The Bride He Meant To Break

Chapter Five

~Nikolai~

A scowl touched my lips immediately Valentina and her best friend, Mia Belladonna, got up from their hiding spots.

For someone who got caught in a gunfire, Valentina looked too good for her own good. She had always been rumored to be very beautiful and was known to be the pride of her late father. But even the rumors and pictures on social media didn't do her justice.

She was dressed casually in just a really baggy shirt and jean shorts that had her long toned legs on full display. Her eyes were a rich brown that reminded me of the warm earth after rainfall. With her golden brown waves that were left out freely and untamed, she almost looked like an angel. It made me scoff.

Unlike the rest of the world, I wasn't susceptible to her charms. I was too disgusted by the blood that ran through her veins.

Valentina glared at me from her spot behind a table that had been turned over during the chaos.

My eyes drifted away from her and scoured the area, searching from any sign of suspicious movement. When nothing seemed off, my eyes fell back to Valentina.

"Mr.Vetrovski, what a pleasant way to meet again", she greeted, sarcasm dripped from her words.

I c****d my head in feigned confusion.

"We've met before?", I asked, and almost found the anger that bloomed in her eyes amusing.

"For a man of your caliber, you do have a shallow memory", she said and I was stunned by her audacity. I recovered quickly.

I strode over to her and leaned in a bit.

"A man of my caliber deals with a million things, Valentina", I ground out in her ear, "It would be easier for me to just remember things I perceived as important or valuable. I guess our encounter didn't fall as either".

She snarled at me and I found her friend holding her back, reminding me of her own existence.

"You must be her friend", I addressed her, although I already knew all about her.

She frowned at me in distaste as she moved closer to me only to shoved me with a force I would never have expected from such a small person.

"I'm not just her friend, asshole, I'm her best friend and talk to her like that again and I'll serve you your d**k on a platter", she hissed.

I gave her an incredulous look. I admired her loyalty to her friend but it was solely misplaced. People like the Morellinis didn't deserve such loyalty. They returned it with a dagger to your back and not many realized early. My mother for example.

I took a deep breath as unwanted memories flooded my thoughts. I turned away from them as my emotions got to me.

I walked towards the door and stopped when I realized they weren't following.

"Are we leaving or not?", I asked.

♣♣♣

Valentina and Mia chose to sit in the back seats as I drove them to the Morellini Estate. As soon as the car was parked, they were out so fast you would think they had rode with the devil.

I took my sweet time getting out of the car and found my way to Luca's study.

My eyes tracked a wall that had a picture of the Morellini family. The complete family.

The picture captured a very happy moment. Domenico and Guilla Morellini looked content as they looked down at their little children.

Little Valentina was staring at something on her little brother's—Adriano's— shirt and Luca seemed to be trying to tug Valentina's hair. I never met Adriano, the youngest child, but the fire in his eyes that was now frozen in time, would have made him a formidable man in the Cosa Nostra.

I turned away from the picture and continued down the hall until I reached the double doors that led to Luca's study.

I pushed it open and stepped inside.

Luca was seated behind his desk, as expected, but so was Valentina.

I thought maybe she had run off to change her outfit but I guess I thought wrong.

I kept my expression neutral as I made my way to her brother.

"Luca", I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Nikolai", he greeted likewise.

"Let's get this over with, shall we", he continued and pulled out two documents from a folder. He flattened them on his table and pulled out a pen.

I pulled out my own pen but felt Valentina's glare sear my cheek.

"What?", I asked her but she just snarled at me then looked back at Luca.

"Uptight prick", she grumbled beneath her breath as she leaned over the table to have a better look at the document.

My eyes darted to the dip of her waist and her curved ass and I felt blood rush to my groin. I quickly looked away from her ass only for my eyes to be met her brother's.

He glared at me and I rolled my eyes. Was he mad that I was checking out the ass of my wife-to-be?

I watched as Valentina read through the document, so I picked up mine and did the same. At the end of our perusal, we signed the papers and handed them back to Luca.

"Alright", Luca said as he took the papers and put them away, "Why don't you see him out, Val".

"Umm... I didn't see him get here with a tour guide. He can easily get himself out", she said and left the room.

I nodded at Luca and followed his sister out.

She glared at me when she looked behind and saw me. She ignored me and kept on walking. I followed her behind, quickly covering the distance between us.

I caught unto her hand and dragged her to a stop. I ignored the spark that shot up my hand at the contact and pulled her towards me.

My eyes fell to her lips as she gasped in surprise. They were pink and plump and I could almost imagine what they tasted like.

My eyes fell back to hers.

"Valentina... Vetrovski", I said to taunt her but liked the sound of it, "It would do us some good to at least pretend to like each other, don't you think?"

"It's Valentina Morellini", she seethed, as she pulled her hand out of mine.

"For now", I declared as my hand found its way around her waist and pulled her flush against my chest sounded

Her breath quickened at the contact and she tried to pull away but I didn't budge.

"Do you realize how insufferable you are, Mr Vetrovski?", she asked, for her voice stranded

I shook my head at her and looked at the time on my watch.

"We would be getting married tomorrow, Solnishko. Be good", I patted her cheek and turned to leave the house.

"My name isn't Solnishko, Nikolai. It's Valentina", she corrected, but I was already at the end of the hall. Without replying her, I pulled the front door open and walked out.

It's a shame that Valentina had to be a Morellini. She would have made a great partner.

Nonetheless, she is and therefore would have to be my ticket to destroying the Morellini family once and for all.

♣♣♣