Forbidden Desires

Chapter Thirty Seven

Amara's POV

It's been a month since our engagement was announced. I could no longer take the cake tastings, the dress fittings, I was done.

"Mason, I do not care which table cloth we have. It's a cloth!" I said after an hour of sitting down with him trying to choose a table cloth theme.

"The wedding planner says we need a choice by tonight Amara." He said, getting up from his seat. He walked over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"This wedding is happening, if you like it or not, it is." He told me, his hands squeezing my shoulders.

"If it's not out of love, it's a business arrangement." He sat back down again, "Think about it this way, you no longer have to worry about the mafia." He shurgged.

"I want to worry about the mafia, Mason. It was rightfully mine!" I shouted at him, his eyes still on the table cloth.

"If we're going to be together you might as well look at me!" I said, ripping the fabric out of his hands.

That seemed to push him over the edge as he stood up from his chair one more time, his body advancing toward mine.

His hand attached itself to my throat, his fingers squeezing it tightly.

"Don't you dare talk to me that way. You will be mine once you marry me, Amara. Not Luca's not anyone's, just mine."

He was squeezing so tight I couldn't breathe. My airway was blocked off and I was trying to pry of his hand, my face now turning red.

"Do you understand?" He said to me, his face so close to mine now.

I nodded my head frantically, watching as he dropped his hand and finally letting me breathe. My hands went straight to my neck, holding it tightly as I tried to regain my airway back.

He grabbed me by the chin and put his lips on mine, making me shiver in disgust.

"Now Amara, choose a table cloth." He said, smiling as he sat down.

                                     ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻

"So the wedding's next week, huh?" Alec said to me, handing me a glass of whiskey as he sat down.

"да" (yes), my gaze on the wall. I just knew this past month I looked terrible. I didn't even try with my hair, I never dressed up and I couldn't get any sleep knowing I was sleeping next to a monster.

"Amara, if there's anything we can do." Derek started.

"Unless you can get me out of this marriage, there is nothing." I said, downing the glass of alcohol, the whiskey not even burning my throat anymore.

"We swear we knew nothing about this." Jack said to me, and I felt bad that he said to see his best friend turn into the person he now is.

"I know, It's okay guys." I told them, giving them a smile as I returned the glass to the sink.

My throat was itchy as I washed the cup, one of my hands touching the bruised hand print on my skin.

I pulled my sweater up more as I walked back, letting Derek play with my hair as I put my head on his lap.

One thought consumed my head as I talked to the guys beside me.

I can no longer be with Luca if I marry Mason. I'll never see him again. Luca is long gone...