Page 85 of Wanted

For a moment, I broke Maia Callie. She stared at me like a deer in headlights. After one sharp inhale, she let out an awkward laugh. “I should introduce you to my parents. They’re right around the corner…”

Grabbing my arm gently, she led us into the lion’s den.

The entire family was in the dining hall, getting ready for the feast. We’d get the ceremony over with, and then there’d be tons of food. That way, the ones who weren’t satisfied with my marriage to Alex could feed their sorrows.

Fylox’s mom had the presence of a star. She worked the room, her energy touching me even before she turned around to face us. Her box braids were in an updo hairstyle of two space buns. She wore red today, coupled with heels that I’d kill for. She was a woman of the public but the subdued version. You’d never catch Mrs. Castro publicly engaged in a conversation about sucking dick.

I froze. That was a disgusting thought to have about Mrs. Castro… Fuck. They’d turned me into one of them.

Maia Callie introduced to me Mrs. Castro, and my hand jittered as we shook hands. “The famous princess. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I hope I can change your mind,” I commented.

“We’ll see.” She smiled at me, but there was a line of worry on her face.

Maia Callie called her dad in Spanish. He was next to us, conversating with Jordan. When he turned, I froze.

“I know you,” I blurted out, my heart heavy. The raven hair and the hazelnut eyes were nothing new. I recognized him from his nose and the scar on his cheek. He’d broken that nose often, and I could recognize that in its deformity. In a suit, he could almost fool you. He looked like a lawyer. He talked like one. He and his wife appeared like good citizens.

Luis Castro didn’t seem fazed by me. “I visited your home country once. I wasn’t aware that we had met.”

What type of whores do you sell here? Where do you get them from? I’m simply curious. If I fuck a hole, I want to know where it’s from. See, I don’t trust your tests. They could be lying, for all I know. Yes, I have a wife. Two children. They’re back home… Bring them here for a vacation? Are you out of your mind? I’d never do that. I want to fuck freely when I’m here…

“I was in my early twenties,” I said, not offering my hand. Suddenly, the warmth in my body was gone. He’d seen me in a compromising position. He either forgot, or he chose not to remember on myspecialday. “You spoke to my father.”

What’s the price for younger holes? No, younger than that.

Mr. and Mrs. Castro glanced at each other, passing a message that I couldn’t intercept.

When Alex’s mom walked in with her husband, I should’ve cared. I should’ve made an effort, but I felt the world spin. I barely introduced myself.

“Are you proud of yourself?” Mr. Howard asked me.

I smiled at him, but I wasn’t listening.

“You got yourself a cash cow. No prenup. No rules. Nothing. Just a wedding with a whore! Who knows what sort of diseases you carry around. Don’t make him sick, or else he won’t be able to earn all that money you so desperately want!” Mr. Howard made horrendous accusations. My twisting stomach gathered all of my attention instead.

“Don’t listen to that.” Alex appeared next to me, slinging his arm around me proudly. I nuzzled myself into his embrace.

Alex glanced at Mr. Howard with venom in his eyes.

“I think that’s enough. The boys like her, and she’s got her own wealth. She doesn’t need Alex,” Mr. Castro argued. He was a proud man, standing almost at his son’s height. His firm posture carried the expensive suit well. I was nearly as tall as him, but he looked down upon me with judgment in his eyes. “Let’s celebrate this union.”

“We celebrate when the bride is worthy of the groom,” Mr. Howard uttered, side-eying me with his fierce blue eyes. His blond hair was styled back, and he was shaved clean. He had an uncomfortable aura around him that was choking me. “This wedding is a rip-off. I don’t know why you’ve agreed to this, Alex. Jordan’s clearly trying to lure you into a trap.”

“You don’t insult my son inside of his own home,” Jordan stepped forward. Alex went on to say something, but his biological dad stopped him. “He consented to this. Half of it was his idea, actually. If you don’t like the plan, you can leave.”

“What’s the plan exactly? Having him wed a whore from the other end of the world where they sell women like property?” Mr. Howard argued. I didn’t flinch at the comments he threw at me because I was used to westerners thinking that low of us. We weren’t the most convenient concept for them to grasp.

“You don’t get to call my wife a whore,” Alex stated, taking my hand and holding it firmly. “As my father said, leave if you disagree. I’m going through with this.”

“Alex, please,” Mrs. Howard urged her son. She wasn’t a petite woman by any means. Her voice was soft and full of air. Her jade eyes were glistening.

Suddenly, I felt a knot in my stomach. I had been so caught up with my own problems that I hadn’t even stopped to consider that I was taking away one of Alex’s firsts. These loving families only wanted to protect him.

Mrs. Castro spoke up. “Fylox, what do you think?”

Everybody looked at the bleach blond man standing at the corner. “Alex and Kamila are getting married today. That’s that.”