Chapter 6 6

Sasha Castillo.

A shaky breath escaped my lips, feeing his lips brush my neck and goosebumps rise on my skin. My lips went dry, and a sound that sounded too foreign to my ears—never once made by my lips for another man— escapes treacherously.

The way his nose ran the length of my neck, and the way his body kept me in place, situated between him and the hand basin, the way my body shivered and when he sucked on a spot on my neck.

Another breath escaped my lips, my fingers tracing the spot as I found myself opening my eyes, only to find myself standing in front of the full length mirror in my room, and my reflection stared back at me.

Dark eye bags hidden underneath the foundation I had forced myself to wear, lips painted nude and very little makeup otherwise. A soft pink silk dress draped over my body with spaghetti traps, reaching just a bit past my knee—it was flowing though, thankfully, revealing nothing of my curves. And to complete the look, matching pumps in the same shade as the dress.

It was cute, though the exact opposite of what I had worn last night.

I had straightened my hair as much as I can, after thoroughly immersing myself in water and relentlessly pulling at the locks to get rid of the blood stain on it from the night before. Except no matter how hard I scrubbed, it just didn’t feel enough so I somehow ended up straightening my hair, hoping it would burn out the lingering scent of perfume. I had even poured a bit too much hair oil to rid it.

My skin was almost red from being underneath the hot shower for too long and it’s scrubbing, and yet, even as I saw the blood stain leave my body and flow along with the water, it still didn’t make me feel any less worse.

How had I managed to return home yesterday after what went down at the club? Honestly even I am surprised.

I had managed to run back to the bar where I found Bree passed out, thankfully she stirred awake after a few jolts much to my relief, and she did not see to have any idea of the shitshow that happened. So, I dragged her out, took the first cab in sight, and dropped her home before heading straight to mine.

Everything else was a blur afterwards, and as I slipped into the very few hours of sleep I had, I had wished when I woke up I would realize it was all some sick dream under the influence of alcohol.

Unfortunately, the red spot on my neck staring back at me through the full length mirror screamed otherwise. And with it came the memories that came flooding back, almost too vividly.

Those brown, almost black orbs that held mine captive. The touch of his big, slightly calloused hand. His deep, husky voice…

The rattling sound of the door handle being turned reached my ears, and I immediately pulled my hair front to cover the hockey in my neck, whipping around just in time to see my mother walk in, all dressed up in a white mermaid wedding dress, her black hair that I had inherited clearly tied up into a neat bun, and her veil perfected above it.

She gave me a once over  as she approached me, her smile widening. “Perfect.” She clasped her hands together with a grin. “You look absolutely perfect my darling. So cute!”

I gave her a dry smile. Yeah, cute. I guess in her eyes I would always be that little girl she’d known otherwise she would have known that was the last thing I wanted to go for

I swallowed down my words, not wanting to ruin her mood, or mine, on her big day.

Coming to stand in front of me, she extended her hands out to take a hold of me, her smile still in place. “Honey, listen, I know this isn’t easy for you but I am glad you are here with me today. I am doing this for us. You will see. Leonardo will take good care of you as well, he already sees you as his daughter.”

I hummed dryly, unable to help myself before saying. “Being a step daughter to a mafia don isn’t exactly what I would count as a blessing.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her smile falling. “Don’t say that, especially not in front of him.” She rebuked me quickly, stepping closer to me, her voice dropping when she added. “If not for him, you and I would have been on the streets long ago, rotting away in the ghetto of Medellin. So, be grateful.” She said , as if her hooking up with one of the most dangerous men in the world truly is a blessing to us.

It is not. It just throws us into more dangers but my mother of course does not see that. What she does see, however, is the money and the lavish life that she was about to step into, and not the obvious one that everyone knows.

I folded my lips in, swallowing my words down. There was no need arguing with her over this, we never see eye to eye in this matter.

“Now. You are my maid of honor so, I need you to please mind what you do and how you act once we head out, okay? Immediately after the wedding, we would be flying out to Italy, so I trust you’ve already packed your bags?” Before I could respond, she quickly waved it off. “ just oick what you are really in need of, Leo said everything we need would be provided there.”

Of course he did.

I could only hum and nod, because it is not like she would allow me to say anything before bringing up something of her own.

As we headed out together to the backyard of the house he—her soon to be husband in a bit bought for us a few months back— where their small wedding was, she leaned down and debrief me on what she had already mentioned countless times before.

“Just a few important members of his mafia would be here, and a few of my fiends that I had invited as well. But, this is our chance to leave a good impression, especially for you,” she turned to look at me, hooking her arm with mine.

I gave her a questioning  look.

She continued. “Leo’s son, the capo, would be here as well and as Leo mentioned, his son is basically the one running the mafia now. His name is Damiano and he will be your step brother from now one. First impressions matter the most, Sasha, do make make sure to leave a good one on him.”

Just great. Her new marriage came not just with life threatening dangers but with a step brother I needed to kiss up to —figuratively,  of course— I could only imagine my mother’s potential heart attack if that were to happen in real life.

Well, you get the point. I told my eyes at the realization.

Her explanations came to a halt when we reached the backyard and she spotted her new husband—the man she had met in less than six months and was now getting married to- talking to a small group of elderly men that screamed danger, and then she was all grins, waving at him.

His gaze found ours, or mine rather, and I felt shivers run down my spine as he walked towards us. A man in his late fifties, with a few greying hairs and a short stature, he was buff at least and had this unchanging cold look as always. I do not think I have ever seen him smile. His lips was always set into a tight line and I could not help but wonder how Mamá ended up with someone like hin.

Upon reaching where we are, she left my side and rushed to his. “Leo, look at how Sasha looks. Doesn’t she look pretty and sophisticated?”

He gave me a onceover, and I could have I sworn I saw disdain in his eyes. “She’s alright.” He mumbled dismissively.

I held back a scoff. “Good morning, Mr. Giovanni.” I forced out the greeting.

He simply nodded,

Mamá’s voice came, her words directed towards him. “Where is Damiano? I haven’t seen him around and the wedding is starting soon.” She hooked her arm around his, and though he did not react, he did not push her either. “ I hope he can make it, something always comes up each time you tried to introduce us before.”

He is not the affectionate type in case you have not noticed.

Still, he answered in that same tone of his. “He said he is in his way,” his gaze shifted in my direction, or rather, behind me. “Oh. He’s here even.”

I could have sworn the air seemed to have shifted at his words, and my mother and I both turned arou d to see  who this son of his was.

The first thing I noticed was the small group he came with, his guards or his right hand men? I have no idea. But then my gaze shifted to the very center, to the one that stood out the most, casually strolling towards us as if he owned the place.

Black shades covered his eyes, and from the distance at first, I couldn’t see him clearly. Until he got closer, and a sense of familiarity washed over me.

Wait. No…

He reached where we were, standing beside me, and then he reached out and took off the shades.

My knees instantly weakened in an ever so familiar way and my heart dropped. Eyes wide, i could only stare at the face that haunted my memories the entire night this morning.

And as if to confirm what I desperately wished was not, Leonardo’s voice came.

“Son, you’re here.”

Son???

“Papa.” He acknowledged, and a shaky breath escaped my lips.

He is his son?? My step brother??

The man from last night. The Reaper.