Chapter 005: Five
1078 Words
Eva.
Nero leaned in. His morning aftershave hit me in merciless waves. His lips lightly brushed beneath my ear. I gasped. His expression hadn’t changed. His eyes were dark, obsidian, and boiling with fury and something darker.
His breath was hot against mine. He inhaled heavily, his hefty build towering over mine.
“Listen, little fruit.” His voice was a whip crack. “You're too fragile. Don’t play with fire lest you want to be burnt.”
The room was silent.
“My world is brutal. Curved from blood and violence. Don’t make me show you that side.” His hands gently raked the wild strands of my face in an attempt to tame them.
My nails dug into the sheets.
“If I say were getting married, then we are. “ He muttered. The loose strands hanging from his face didn’t soften his aura. It only made him look like a weapon curved from fire.
His blue eyes, beautiful like the way a knife was beautiful, studied my face. Searching for a crack in my armor.
“Tomorrow you become my wife.” His blue eyes narrowed into slits. “I want you pregnant within a month.”
I choked on my saliva.
“I want a happy wife illusion. A happy family. An heir.”
“But…”I swallowed hard. Panic crawling in. “-I have a fiancée. A future planned.” I breathed, my voice barely a whisper. My voice trembled. My neck burned, and I could feel the blood trickling down my neck.
“That’s the least of my concerns. I'm sure by now Shadow has all the information concerning your little boy toy. He has been warned. His life is now in your hands.”
I swallowed a painful lump. I couldn’t let my emotional lapse in judgment take away Mason’s life.
I bit my lower lip.
He gently brushed my cheeks. That is when I realized I was crying.
“My men are watching him. One wrong answer and you'll be a dowager bride.” A tight synthetic smile stretched across his face, not reaching his eyes.
The room went dead still.
He stood and straightened his shirt. “This is the last time we’re talking about this.” He let the silence stretch. “Be down for breakfast in ten.”
His words hung in the air like dangerous poison.
Marriage.
Baby.
Mason.
I felt my head spin. How could I marry a stranger? A monster with no emotions. How could I bring my baby into an empire filled with greed?
I slid the black shirt and headed for the stairs. It was baggy and rested on my thighs. Its dark color was a contrast to my sun-kissed skin.
I could feel the stares of the maids. Taunting and judgmental. I headed to the kitchen. My eyes met a short-haired lady. Her hair barely rested on her shoulders. Her uniform was modest and immaculate. A black dress with a black apron tied in a bow behind her back. Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows.
“Hello.” I smiled softly.
“M-morning, my lady.” She trembled.
“Just call me Eva,” I said, trying to adjust the shirt to cover my thighs.
“Rosalia, mom- I mean Eva.” She stretched her palm. “Nice to meet you.” I greeted her back.
“Milk, please.” I gestured.
My eyes travelled to the servants whispering in the shadows. Someone didn't bother to hide it.
“She’s the Don’s new wh*re.”
“She’s pretty cute for a c*m dump.”
I pressed my lips into a thin line. My eyes were raging in fury. The insults hung in the air. Toxic and undeniable.
If I was going to survive in this hellhole, then I needed to earn their respect. How would I survive their master if the servants got under my skin?
My lips curled into a humorless smile. I stood, my seat slightly scraping the marbled floor. My hands crossed against each other.
“Who said that?” I said, letting the cold hatred I've been nursing sip into my tone. Their words stung. My heart throbbed, but I couldn’t let them see me falter.
I felt strong hands wrap around my frail figure. His smile was not warm, not cold, but sharp enough to cut glass.
“How dare you? “He questioned. His tone hardened into steel. “How dare you disrespect my woman?” He growled beneath gritted teeth.
The servants froze in the shadows.
Nero was way taller than I was. His frame was practically towering over mine as he held me in place.
Their faces turned pale, drained of all color. The lethal tension radiating from him had changed flavor. Not to scare me, but to defend me.
“Naya,” He beckoned. “Why don’t you and your friends find Shadow. This month's payment will be delivered to your respective family's door.”
His tone was final. Sharp like broken glass.
The others who had not insulted me scattered like roaches fleeing the light. Naya and the other two dropped to their knees. Their heads bent together in terror.
“P-please. Mercy. Have mercy.” They pleaded.
Nero walked past them like they didn’t exist.
He gestured as some tall, bulky men came and carried them away. His gaze lingered for a second too long before he left.
“Bless the Heavens.” Rosalia sighed.
“Is he always that heartless?” I asked.
“Well, if you ask me, I’d say this is the first time I've seen him show mercy.”
“So this Shadow, where will he take them?” I sipped the milk at hand.
“They’ll be dead by noon.” She said in a gruff voice. I spilled the milk I had just taken a sip of. “B-but you’ve said he's shown them mercy.”
“He hasn’t killed them with his hands. “She countered.
“Whose shadow? “I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
“I’m sure you’ve met him. He's the cold, dark man you'll often see around the Don.”
“What happened? Why are they close? How did he end up working for such a ruthless man?”
“It’s-“Rosalia opened her mouth, but was interrupted midway.
“My Lady, I'm here for the measurements of your dress.”
Oh no!
- Writer
