Page 38 of Bad Blood

“Get used to that name,muñeca. In twenty-four hours, you’ll be wearing it too.”

ThaliaCarrera?

My heart lurches in protest.

“Look at me.” Lunging forward, he holds my face prisoner, inches from his own. I feel the bite of his touch, but it’s nothing compared to the sting of his indecent proposal. “You’re right. You don’t have a choice, so I won’t waste words trying to spin this into something it’s not.”

“I’m nineteen,” I gasp out. “Girls my age think about marrying Henry Cavil, not the devil.”

“You can set a fucking precedence then, can’t you?” He lets go of me, and this time I lose my balance in my haste to get away—sprawling backward across the mattress, and covering hundred-dollar bills in shock, shame, and a crushing inevitability. “You want that money?” He stares down at me with that same look of distaste on his face that he wore last night. “Then this is my price.”

“I hate you too,” I croak, as a crimson jewelry box is tossed carelessly down next to my head.

Prince of Darkness.

King of Loco

Soul Crusher Extraordinaire.

“I take it that’s a ‘yes’? I hope the ring fits,fiancée.”

“I hope you rot in hell,” I hiss, scrambling to sit up and regain what little dignity he’s left me with.

“I’ll defer that honor to your father and hissicariosin New York.”

Oh fuck, my father.Santi Carrera has no idea what he’s about to unleash.

“White dress it is,” I hear him say. “Though if you’re a virgin, I’mSanta Muerteherself. Santiago gave you too much freedom. I won’t be making the same mistake. Maybe we’ll start with a wardrobe that doesn’t pussy-flash every man in the room.”

“How dare you,” I seethe, lobbing the first thing I can lay my hands on which happens to be a Legado branded notepad on the nightstand.

With no weight behind it, it fizzles to a pathetic nosedive between us—which, to be honest, is a pretty good representation of how much control I have over my life right now.

He lifts a withering eyebrow at me. “Either way, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Don’t tell me I’ll have to share a bed with this monster, as well?

Turning on his heel, he starts walking toward the door. “We’ll marry tomorrow. You’ll live here with me. I’ll release that money to you in exactly one week. And don’t bother running. There’s a hundred armed guards between you and your freedom.”

“Aweek?” Panic blooms in my stomach. Bardi’s deadline has already passed.

“In that time, you will be respectful and dutiful to me and everyone who works for me. You’ll convince your family how fucking irresistible you find me, and that free will is a twenty-four-hour party in this penthouse. Understood?”

“I need it now, Carrera,” I say, rising to my feet. “He won’t—” I stop myself just in time. “Please, I’m begging you.”

“One week. No less… To sweeten the deal, here’s an early wedding gift.” He tosses a burner cell on the table as he passes. “You can use it to tell Daddy all about the good news, or maybe not. When’s the last time you spoke to him again?”

Without waiting for an answer, the door slams shut behind him.

A beat later, I’m grabbing the cell and dialing out Bardi’s number. I feel like crying when it clicks straight to voicemail.

“Bardi, it’s me. I have your money, but I need a couple more days. Meet me at that bar you picked me up outside yesterday at nine p.m., next Friday. Look, I’ll even take a photo of it, so you know I’m not bullshitting you.” I glance at the dirty dollars on the bed. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m begging you not to do anything stupid with that tape until you speak to me. Please… Damn. Call me.” I ring off as my voice starts to crack.

I slide down the wall in a crumpled heap of anger and confusion. Not only have I been kidnapped at gunpoint, but I’m also being forced to marry against my will, just like my mother did.

History reallydoesrepeat itself.

But this is where it ends.