me a quick peck that went straight to my core, igniting a fire beneath my skin. If we were alone, I would have leaned back against the bookshelf and let Marco claim my innocence. He’d asked me to let him be my first, and I had every intention to wait for him.
I angled my body to look at Avery. “Is there a book signing today, or was that a lie?”
“Oh, no, that’s real. My favorite indie author is signing here.” She removed a paperback book from her oversized purse and held it up for me to see. “I’ve been a fan of her work for the last year. She’s an amazing writer. You’d love her.”
I inspected the cover. A man with bulging muscles held a woman in a Victorian dress in his arms. “Historical romance isn’t my thing,” I admitted.
She shrugged. “You have no idea what you’re missing. J.P. writes the hottest sex scenes ever. Like, fan me hot.” She waved the book in front of herself.
I laughed. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Who needed to read about sex when I had Marco in my life? The orgasm he’d given me with his fingers was life-changing, earth-shattering. In the short time I’d spent with him, he had awakened my sexual desires.
“How long do you have?” Marco brushed the hair from my neck, his fingers sending a pulse of electricity down my arm.
I leaned into his touch. “A few hours. If I’m not back by dinnertime, my dad will have a fit. He has this thing about us sitting down to eat dinner together on Sundays, even though we’re not a real family.”
He laughed. “My mom is the same way. She makes my brothers and me come home for Sunday dinner, too.” Marco hooked his arm around my back, staring down at me. “It’s still your birthday weekend. What do you want to do today?”
“I’d like to go to the Met. I haven’t been there in a long time, and they have an exhibition I want to see.”
Marco kissed the top of my head and held me tighter. “Let’s go then. We don’t have a lot of time.”
“You like art?” I asked Avery. “They’re showing works from the Château de Versailles.”
Avery forced a smile, and before she responded, I knew she had no interest in art. “Nah, that’s okay. You guys go ahead. I want to get this book signed.” She held up the paperback, hugging it against her chest as if it were her prized possession. “I’ll meet up with you later.”
I frowned, upset that she didn’t want to hang out with us. “But I was hoping to spend the day with you, too.”
“Go ahead.” She shooed us away with her hand. “I promise to join you after I meet my literary idol. I won’t be long.”
“Okay.”
Before I left the store, it occurred to me that someone was probably tracking my cell phone. I removed it from my purse and handed it to Avery. “Can you hold this for me?” She stared at it, confused, and so I added, “My driver dropped me off here. If I leave so soon and without you, it might cause some suspicion.”
I’d filled Avery in about my crazy father and less than normal life at school. That was why she went out on a limb to help Marco and me. It was so embarrassing to have another person know about my shitty life, but I was determined to keep my new friend. I didn’t want her to be taken from me, too.
Avery slipped my phone into her purse. “I’ll text Marco when I’m on my way over.”
I thanked her one last time, and then I left the store with Marco. We walked down Broadway, breaking through the crowd passing by to hail a cab. A car pulled up to the curb next to us, and Marco opened the door for me.
“The Met, please,” I said to the driver.
Marco got in next to me, and within seconds, we were flying down Broadway, driven by an insane cabbie.
“Thank you.” I squeezed Marco’s hand and smiled. “I can’t believe you brought Avery into this.”
“She was more than happy to do it.”
“I like her. I hope my dad doesn’t try to scare her away like he does to everyone I get close to.”
“He couldn’t scare me away if he tried.”
“Are you kidding?” He played with one of my curls, twirling it around his finger. “I remember the first time I saw you. You were the prettiest girl in school. You still are. It was in first grade, on the first day of class. Your hair was in pigtails, tied up with pink ribbons. I couldn’t stop staring at you. Even back then, it was like I’d been struck by lightning. There was always something between us that drew me to you.”
Italians had an expression about real love feeling like a lightning bolt struck you. Was Marco telling me that he loved me? My heart swelled with so many emotions I covered it with my hand and sighed.
“I remember that day, too,” I admitted. “You got into trouble for yelling across the room at Sam Carter.”
“That’s because he was acting like a little bitch and crying for his mom.”
I laughed, my fingers gripping his shirt. He smelled of clean linen and the manly spiciness of his aftershave. “You were always so tough. Nothing ever bothered you. So many people were afraid of you. They still are.”
“But not you,” he growled. “At least not anymore.”
“I was scared of what my father could do to you and what he will do to you and your family if he finds out we were together.”
Marco shrugged. “He’s all talk.”
I peeked my head up to look at him. “No, he’s not. My dad doesn’t hand out empty threats. He follows through on every one. Never underestimate him. I learned that lesson a long time ago.”
“My dad is a powerful man. I’m not worried.” Marco released my hair to place his hand on my shoulder. “Today is about you, my raven-haired girl. Even if it’s only for a few hours, forget about your dad and all of his rules and focus on us.”
The way he said us sent a ripple of happiness through me. It was temporary. I was too much of a cynic to believe in fairytale endings. But I wanted to believe for that day I could have one with Marco.
Chapter Five
MARCO
SIENNA MOLDED her body to mine, her head on my shoulder and fingers tugging at the fabric of my dress shirt. She was so relaxed, more comfortable than I’d ever seen her on our ride to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I wanted to take her away from the city and never look back. But I knew her father had more power than mine, even if I’d never admitted it to her.
I felt sorry for Sienna, and I hated that I did. Her life was miserable, every part of it orchestrated by her father. He would have killed me for even speaking to her. The same fate would have fallen on Avery for arranging our date.
When we arrived at the Met, Sienna sat up and smiled when she saw the massive building. It was the largest art museum in the United States, spanning four city blocks.
“I love it here,” she confessed. “Cara used to come here with me when I was younger.”
It was sad her fond memory of the museum was with a woman paid to care for her. My family ran criminal organizations, and even I had childhood memories with my parents and brothers. I wanted to give Sienna the life she deserved… if only that were possible.
I slipped my fingers between hers and led her up the stairs. Once we were inside, Sienna’s entire face illuminated, a giddy smile crossed her lips.
“I like seeing you like this,” I admitted. “You don’t smile often enough.”
She laughed. “Says the boy who walks around school with a permanent scowl.”
“No, I don’t.”
Sienna rolled her eyes at me, biting her bottom lip. “Maybe not when you look at me, but you do with everyone else. You always look pissed off. Antonio never does. That’s how I was able to tell you two apart when we were kids. It’s still how.”
Antonio and I were identical twins, with very few differences in our appearance. I had a little more muscle and one inch on him, but our personalities were the only thing which set us apart. My brother was the “nice one.” And by Sienna’s standards, I guess that made me the mean twin. That was fine by me. I preferred people’s fear over love. It was a more powerful motivator in business.
“I guess you’re right.”
“I am.” She shoved her elbow into my arm and winked at me. “But you’re not so scary right now. This is the most I’ve ever seen you smile.” She flashed a wide grin up at me, my expression mirroring hers. “I like it.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t go for Antonio instead of me if I’m such an asshole.”
She shook her head, staring up at the impressive architecture. The ceilings were high, the space overwhelmingly large and open. Sienna was entranced by the museum, captivated by its beauty, as much as I was with hers.
“Antonio never looked at me the way you do.”
“How do I look at you?”
“Like you understand me.” She shrugged, nonchalant. “I’m not sure how else to explain it. It’s as if you see me in ways no one else does.”
“I do. I’ve always seen you. You’ve made it hard for me not to.”
After I paid for our tickets, Sienna clutched hers in her free hand, studying every word. “At least I’ll have something to remind me this day was real.”
“This doesn’t have to be the only time.”
She sighed. “I don’t get many days like this. Once my dad finds out I met Avery, he’ll go digging into her past and find some way to keep her away from me. He always does.”
“Try not to think about anything other than being here with me.”
She squeezed my hand. “You’re a good distraction.”
“I can be even more distracting.” I winked at her, and her mouth widened even more. “Where do you want to start? This place is huge. I have no idea where to go.”
“Have you ever been here?”
“For that class trip we took in sixth grade.”
She gave me a surprised look. “I can’t believe you’ve only been here once.”
“My parents aren’t like yours. They’re rich but not very cultured.”
“Art isn’t for everyone. To each their own, right?” She tugged on my hand, steering me in the direction she wanted. “Let’s start in Greek and Roman art and work our way through each exhibit.”
“Lead the way.”
For an hour, I listened as Sienna spoke about each sculpture and painting, admiring her innocence. She was so pure and beautiful, a delicate flower. I want to pluck each of her petals, peel back the layers of her exterior until I’d broken down all of her walls. We were taking a huge risk being seen in public together. Anyone could have spotted us, which seemed to make Sienna a little paranoid. Every time I noticed her unease, I held her closer, comforted her in any way I could.
Between exhibits, I pulled her to the side and pushed her back to the cold wall, stealing a kiss when no one was around. Her lips parted for mine, her fingers tugging at the buttons of my shirt. I consumed her, devoured her with each flick of my tongue. She moaned when my hand fell to her hip, my mouth silencing her soft whimper.
Our lips separated when we heard shoes hitting the tiled floor, drawing closer to us.
I moved my hand from her waist to the wall and stood at her side. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes.” Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. “Please. Take me somewhere more private.” She barely got the words out, before I was navigating through the museum in a hurry.
“We have an hour left until we have to get back,” I told her. “Avery texted me. She’s going to stay at Strand. My family has an apartment around the corner if you want to go there.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement, but she didn’t speak.
Our kiss left us both wanting more. All I could think of was tearing her clothes from her beautiful body. After I tasted her and knew what sounds she made when she came, I had to have her again. She was an itch I needed to scratch, an addiction I couldn’t kick. I knew the risk we were both taking and didn’t care. It was worth it.
But our plan
s came crashing down the instant we stepped outside. Two men in suits, with their arms folded across their chests, were waiting out front of the museum for Sienna. They each had Bluetooth devices in their ears to communicate with whoever was on the other end of this intrusion. Most likely it was Senator York.
“Miss York, we need you to come with us,” a blond man said to her, holding out his arm to gesture that she should get inside the limousine parked at the curb.
Avery poked her head out, the top half of her face visible from the rolled down window.
“No,” Sienna shot back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Your friend is waiting,” the dark-haired man chimed. “We have direct orders from Senator York to bring you home.”
The smile, which was once plastered on her face, vanished in an instant. I knew her life was rough, but I had no idea how bad it was for her. Less than two hours after we’d met at Strand, she was already being summoned back to York Manor. My father was controlling, forced me to stay away from the York family, but I never listened or cared. He would never embarrass me the way Sienna’s father did to her.
Her fingers slipped from mine, a painful look spread across her beautiful face. She turned to face me and sighed. “I’m sorry, Marco. It was fun while it lasted.”
I didn’t care about her bodyguards, who stared at me with venomous looks as I planted a kiss on her cheek. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip, and my cock hardened from her simple but sexy gesture.
“I’ll see you at school,” I said, as she was pulled away from me.
She nodded, unsure if there was any truth in my statement. “I hope so.”
Then, she was gone, and I was left feeling responsible for whatever happened next.
MONDAY HAD COME and gone with no sign of Sienna on campus. A few more days had passed where she still hadn’t come to school. I felt guilty. Because of me, her father was punishing her. A week later, the whispers started, the hallways buzzing with gossip about Sienna.
I stopped her friend, Avery, who was waiting in line to order food, and pulled her to the side. “Are the rumors true about Sienna?”