Page 12 of Coercion

But some pathetic part of me suddenly wants to stop this, to pull her aside and tell her what’s really going on, but that’s crazythinking. Besides, it could all be an act, a way to get me on side, while underneath, she’s Levi’s creature through and through - and I’m not going to be stupid enough to fall for it.

Only, she starts actually fighting, giving up all pretence and, as we all watch on, I realise she’s either the best actress I’ve ever seen in my life or this is real.

She really doesn’t want this.

She really is fighting as if her life depends upon it.

She digs her heels into the thick carpet and Levi curls his fist, clearly wanting to beat her, but he refrains under all our watchful gaze. So instead, he deepens his fingers in her arm and jerks hard enough that she stumbles forward and he can haul her down the last bit to where I’m stood.

As they come up beside me, it takes all I have not to punch the bastard in the face, but then I look at her, at my bride, and my heart seems to stop entirely.

She has a long veil covering her features but underneath a satin dress clings to a naturally curvaceous body that makes my mouth water and my dick come to life.

I know Levi said she was twenty one but she looks older.

She looks nothing like the blurry photo he showed me on his phone.

Perhaps it’s the makeup, perhaps it’s the dress, but this girl here, she doesn’t look like a child. She looks every bit the Mafia Princess I’d first imagined her to be.

And it’s the tears streaming down her beautiful face that seem to captivate me in a way I didn’t expect.

I’ve never had much time for women’s tears, much time for emotions in general. I’m a firm believer in being in full control of yourself, of keeping a hard mask in place, especially in public. Ordinarily, such a reaction would irritate the fuck out of me, but on Ruby it makes me even more curious.

I’m a sick bastard because all I can think is how she’d look as I slammed my cock down her throat, how she’d plead and beg and how pretty she’d be on her knees as I gave her a real reason to be crying.

She keeps her eyes down, refusing to look at any of us. Levi is gripping her arm in a way that I’m certain will bruise badly and I’m quick to pull her free. In less than an hour she’ll belong to me anyway, so I’m staking my claim, making him see that from now on she’s untouchable to him and all his cronies.

Something feral consumes me.

Some innate need to make the point that she’s mine now. Mine to touch, mine to control.

All fucking mine.

Levi’s lip curls as he looks at me and then he slinks away to sit on the front pew beside Gunnar, who is scowling like someone has shat on his bed and made him sleep in it.

The ceremony is quick. The priest has clearly been bribed because he doesn’t seem to care that the bride wants no part of this. When it comes to her vows she stumbles, sobbing harder, too distraught to say any articulate words and Levi gets up, slapping his hand over her mouth from behind, and speaks them for her as if none of us would care.

Nico and I exchange a look while the priest acts like this is all perfectly normal, like every blushing bride behaves like this, as if they have a gun pressed right to their temple.

Putting the rings on is even worse.

I have to wrench her hand open and practically jam the thing down her finger. The diamonds seem to sparkle in jest, their light catches on the tears still streaming down her cheeks. She doesn’t make any attempt to pick up the gold band meant for me and in the end, I pick it up and put it on myself.

When he says the words ‘man and wife’ she seems to deflate more, practically collapsing so I have to hold her up. It’s likeshe’s just been handed a death sentence. Like life as she knows it is over and I guess, in a way, it is.

She’ll smile now if I allow it, she’ll feel joy too when I decide.

She might have lived under her uncle’s strict rules up to today but from now I get to decide every aspect of her life and deep down, I’m already revelling in that power.

I take her hand again, trying to ignore how small it feels in my grasp, all of her looks so fragile, so utterly breakable.

And I haul my new wife back down the aisle, while glaring at every man we pass, daring them to try something.

We only have to get through the reception now and then finally I’ll have her all to myself.

Levi and Gunnarare drinking like this really is a celebration.

Eleri is sat stiff, with her eyes continuously darting to Ruby, who hasn’t looked up once. Her veil is off her face, every few seconds she sniffs. Her makeup, that no doubt was immaculate hours ago, is smeared down her cheeks and a weak part of me wants to scoop her up and take her away from all the jackals surrounding her.