𝐒𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 (𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆)

19

The Bride
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By the time we reached the hotel lobby, I was already fuming with the fact that both of my childhood friends decided to set me up instead of growing a pair and letting me sleep with them.

But no, instead I have to share a bed with the fucker who seemed to have a permanent stick in the ass from my existence.

"Isabella, please go sit on that couch until you calm down," Dante, the voice of reason told me while the rest of them, not including Rossi, stared at me like I was as red as the Devil.

I huffed angrily, leaving them to sit on one of the comfortable couches rounding a giant red carpet.

The lobby of The V Hotel (which was the only hotel that actually belonged to the Volkov Family) was huge, with big windows, and two sitting areas separated by yet another carpet that led to a large register table where four gorgeous ladies worked their way around with the guests.

In the area where I was sitting, there was also a black grand piano that could only be used by the VIP guests.

I was enjoying the view of the lobby and was so close to calming down before a voice from hell spoke in all his pride,

"Isabella Valentino, I would've thought my eyes were betraying me!" a throaty laugh formed behind me.

I looked up, only to realize that my annoyance with this trip would only intensify.

I stood up to be met with dark blue eyes and a military buzz.

Francis Peters.

Remember my friend Adeline Black? Well, this right here is her fiance. And also the guy who became fatherless after I shot Marco Peters five times in the chest.

The fucker was selling virgin girls, ranging from eighteen to whooping five years old, he had it a long time coming.

I brushed away our rocky past, and put on my fakest smile, for Peters exclusively.

"Good to see you, Francis. How's dad?" I asked, and judging by the way his eyes darkened and his jaw set, I could tell I struck a nerve.

"He's dead," he grits through his teeth and I pretend to frown.

Yeah, no shit. I killed the guy!

"My condolences," I tilt my head with such fake empathy it would make Oscar winners take a run for their money.

He starts moving closer to me and I take a step back, trying to build some space between us.

If the surroundings were different, and if I had the weapons, I wouldn't have a problem dealing with him. But without weapons, or an adrenaline high, I was helpless, considering the size difference between Francis and me.

"Listen up Valentino, no need to act innocent now-" he begins with his pointless threats but is cut off before he can finish it.

"Valentino? I thought we were passed with that surname," a voice behind me points out at the same time as the weight of a huge hand rests on my shoulder.

Rossi.

I hold in an annoyed groan at the fact that he, out of all people had to come and save me from I situation I could've handled myself.

I could've blown off some steam everyone knew I built up over time.

"Ah yes. The lavish Rossi wedding," Francis smiles wickedly at Rossi, and the funny part is, he had to look up to meet his gaze.

There's always a bigger fish.

And Francis was good five inches shorter than him.

"Yes indeed," Rossi moves closer so now his body heat is burning into my back, "which means she's a Rossi, right?"

Peters gives an unimpressed nod, trying to walk away before Rossi's voice stops him.

"Remember that the next time you try to threaten my wife," Rossi warns as he emphasizes the last word,

"because then you'll have to deal with me, and I can assure you, the death I give you will be much worse than the one she gave to your father."

Peters grits his teeth as he continues looking up at Rossi, but now, I can see something new in Peters' eyes.

Fear.

And I can't help but feel jealous that I wasn't the one who caused it.

Francis glanced at me one last time before storming off without saying goodbye.

I turned around to look at Rossi, who was already looking down at me.

"Thank you, but I had it handled," I said, looking unimpressed with the stunt he pulled off.

"You're welcome," he says, ignoring the rest of my sentence and looking over my shoulder and Peters with a proud smirk.

Suddenly his phone rings and he takes it out of his pocket

He checks the caller before looking back in my direction, the grin gone and long forgotten, along with the rest of his good mood.

The phone still vibrated in his hand as he continued staring at me.

"You should answer it," I point at his hand as his attention is brought back to it.

"I'd rather not," he squints his eyes at me before returning the phone to the pocket of his slacks.

The soft wool of his shirt brushes against my bare arm, and then I realize how close we are standing.

I could feel the warmth of his body latch onto my skin, a deep contrast against the cold stare of his ice-blue eyes.

Blue eyes.

I don't think I've ever seen such blue eyes.

"I got the keys!" Sofia squeaked from my right and broke mine and Rossi's stare-off.

She jumped excitedly, obviously impatient to see the room she would sleep in.

Alone.

Unlike me.

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AUTHORS NOTE

Somewhere along the timeline of writing this chapter, I decided to split it into two parts, so now you will have to wait a while for me to finish writing the rest.

Also, I want to apologize for taking so long with the writing but I have been dealing with some personal issues.

I am, however, trying my best to keep up with the writing.

All of the scenes that happen on the island are planned out, I just need to write them down, which might be harder than what some think, but as always I'm trying my best.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Toodles💋

8/25/24