O L I V I A573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG11GywPe0p
"Hey, beautiful."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DzR0cOnV1
My eyes flutter at the sound of Alessio’s voice and I wake up to the brightness of the sun glaring in my eyes. Something soft strokes up and down the skin of my arm.
It feels good…573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimORHnMQC7
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There’s something else though. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptiT3zqRC4
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The soft breeze against my skin. Exposed skin. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8D0TANExP
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Exposed. Bare. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdum8RCl19
I immediately sit forward and cover my chest. I realize Alessio is sitting next to me on the lounge chair and staring out towards the setting sun. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqN8I7A3no
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“You’re beautiful, Olivia. I wish you wouldn’t hide. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMvN5bO1NX
I ignore his compliment and pull my straps back up over my chest. He waits until I’m finished and looks back at me. The sun casts shadows against his high cheekbones.
He silently leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. “It’s time to get ready, love. Anna is waiting.” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfup9mdb7zv
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I nod a little and let him lead me upstairs back to Anna’s room. She’s sitting in the middle of her bed with several black boxes
"Here you go." She says and impatiently tosses me a box.
Inside I found a pair of black stiletto shoes with red bottoms. Tiny diamonds decorate the surface.
“Love those!” Anna grins and tosses me another with no warning.
There's a gorgeous teardrop diamond necklace inside with matching earrings.
"Wow!" She nods in approval, "Alessio really does have good taste."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDn3bK5WuE
"Anna..."I start. "What kind of party is this?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntyFCPiPTN
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She doesn’t respond. Instead, the last box lands in my hands. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhOWXDUAez
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Inside there is a cute and dainty black mask with intricate details through the matte mask that seems to expand out like little butterfly wings with silver glitter. It is stunning but the sight of it makes my stomach hurt.
She chuckles when she notices my expression. “Did he not mention that it’s a masquerade ball?”
“A ball!? You have to be kidding!” I drop the mask.
She rolls her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic. You'll be fine and you'll look gorgeous."
I start to pipe up and argue with her when a pair of unfamiliar girls walk in with two portable chairs and what looks to be salon equipment.
"Makeup and hair time!" Anna winks.
The two girls set up shop in the bathroom. Anna decides to pop open a bottle of wine and pours out two glasses for us both. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfNKxhSTim
“How many people will be there?” I ask and look down at my shaky hands.
“Maybe fifty...maybe two hundred.”
“Two hundred,” I repeat robotically. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtwPBCTQca
"What’s the problem?” She laughs. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fN51V0zhK
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I look over at her. “I’m the problem, Anna! I’m not masquerading material.” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdFX31KpcD
She sighs and takes a drink. “It’s really no big deal. We host these parties every year.”
I nod and decide to change the subject. “Can I ask you something?”
"Sure."
I try to swallow the lump in my throat. “People tend to talk a lot...about things...with your family.”
"Things?" Anna raises her brow.
"Things that are not necessarily legal."
My skin is burning hot. I'm so worried I will say the wrong thing.
"What are you asking?" Her voice hardens.
I don't reply.
She grows annoyed. "Olivia."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8CfKIreni
I panic. "Anna, I'm sorry! Don't feel like you need to answer that. I know I'm invading your privacy.”
She laughs and sets her glass down, "Just know we do what we need to for our family, alright. We'll also keep you safe. We're smart, especially Alessio."
I nod and look back towards the mirror as the girl behind me starts to curl my hair. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluVFGw63VQ
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Finding out the truth isn’t going to be easy.
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"You look so beautiful!”
I smile down at Alessio as I finish descending the stairs. I’m grateful that my ankles don’t snap like I thought they would.
He looks so good. His suit black and hair neatly slicked back with gel. Looking at him makes me feel so small just being at his side.
"Where is everyone?" I ask.
He takes my hand. “Just down the hall and through the doors.”
I nod nervously and a shaky breath comes down. I feel his lips at my ear. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdDEo2BsPC
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“Are you ready, love?”
"If I said yes, I would be a liar." I admit and feel my heart pound in my chest. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6OSEVtj8F
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Alessio gives my hand a little squeeze and leads the both of us through the doors together.
Inside is a magnificent ballroom full of people in gorgeous gowns and suits. All of them seem to move with one another in sync as the harps and violins play at the front of the room.
Several silks hang above us from the ceiling as people in full body silver suits wrap themselves in the silk as they plunge towards the floor.
I look out towards the dance floor and find Anna. She looks incredible. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0N7YEPN6A
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A man with blonde hair dips her back playfully and kisses the exposed neck. Alessio and I watch them for a moment as he spins her out and back in towards his chest. They laugh together loudly and kiss.
"That is Anna's fiance from Sicily,"Alessio whispers."They'll be married early next year."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jPXVpHf9h
I smile and continue to watch them move together gracefully. Alessio’s arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me closer.
"Would you like to dance?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNbHPFa1o7
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I look up at him terrified. “I’ve never danced before.”
He smiles a little and positions his hands on my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck and stare at him before I realize we are already moving. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQPeH3iXw9
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Our feet step side to side as we sway back and forth.
“What are we doing?” I giggle. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIKJkQmNfd
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He laughs and kisses my nose. “Dancing.”
“I’m not a good dancer.”
"You're doing just fine."
I laugh a little too loud as he spins me away from him and dips me low. His mouth finds my neck and I feel his breath tickle me there. “What do you want, love?”
He pulls me up to him again and we stand before one another. Our lips just centimeters away. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNjhX5FV52
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Without even thinking about it I feel the pull between us. I feel as if I’ll explode at any moment.
"Alessio?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tJs8m0rn2
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The electricity between us dies down as a new voice rings out. I realize Alessio is staring someone down and he doesn’t look happy.
The voice had come from a beautiful girl with caramel locks in a stunning green dress. The material clung to the curves of her body and she moved with confidence. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQZSK4LHPA
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Everything about her screamed elegance. She looked like a real life angel. Something about her seemed so surreal. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKObS4RKDkf
She approached the both of us slowly and glanced over at me with a pair of poison green eyes. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLYNGaxe2d
“Monica.” Alessio spit out.
She smiled warmly at him. “I was hoping I’d see you tonight.”
"You did." He states blandly and looks away. "Did you need something?"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXDwA3s6Xq
“Not really,” She purrs out in a heavy Italian accent. Her hand plays with the edge of his suit. “I’ve missed seeing you.” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMIoBKidDe
Alessio stops her. “Quit.” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBKAntptmq
“We’ll see about that.” She taunts.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnc5ATzGmF
I watch silently as she turns away from him and gives me one more disgusted look as she disappears in the crowd. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmMSUvHvnL
I look back at Alessio and can tell he is absolutely fuming. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5UE95B7Rk
“Alessio?” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9ndlsx1Fa
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He pays me no mind and motions for someone behind us. I look back and notice Mateo walking up to the both of us. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6yx0JdtG3
"Take Olivia to my room." He demands. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFfjhswmEN
I frown at his sudden coldness but say nothing as he leans down and presses his lips to my forehead. I open my mouth to say something but without another word he disappears into the crowd. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIvNXWc65c
I look over at his uncle Mateo. “Do you know what is wrong?” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaXjGewH6l
His eyes soften and he smiles a little, “I am afraid that I don’t, dear.” 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cAPthGedy
I nod a little and follow Mateo out of the ball and back up towards where Alessio’s room is. Once I’m inside I take no time undressing and climbing into the massive bed. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSzlReTcR9
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My heart hurt and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcExCGvUxa
It was as if all the progress we had seemed to make today was just gone. I didn’t understand Alessio and I felt so lost.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaFyPNL1WH
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"Olivia."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JpnZjsIlv
The sound of his voice in the morning causes me to jump and I push up in the bed and rub at my eyes. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nf2SWb6m5
He's facing away from me and staring blankly out the window. His voice seems strained...almost as if he is upset.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaId2m6yLU4
"Are you okay?" I ask softly and my fingers itch to touch him.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlguxo1DrhG
He continues to stare out of the window as he speaks.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQszaBE1Y4
"Mateo will be taking you home this morning."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdZ2dlQ9EW
I stare at him as hurt and confusion cover my features.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZR09ijGv0
"Alessio...what's going on? Why won't you talk to me? Why wo-"573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8D9GGhr8b
Before I can finish he is already in front of me and our mouths are on one another. I gasp as little kisses trail up from my neck to my chin. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o4gtgr213
Time seems to stand still as he takes me in. His mouth is warm and hot as we embrace one another for the first time.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvMb4I5lWy
I moan against his lips as his mouth hungrily kisses me. His hands snake down my curves and hook onto my waist tightly.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXV74UIjFV
I can feel my core tighten as my nails dig into his back through his shirt.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DGiOW8mjt
"P-please."573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkSixFctKt
His grip loosens and he's standing up running his fingers through his hair. I can see his breath coming in hard as he tries to compose himself.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2MaVg15H9
I struggle to sit up and push my hair away from my face. My skin is still red hot from our touch.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF63fR8oRB5
He turns and faces the door. I can see the muscles in his back strain a little from whatever he is dealing with internally. 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAaa5JKPMp
"I think I'm falling in love with you." 573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAydArEBZ3
My lips part and I stare blankly at him. His words rang continuously through my ears.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU7nEGFMbx
I stare after him as he crosses the floor and disappears. Once more...I'm alone.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2n9Ln2hBR
I don't try to stop the tears from falling.573Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lpuiIf3C7
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