Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Nikolai
“Let me go,” she yelled, hitting my back. That didn't bother me; I walked straight to her room and dropped her onto the bed. She shot up off the bed and grabbed my shirt and tried to punch me. I blocked her, and she moved and tried to knee me, and that made me smirk. I pushed her off, and she fell back onto the bed. I pinned her down.
“Let me go,” she said, struggling. I stared at her; her eyes were still the same. They held fire and so much emotion. I had to be on my guard with her. She took my distraction and made it hers; she leaned up and kissed me.
Fuck it, she won’t remember it anyway. I left her hands and cupped her chin, deepening the kiss. She moved so fast, wrapping her legs around me and flipping us, and was over me, straddling me. I grabbed her neck, pulling her into me, deepening the kiss, and the way she moaned was making me lose all my rational thought.
I flipped us over, and she was straddling me. Her hands were in my hair. I ripped her shirt off, and she leaned into me closer, moaning. I moved away and put her on the bed.
ISLA
The second my eyes opened, I was hit with a headache. I sat up and realized I was naked. What the hell. I jumped off the bed and wrapped the sheet around me. I started panicking; the room door opened, and he walked in, and I froze.
“You’re awake; come have breakfast. Drink this,” he said, putting a glass on the nightstand. When he leaned down, I saw it under his shirt collar. A hickey. No, no, that couldn't have happened. He wouldn't let me do that; he was cold and avoided physical touch, and only in his fit of anger or whatever he was dealing with would he grab me.
“Thank you.”
He walked out without another word. I walked into the bathroom and stopped dead. My entire breasts were covered in hickeys. But I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort. After a hurried shower, I headed down for breakfast. Blair was at the table; I sat down, and Maria brought my food to me.
“Who feeds Ares?” I asked.
“Maria,” he said, looking at me.
“Did you sleep well last night?” he asked, and my fork froze halfway to my mouth. I looked at him, and he just sat there looking at me. I knew what he was doing. I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath. I couldn't remember shit; last night was the first time I ever drank, and I drank so much.
I looked at him and smiled, which was rare. “Oh, I slept really good. After all, I had some fun before falling asleep.”
I saw the tick in his jaw first and then his eyes darken. I kept smiling at him; I had no idea what I did or what I said, but he didn't need to know that. He was about to say something when I heard the clacking of heels against tile. Blair jumped up.
“What is your intention with your family?” i aksed
“I want them gone,” he said, and I nodded.
I stood up and walked over to the sitting area. She was talking to them hurriedly. I could see Vivian looking at me. It was as if she was trying to place me; I saw the other cars coming in. I stood looking at them, waiting. When the entire Ferro family walked in, I made my move.
“Nikolai, what is going on here? Who is she, and how dare she hit your intended?” Isadora asked.
He didn't say a word; he walked over and sat down, not saying a word. I walked over to Blair and grabbed her by her hair and kicked her over.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU, AND WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TOUCH HER?” Isadora yelled.
“Ares”
Ares strutted into the room; some eyes went wide, and some looked scared. I looked at Isadora.
“You do not speak here.” I looked down at Blair.
“Do you know what your mistake is?”
She looked at Vivian and Alistair; I kneeled down and grabbed her face.
“Answer me.”
“N-no,” she said.
“You told outsiders what happened in these walls.” I slapped her and drew blood, but I didn't care. I stood up and looked at everyone.
“The Ferro family demands loyalty and discipline. She has only suffered humiliation for one day. What happens when and if she gets caught by rival families? Then she’ll spill her guts, and betrayal is something the Ferro family cannot condone.”
“She is right, Mother.” “Anabella,” Nikolai’s mother said.
“You… you… Isla?” Alistair asked. I didn't look at him.
“Isla, who is that?” “Pedro,” Nikolai’s father asked.
“Our adoptive daughter.” Alistair said.
“I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me, Mr. Rhodes. My name is Natalie De Luca. and I am here to teach your daughter discipline, which you have failed to do.”
I sat down on the couch and looked at them. Ares came over and sat beside me, leaning against my leg. “Now, I suggest you all leave and don’t return. If she cannot handle a bit of training that is intended to make her a proper wife, then leave and take this weak and disrespectful daughter of yours.”
“I said six months; it’s only been one day, and she can't handle a bit of trouble. She isn't fit to be my wife.” Nikolai said.
“Mother, they are correct. Our family isn't normal; we have enemies all around. What happens if she says something she shouldn’t?” Pedro asked.
“Very well, Ms. De Luca. You have six months to make her a Ferro woman,” Isadora said, standing up.
“Good, and for the next six months, if I see either of your faces, then you won’t like the outcome,” I said, looking at Alistair and Vivian.
They hurried out of the living room. I waited until all the Ferro family members were gone and looked at Blair and smiled.
“For this disrespectful act of yours, you’ll receive your punishment. Wesley?”
“Yes, Madam,” he said.
“Take her out back. Have her kneel on the walkway for five hours until she learns her lesson.”
“Please, I’ll learn, please, Mr. Ferro.” she begged. I looked at him, but he didn't flinch; he didn't even look at her.
“You heard the madam,” he said, and Wesley grabbed her arm and dragged her out.
“I need something from you.”
He looked up at me, his eyes dark, and he nodded. “I need to know exactly who I am. Where I was born and who my parents are or were.”
“Sure,” he said and continued reading. I left him there and went to the gym. Then back to the library. I continued reading the file that he gave me. I read about their business and the rival families. During dinner that night he was quiet, and I didn't say a word. I checked the time.