Brutal Kiss: A Dark Mafia Romance by M. James

Author:M. James [James, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PNK Publishing.
Published: 2022-08-27T16:00:00+00:00

14

ISABELLA

The morning after my tryst with Niall, I wake with every part of me sore and hurting—and feeling just as exhilarated as I did last night. Even the worry of a potential pregnancy isn’t able to dull my spirits as I slip out of bed and into the shower, memories of the night before tumbling through my head.

I feel alive, renewed, in a way that I hadn’t known was possible. The hanging blade of my impending engagement is still over my head, but it doesn’t feel as overwhelming or terrible as it did before. I don’t think anything can dull my good mood, and when a knock comes at my door, I call out with a cheery, “Come in!”

Elena is the one who pokes her head in, dressed in jeans and a yellow eyelet top. “Are you ready yet?” She narrows her eyes at the towel wrapped around me. “Well, I guess that’s my answer.”

“Shit.” I curse aloud, something I never do, because god forbid I slip up and drop a curse word in front of Papá, or worse still, our mother. “What am I supposed to be getting ready for?”

Elena rolls her eyes, then stares at me like I’ve lost my mind when she realizes I’m not joking or being sarcastic. “Um—we’re going shopping again today? Mamá says you need more new clothes for your engagement trousseau—photos, parties, all of that. She and Papá were arguing about it at dinner last night, don’t you remember?

I don’t. Of course, I didn’t because I’d been wrapped up entirely in plans of how I was going to sneak out of the house and to the city so I could find someone to sleep with.

I stare at my little sister, wondering what she’d say if I told her exactly why I didn’t pay attention to any of the dinner conversations last night. She probably wouldn’t even believe me, which makes it all the more tempting to say, but I bite my tongue. There’s no need to drag Elena into this, and it wouldn’t be fair to her to expect her to keep such an explosive secret if she did believe me.

“Shopping,” I repeat the word thickly, feeling my elation start to crumble around me. “Shit.”

“Come on, it’s not that bad.” Elena rolls her eyes again. “I know this is hard, Isabella—I’m not looking forward to when it’s my turn, either. But we should—”

“Make the best of it. I know.” I sink down on the edge of the bed, pinching the bridge of my nose. I hadn’t drank much last night, but considering my absolute inexperience with alcohol, it had been enough to get me buzzed. Enough, too, to give me a small headache that I hadn’t noticed until just now, when Elena’s news brought me down from the cloud I’d been floating on.

“Look, I’ll find something for you to wear—”

“No!” I snap the word so sharply as Elena moves towards my closet that my sister freezes in her tracks, the expression on her face turning to hurt.

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