Arranged love

HAVEN

I SIT ON the couch in our hotel suite. Jasmine sits to my right. And we both stare up at the TV. Luca is walking out of Kingdom. He is dressed to empress with a charcoal gray three-piece suit on. His hair is slicked back, and his hands are in the pockets of his slacks. He walked out of our suite this morning, telling me he had to go to Glass. I know it was a lie. He needed to be seen. It’s been three days since he put my drunk ass to sleep and we’ve been hiding out. I thought the news crew parked outside would give up and go away, but he knew better. The longer they waited, the sweeter this would be for him. The fire is on every news channel and the radio. It’s all I hear people talking about when I walk through the casino. Not to mention social media. I’ve stayed off it, but Jasmine keeps sending me all these links.

News crews surround him. “What do you have to say about the burning of the cathedral?” one female reporter asks.

“Do you believe it’s a sign from God to not marry?” another chimes in.

“You ever realize how stupid these damn questions are that the reporters ask?” Jasmine asks, shoving popcorn into her mouth.

“Yep,” I answer.

Luca comes to a stop, slowly pushes his black shades to the top of his head. All chatter stops but the flashes from their cameras continue. He looks at the camera in his face and speaks. “What happened at St. Mary’s Cathedral was a terrible loss. That’s why I’m going to have it rebuilt.” The people who surround him ahh and gasp at his generosity.

“Oh, he’s good.” Jasmine chuckles.

“Yeah, he is.” I sigh.

The reporters start yelling, but he raises his hand to stop them. They silence at once. “And my wedding to the lovely Haven Knowles is still on. A fire isn’t going to stop me from making her my wife.”

I turn off the TV.

“Hey, I was watching that,” Jasmine protests.

I stand from the couch and begin to pace. “He’s making a point.”

“To Rossi,” she adds.

“That he’s changed the location.” The fire was ruled an accident.

The cathedral was old and needed updates. I guess they had had an inspection six months ago and were told that things needed to be replaced.

Such bullshit!

I know it. Luca knows it, and the Kings know it. Nothing would have caused an explosion that big at that time of night. I could see them saying a candle lit set drapes on fire. Blah. Blah. Blah. But an explosion that brought down such a large portion of that big of a building in such a short time?

They paid off someone. That’s the only situation that makes sense. I haven’t brought it up and neither has he. He’s been MIA for the most part. If he’s not at Glass, he’s here meeting with the Kings. I’m getting restless. It’s supposed to be our wedding day. Well, our fake one.

Nite is here with me, but Luca said he wouldn’t be back until later tonight and not to wait up for him. No one has filled me in with their new plan or location for the ceremony. No surprise there.

I do know that they plan on shipping my mother away. For protection, she had said. Just in case shit goes sideways, they wanted her protected.

I didn’t argue. At this point, I just want us all to survive.

I overheard Luca telling Nite that the jet was fueled and waiting for us in case things don’t go how he plans. I guess he’s going to ship me off to Italy with Mia if Rossi wins.

I’ve prayed nonstop that he doesn’t. But I highly doubt God is listening to me after my husband burned down a cathedral. We can hope.

“It’s going to be okay,” Jasmine speaks, getting through the fog.

I come to a stop and stare down at her. Tears filling my eyes. “And if it’s not?” I can’t help but ask.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

She stands and walks over to me. “Then we’ll leave together.” She gives me a soft smile. “We’re ride or die bitches. You go, and I go.”

I open my mouth to argue with her, but my cell begins to ring on the coffee table. I pick it up, and my heart picks up.

“Who is that?” she asks as I just stand staring down at it.

“Blocked number.” I swallow.

“Answer it,” she insists.

I shake my head. “I can’t …”

“Haven.” She takes it from my hand. “If it’s who we think it is, you need to talk to him. What if he suspects this happened on purpose, and he just watched Luca on TV? We need him to tell you his plan. To protect Luca, Nite, your mother, and the Kings. All involved.”

“You’re right.” I nod. He’s not only my father but also a very powerful man. I need to be ahead of the game. For others’ sake. I quickly look around the massive suite. “Where is Nite?” I don’t want him to hear this.

“He’s in the shower.”

“Answer it,” I tell her.

She slides her finger across the screen before it stops ringing and puts it on speakerphone.

I clear my throat and try to sound like I’m not a scared little bitch. “Hello?”

“Hello, daughter.”

I cringe at the word. “Rossi.”

“I just saw Bianchi on the news. Terrible thing that happened to the cathedral.”

I rub my sweaty hands down my thighs. “Yeah.”

“You must be happy.”

I frown, confused by what he means. “Happy?”

“Why, yes. Your wedding is postponed.”

“Oh, yes. Very much so.” I forgot that he thinks I hate Luca. That I don’t want this wedding any more than he does.

“I’m sending a car.”

What? My wide eyes go to Jasmine. “No, I-”

“I will see you in one hour,” he interrupts me. “My driver will be outside of Kingdom for you. Don’t make him wait.”

“Rossi, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Your mother’s life depends on it.” Click.

She throws the phone onto the couch.

“Fuck!” I hiss. “My mother? What does that mean?” I grab my phone and call her cell. It goes straight to voicemail. “Shit. Shit.”

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Jasmine asks, looking around the room aimlessly as if she will appear.

“I don’t know. This morning. She was going down to the casino …” I trail off. I never thought about her not returning. I thought maybe she stopped and was playing a machine. Or went to the spa. I don’t keep track of her 24/7. “Oh, my God.” I breathe. “He’s taken her.”

“We need Nite …” She goes to leave the living room, but I grab her arm and stop her.

“No. Don’t get him involved.”

“Haven. This is serious. You’re going to need help,” she snaps, pushing her red hair behind her ear.

I run my hands through mine. “If he knows I got help, he may kill her. I can’t take that chance.”

She places both hands on my shoulders. “There’s a chance she’s already dead. You can’t take that chance.”

I pull away and shake my head, unable to believe that scenario. “He wants me. Luca. He won’t hurt her.”

“You don’t know that!” she shouts. “You’re in this position because she went to Luca. What if he knows that?”

“Keep your voice down.” I look around quickly to make sure Nite is still in the bathroom.

Her eyes narrow on me. “He’s going to use you as bait. Make Luca go to him.”

I know. Fucking bastard.

“All three of you will be dead,” she snaps.

“Either you help me, or I do this on my own. Either way, I’m doing as he says.”

She lets out a long breath. “Fine. But for the record, I’m against this.”

“Noted.”