Chapter 2

Three months later:

"I can't believe this." I whispered to Brandon who looked dashing in his dark blue jeans and powder blue button up. 

I was attending my mother's nuptials. She wore a dark red dress that barely reached her thighs and to be honest, she looked as high as a kite. Sure, she looked stunning in a sultry way, but this was her wedding for God's sake. 

Hell, she was the one who made me dress in a white lace gown which was fitted at the waist and flared out at my hips and reached my knees. 

"Neither can I babe." He shook his head to emphasize his point. 

Beside her, my new step-father, Geoff Vasily wore a starched white shirt tucked inside black trousers. His face was blank as usual. I've read about people like him in my romance books. The surly guys. Usually, they'd show emotions after meeting their soulmate. Now, I'm not saying my Mom and him are soulmates and it's not like he's a romantic character, but surely, there should be something resembling joy in that indifferent face, but Geoff....he looked like he didn't want to be here. 

We started on bad footing, and we barely tolerated each other. I didn't know how this marriage was going to work out for them, but I wanted no part in it. He never did stop calling me 'little girl'.

The ceremony was over, and it was my mother's favorite part. The reception part where she could get drunk. I really didn't think Geoff would appreciate her embarrassing him, but last time I tried to stop her, I almost got hit with a broken beer bottle. 

I found it quite strange that there wasn't anyone from Geoff's side of the family, only his colleagues. But, who was I to judge? We had no one from our side of the family either. My mom's mom disowned her a long time ago and I didn't know where she lived. 

It was just me and Brandon and Geoff's colleagues. I watched my mom get drunk and Geoff made no move to stop her. 

She dragged him to the dance floor and tried to dance with him, but he barely moved and didn't even try to touch her. He looked at her with annoyance and not for the first time, I wondered why he even married her in the first place. 

When she realized that there was no moving him, she moved back to the alcohol. He didn't move from the dance floor, so I took the opportunity to dance with him. I knew just the way to make him move. 

"I'll be right back." I told Brandon, even though he was deep in conversation with his boyfriend, Cole. He looked at me and understanding passed between us, making us both smirk at each other. 

He nodded at me and turned back to Cole. 

I met Geoff, still standing on the dance floor. There was slow music playing. 

"Want to dance with your new step daughter?" He didn't respond and in that moment, he looked so lost. Not on the outside though. He looked cool and collected on the outside, but his eyes told a different story. They were blank most of the time, but I just got a glimpse behind that blank facade. 

I placed his hand behind my back and placed mine on his shoulder. I moved my feet and at first he didn't move with me, his hand barely touching my waist, but then I felt his hand press into my waist, the length of his hand spanning the width of my entire waist and then he did move. 

"See? Progress." I beamed at him, trying to make him get to the loose tile in the ceiling, but he stared at me like he always did. Not in a perverse way or even in a creepy way, but as if he was trying to decipher some kind of code. 

When the slow song morphed into a fast paced song, I grabbed both his hands in mine and moved us both to the fast beat of the music. I barely even reached his chin and successfully put him under the loose tile. 

I glanced at Bran and he nodded. One minute, we were dancing and the next, Geoff was covered head to toe in white shaving cream. I slapped a hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. I stepped back and his livid grey gaze met my green one. 

He chuckled, laughing it off to his friends, but I saw the flat line of his mouth, the darkness in his eyes. That was when I thought it would be smart to take a step back. 

"I-it's just a way to welcome you into the family." I managed a shaky smile. At this point, I was scared for my well being. 

I was about to leave, but his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his body. He bent down to whisper in my ear, ruining my dress as well, with shaving cream. 

"That's the last fucking time you'll ever embarrass me, little girl."

"You're coming with me." He demanded. 

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I couldn't manage an even tone and I hated it. He looked just about ready to kill me and judging by the scars hidden beneath his tattoos, I knew he wasn't a stranger to violence. 

"Yes. You. Are. If you know what's best for you and your mother, you'll follow me like an obedient little pet." His Russian accent bled through his words. 

"I am not your pet." My own anger rose. 

"You are. Take a look around you. If you look close enough, you'll be a wise girl, but if you choose to make me drag you out of here, you'll be a stupid little girl."

I quickly glanced around and that was when I noticed two identical figures. One was near my mom and one was near Brandon and Cole. The three of them were unaware, but I saw the unmistakable bulge of a gun near their hips. 

I looked at Geoff in what I hoped would come across as contempt, and not fear. 

"Who are you?" I knew he was sketchy the first time I saw him, but this just confirmed it. 

"I'm your stepdaddy. I told you to be careful what you wished for. Now follow me." I wanted to grab a gun from one of his goons and shoot him with it, but instead, I followed him. Like an obedient little pet.