Page 98 of Die for You

I remind myself that this is almost over. Just a few more hours.

Gianna has left everything I need on the vanity. Even as a grown woman, she still thinks she has a say over how I dress. God forbid I think for myself. But in the past, this is what I have done. She has controlled me, which I stupidly mistook for love.

So I apply my makeup one last time.

I style my hair in a low bun, fastening it with a jeweled clip.

And I dress in the sequin ball gown with the intention of never wearing another like it again. It’s a beautiful dress, featuring embroidered patterned sequins over a red underlay. The dress is a tight-fitting halter neck with crisscross straps at the back that hold it together as the dress plunges all the way to my waist. The thigh-high side split complements the flare shape and sweeping train.

This is the last time I’ll ever wear something chosen by anyone but me.

Gianna has controlled every aspect of my life.

And tonight, it stops.

For she will cease…to breathe.

The thought of sullying this perfect dress with her blood has my skin prickling with goose bumps.

I step into a pair of heels as it seems Gianna wishes for us to be stiletto twins. She knows my tactics well, for she taught me. Usually, I wouldn’t opt for a dress with a split because where am I supposed to hide my weapons?

This means she anticipates we’re at an advantage.

I need this to be over with.

The bell in the clock tower chimes six times—it’s showtime.

Tipping my face to the heavens, I inhale deeply, before an exhale slowly leaves me.

It’s time to put my game face on.

I force myself to smile, practicing my peopling until I look convincing. There’s no room for error. Lettie’s life depends on it.

Gathering my dress with both hands, I saunter out of the bathroom and down the hallway toward the ballroom. My heels stab at the linoleum, in sync with Gianna’s customary trot.

This place was once opulent and thriving, until Father Merry and his predecessors desecrated something beautiful with their depravity.

However, Gianna has managed to transform this ballroom in just one week into a vision from the past, as I envision it once looked.

The crystal chandelier is something you’d expect to see in any Disney Princess movie. It adds elegance and wealth. Servers wear white and black, carrying silver trays topped with flutes of champagne.

A quartet plays classical music in the corner of the room.

Men and women in suits, furs, and jewels mingle around the room, laughing and engaging in small talk. They look to be having a grand time.

But I see the way the men’s eyes follow other men’s wives. Or the wives’ ogling the young, handsome servers.

This charade is all for show.

There isn’t a single shred of decency here. All I see is greed. All I smell is depravity.

And when ten children are ushered into the room and sit on the small stage, it confirms that every person here is a predator, waiting to catch their prey.

Elena catches my eye, and I nod subtly.

She sits tall, sniffling back her tears.

I snatch a glass of champagne from a passing tray, needing to blend in. Also needing to do something with my hands other than choke the life from these perverted snakes.