Chapter 25Grace WilsonPOVThis morning Rowan was waiting outside my bedroom door, I was going to knock on his door asking what I should wear. I wasn’t sure if I should dress up for the wedding or not. He told me to dress comfortably. We’d get a dress in Vegas so that’s what I did.The realization that I’d be a married in just a few hours hits me like a ton of bricks. Though what I’m feeling at the thought isn’t what I expected. After Rowan’s question last night, I’d expected to feel anxious or even nervous. But I feel excited, being tied to Rowan excites me, I know I’m supposed to hate him, I’m supposed to want to run as far as I can, but I know I’ll be living on the street the second I leave. And the big gaping hole that will be left inside of me, the thought of not seeing Mia every day, the thought of not seeing Rowan everyday brings me nearly to tears. Rowan and Mia are the only friends I’ve ever made in this life.“We’re here Grace…" Rowan’s cool voice brings me out of my though
We drove to the chapel and when we got there everything was set up. We had an Elvas impersonator wed us. We had fun afterward at the casino. We booked a suite upstairs. While Rowan was downstairs with some men, I went up to our room and just laid on the bed. I know I’m in Vegas for the first time and all I want to do is sleep.=======(Dream)I'm standing in front of a flower field... a small smile plays on my face as I watch my parents dancing in the distance. Jamie is laughing at them; my parents look so in love. I lay down on the ground not worrying that there’ll be leaves in my hair when I get up. Rowan lays beside me. He points at a cloud. "You see that cloud up there. It looks exactly like you. All silly looking." He teases.I hit him softly. I pout. "You are being mean again Rowan.""Okay, okay stop abusing me." he complains.I smile. "Where do you see yourself five years from now?" I ask."Hm, let me see…” he thinks before answering. “I guess us being happy together, in love
Chapter 27Grace PriestPOVToday is the day, today is my wedding day. Well the big grand wedding. Rowan and I got married in Vegas a month ago. It feels like just yesterday that we getting ready for the wedding. Yet here I am in a wedding dress with my mother in law. Gaby talking to the wedding planner. It feels unreal how big this wedding is.I’d love to say that I’m deeply in love that his is the happiest day of my life, but when I think of today I think of a theater show we’re putting on fooling all those people into believing we’re madly in love.Recently I’ve been feeling a little guilty about the whole secret we’re keeping from the world. Though telling people you bought your wife at an auction is a little weird right? Out of this world. Spending that much money to make someone your wife than the kicker is, he spends even more money to provide for me. The wedding in Vegas, flying out the hairstylist Carly for this wedding. He has done so much for me, I don’t know how to feel ab
Chapter 28Rowan PriestPOVSitting in my penthouse apartment in the dark on my wedding night with a drink in my hand. It’s my fucking wedding night and I can’t help thinking about my first marriage. The happiest on Angie’s face when we got married in my parents’ backyard, she wanted an intimate wedding and most of our marriage was kept private.When I close my eyes, I see Angie’s face. She’s my only wife, the only woman I’d ever love. I could never give my heart to another woman. I know I came up with the whole marriage thing in the first place so I wouldn’t be betraying Angie’s feelings but the further the day progressed the more I wanted to back out. The guiltier in felt.========FLASHBACKSix and a half years ago 12th January 2014I am so nervous; my hands are trembling. I haven’t been happier in my life. Today I marry the light of my life. The reason for all my smiles. Angie and I have been together since we were in diapers. She’s the only reason I tolerate the violence, my fam
Chapter 29Rowan PriestPOVSitting in the dark remembering my wife's smile is one of the many ways I love torturing myself.I love self-torture. Self-love? I don’t know a damn thing about that. How can a man who hurts the people he loves love himself? How can a man who is the reason his wife is dead love himself?Ah the joys of being me. Making another woman my wife is one of them. Disrespecting my wife’s memory by sleeping with other women.Then making Grace my wife. Grace… Someone like Grace. Someone who sees everything through this sunny perspective. I don't know how to put it into words. She's something I haven't seen ever. Growing up in this life I've come to realize that nothing has a bright side. Yet since Grace has come into my life my days have become brighter. My mind wonders to her when I'm not with her. I can't wait to hear what she's reading next. What new funny scenario plays out in her mind. It's entertaining...I bite my lip and take a swig of my lukewarm whiskey.I s
Chapter 30Grace PriestPOVI'm so excited I haven't been to a mall since I was a little girl. I remember being in one for the first time. Mom was pregnant with Jamie at the time and had to stay clean.We didn't buy anything of course but we looked at all of the clothes they had there. All the baby clothes mom needed for Jamie. This time is a little different. I'll be going alone well not alone I'm going with my four guards. And I have money last night Rowan placed a bank card on my bedside table telling me my monthly allowance is on it. I should get a couple of school supplies and new outfits for school. Sandra was supposed to come with me, but something came up.I didn't blame her; I'm used to being alone anyway.I've been married for a week and last night was the first time Rowan has been home since our wedding day. He told me he was staying at the apartment because it's closer to his work. I understand he has been missing a lot of work because of me.He looked tired so I didn't bo
Chapter 31Rowan PriestPOVLife always has a way of giving you a wakeup call when you need it the most, or that’s what I call this… Sitting in a meeting with the capo’s and under bosses of the family business was an event I never saw coming. My life will always be in danger whether it is from this business or travelling for the legal one. The blue contact lenses itches my eyes, the silver mask has me sweating in my face. These people are here together to ask about marriage. When Angelica died many of them wanted their daughters to be my next wife. Damian sits with an amused expression on his smug face. He knew they were going to spring this meeting on me and didn’t warn the bloody bastard.I didn’t inform the people of this life of my marriage. Grace has no ties to this life other than being sold at auction. I had no way of hiding her from them once I announced my marriage. There’s a reason for that, Grace’s hair is distinctive, the color of her eyes is even more distinctive. I never
“What happened?” I ask again when Damian doesn’t answer me the first time."Do you know if Grace’s parents are still alive?" he asks.I nod. “Yes, they’re staying in Chicago last I checked. Why?" I ask.He hands me his phone. It’s a social media post about how Grace abandoned her family to be with me. How her brother is sick and being with me made her ignore their pleas for help."Get rid of this post and anyone who tries to spread this..." I tell him. Damian nods.Andre swears under his breath and speeds up.“What’s going on?” I ask.“Someone reported Damian to the police” he says.Fucking hell. This was one bad thing after another. When were we going to get a fucking rest day.“Damain, you need to get out of the car, and I’ll have someone pick you up and take you to mom and dad’s place. They’ll be your alibi you’ve been with them all night to you hear me?” I warned my brother.He can’t mess this up.He sighs and nods. “I didn’t go out last night. I was in my apartment all night…” h