O L I V I A616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvBIrB3xve
"Hey, beautiful."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlxgFuhi7s
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…616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbFG1WXodF
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There’s something else though. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9JlnoEff6
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The soft breeze against my skin. Exposed skin. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYNfJhTHPN
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Exposed. Bare. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxQUZj0nWg
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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R9CBwWAs6
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“You’re beautiful, Olivia. I wish you wouldn’t hide. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SMN5cCaNr
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.” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTibCLfPpm
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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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQobQ3mRYb
"Anna..."I start. "What kind of party is this?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBqWq6lwgw
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She doesn’t respond. Instead, the last box lands in my hands. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQm45FQMwU
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQSErULiXq
“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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATKLa5S9i4
"What’s the problem?” She laughs. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKS2uBIVbT
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I look over at her. “I’m the problem, Anna! I’m not masquerading material.” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTnOcnvUL6
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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lTjO6pS4p
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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9irCZYIVh
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTQPaG1RFV
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF4U3e2HA2
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ098LS4t24X
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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."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTSIBqlGOz
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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc8XUA81Lo
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4WzXKrg3I
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Our feet step side to side as we sway back and forth.
“What are we doing?” I giggle. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDdVRdRMi1
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7BrluCJlD
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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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaUytPP0ad
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoAOB886yi
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Everything about her screamed elegance. She looked like a real life angel. Something about her seemed so surreal. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtoed7XuTw
She approached the both of us slowly and glanced over at me with a pair of poison green eyes. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMXMA8rG91
“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?"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGead7RVuI6
“Not really,” She purrs out in a heavy Italian accent. Her hand plays with the edge of his suit. “I’ve missed seeing you.” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5W1NM2OaW
Alessio stops her. “Quit.” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvemFdKQxVd
“We’ll see about that.” She taunts.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZVthLWAzj
I watch silently as she turns away from him and gives me one more disgusted look as she disappears in the crowd. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSR4fhYkM5
I look back at Alessio and can tell he is absolutely fuming. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNEAHYQIVE
“Alessio?” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf83DH2LZ0K
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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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2sziET9pd
"Take Olivia to my room." He demands. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6FoSRZCQS
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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyL4iUYSaI
I look over at his uncle Mateo. “Do you know what is wrong?” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKkMHg2bAI
His eyes soften and he smiles a little, “I am afraid that I don’t, dear.” 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDY1KjLFtg
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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqFfonyeB7
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My heart hurt and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif5W0PNuaK
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw4xtoeNyS
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"Olivia."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TJZJ9qRSL
The sound of his voice in the morning causes me to jump and I push up in the bed and rub at my eyes. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFktbtKJsZ
He's facing away from me and staring blankly out the window. His voice seems strained...almost as if he is upset.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1zpP2YOcs
"Are you okay?" I ask softly and my fingers itch to touch him.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcO2hv3ZZY
He continues to stare out of the window as he speaks.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98u9w0IE4o
"Mateo will be taking you home this morning."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOAkH6l1mh
I stare at him as hurt and confusion cover my features.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYjwvaQPAs
"Alessio...what's going on? Why won't you talk to me? Why wo-"616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyRKFynDuB
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. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnuhwYNcFj
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL62uyP5y1Y
I moan against his lips as his mouth hungrily kisses me. His hands snake down my curves and hook onto my waist tightly.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPI0E0CaCS
I can feel my core tighten as my nails dig into his back through his shirt.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCPJC6Pj8o
"P-please."616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbA38KUaxC
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.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5N2Tj9X1J
I struggle to sit up and push my hair away from my face. My skin is still red hot from our touch.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z8glCJKgc
He turns and faces the door. I can see the muscles in his back strain a little from whatever he is dealing with internally. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVDEwImrh2
"I think I'm falling in love with you." 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh3r4PfadK
My lips part and I stare blankly at him. His words rang continuously through my ears.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUka4AwedD
I stare after him as he crosses the floor and disappears. Once more...I'm alone.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZN0nAtekj
I don't try to stop the tears from falling.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Hv8WuEMz
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