Chapter 19
Jasmine
My heart is hammering out of my chest as I stare at myself in the mirror. The stunning classic white lace A-line dress that cascades down to the floor and runs into a short train behind me is perfect. I run my fingers across the plunging neckline, which is embellished in exquisite lace. God knows how much it cost, it feels expensive.
I never thought I’d ever marry anyone. My mother had been through so many botched up and failed marriages to scum bags, and I’d vowed to never do the same. Yet, here I am on the morning of my wedding day. Not to mention, I said yes to a big-time criminal.
It’s funny how fate has a way of fucking with you. I’d always been adamant that I’d never marry, and I’d definitely never even consider dating a criminal. Seven days have passed since Kane asked me, placing his mother’s stunning ring on my finger.
I never asked what happened to his mom. The pain in Kane’s voice when he told me she died when he was one-year-old was clear as day. I swallow hard, wondering what my mother would say if she were here today. Probably nothing good-she hated it when anything made me happy.
My dark hair has been styled into a beautiful half up and half down style, wavy and natural. A small but stunning tiara is placed on the dressing table, waiting for me to add it to the ensemble. And a pair of matching earrings and necklace. I feel like a princess, something I never really dreamed of.
Some little girls dream about their weddings when they’re little, but not me. I pick up the earrings and put them on, twirling around to check my appearance in the mirror. My stomach is a ball of nerves as I glance at the clock, noticing there’s only an hour until the ceremony.
Kane insisted we spend last night apart, and I hated it. For the first time since I arrived here, I couldn’t sleep. It had taken all of my will power not to sneak out of bed and up to his room.
A knock at the door breaks my train of thought. My tummy flutters as I wonder if it’s Kane. The thought of seeing him makes me anxious. I stand to my feet, walking toward the door and pausing a moment with my hand on the handle.
Another knock sounds, and I open the door. My stomach drops at the sight of Alex, my step-dad, standing on the other side of the door. Behind him is one of Kane’s men, I think his name is Jaz. He smiles at me in a way that makes me sick to my stomach. “Your step-father wanted to see you, so I bought him up,” he says.
Why the hell would he let him in here? I try to shut the door in both of their faces, but Jaz catches it with his hand.
Alex steps toward me. “Hey there, sweetheart.”
I narrow my eyes at him and take a step back. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
He smirks callously. “You’re my step-daughter, and I’m here to give you away.”
“Like hell you are,” I spit, taking another step backward.
His eyes narrow at me. “You have me to thank for the position you are in, marrying one of the most powerful crime bosses in America.”
I shake my head. “Get out of my room, now.”
He shakes his head, taking another step forward. “That’s no way to speak to your step-dad.” His eyes travel the length of my body in an almost predatory way, making goosebumps prickle over every inch of my skin. “Being a whore paid off just like your mother.” He shakes his head stepping toward me. “It’s about time I got a look of exactly what you’re hiding under those clothes.” His eyes narrow. “What exactly has Kane Romano settling down for, you must have a perfect fucking cunt.”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
I feel the blood drain from my face and step backward, looking toward the door to find Jaz has left me alone with him. There’s nowhere for me to go, as I search for an escape. This room doesn’t have an en-suite like Kane’s. I can’t even lock myself away from him. “Get the fuck away from me before I scream this place down.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He laughs. “I’m not going to touch you, otherwise Kane won’t pay me the ransom I want.”
My brow furrows and for a moment I just stare at him. Then, everything clicks into place. This asshole is here to kidnap me from the man he gave me to. He presses a button on his phone and three men step into the room, one of them is Jaz. He’s in on this-the reason Alex Cavino was even allowed into the house.
After another frantic search for an escape point, I know there’s no way out. Instead, I scream at the top of my lungs, hoping someone will hear me in this cavernous house. “Someone help,” I scream repeatedly. “Kane,” I scream his name, despite knowing he’s on a separate floor.
We play a game of cat and mouse, as I dodge the three men for as long as I can. I even jump onto the bed and try to leap for the door, before getting caught by Jaz. His arms tighten around my waist and he pulls me back toward the bed. I flail frantically, kickingandscreaming and catching one of the assholes in the face. It’s not enough though. One woman against four men aren’t odds that will ever go in my favor.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I scream, as Jaz pins me to the bed, holding me down.
A fear and dread slice through me as I wonder if my step-dad was serious. He surely isn’t going to touch me in that way. Jaz snatches a ball of cloth from one of the other men, forcing my mouth open and shoving it inside.
My mouth dries as I try to scream and make some noise. It’s not use. The sounds are muffled as I try to writhe against the men above me, they hold me tighter. I hate being so fucking weak and powerless.
For a moment, the three men remove their hands from me and I snatch the opportunity. I dash off the bed and toward the door, slinging it open only to be dragged back inside. My step-dad using the back of his hand to slap me across the face, sending a stinging pain across my jaw. Blood trickles down my face where the ring on his finger caught my cheek.
The pain barely registers as I continue to try to break free, hearing the tearing of material as my dress is ruined. Jaz pulls out some ropes and ties them around my wrists, keeping them behind my back. I bite down on the rag as the rope cuts into my skin. Next, he ties my legs together and then shoves me at one of the other men.
I know I’ve got no chance, as he hauls me onto his shoulder, carrying me as if I weigh nothing. A tear of frustration slides down my cheek. This day was supposed to be the happiest of my life, and my step-dad has ruined it. I’ll kill him if I get the chance, and I hope to God Kane finds me.
Alex opens the door to the room, and they carry me out down the corridor. Surely, they can’t walk out the front door with me. Then I remember Kane’s instruction to the guards the night before. He has sent most of security away for the day, leaving only a small amount of guards on
-one of them being Jaz.
They head down the stairs and straight for the front door and any little bit of hope fades. What if he thinks I ran away or changed my mind?
A shout from behind us forces me to look up. Rick is rushing toward me, our eyes meet and he gives me a nod, as if to say don’t worry. He doesn’t stop running, but he’s too late. The guy carrying me, breaks into a sprint and flings me into the back of a car.
My head hits the door, pain radiating through my neck. The engine rumbles to life beneath me, and I feel the car move.
Everything around me fades to black, as I mutter Kane’s name. His face clear behind my shut eyelids.