POV's Jace
"Don't apologize," the redheaded girl hissed. "It's not our fault that he and his bodyguards take up so much room in the corridor. At least, Ken speaks the truth. Everyone else thinks they need to blow sugar up his ass because he's going to be Capo..."
I sent Philip a look. That girl had the same bad temper as him. After more bickering, Selena finally got her siblings to leave. I am glad to see them gone. They grated on my nerves. It is no surprise that Finnick wanted to marry his daughters off as quickly as possible.
Selena squirmed when she looked at me. "I apologize for my sisters and brother. They are—"
"Protective of you," I helped her out.
"This is my brother, Philip." Selena barely glanced his way, but she wasn't really meeting my eyes, either.
I nodded to my side. "And this is my right hand, Beckham and Samuel."
She blinked. She looked like she would bolt if I took a step in her direction. "I should go to my siblings." She whirled around and hurried away until her blond head disappeared from view.
"You've still got it, Jace. Terrifying girls left and right with your rough charm," Philip said.
"Let's get going. Finnick will be wondering what's taking us so long."
Finnick is the last person I wanted to meet, unless said meeting involved knives and guns and a bloodbath. I hated him without ever having met him.
What kind of father married a girl like Selena off to a guy like me? She looked like an angel, and she is as shy and innocent as one, and I had absolutely no illusions about what I am: a cold bastard on the best of days, and a monster the rest of the time. At least, she had three more years before I got the chance to destroy her life with my darkness.
There isn't enough booze in the world to make Nelson and Silas's presence more bearable. I wanted nothing more than to slice their throats open and watch them bleed to death. Philip shot me a sideways glance, probably knowing exactly what I am thinking. He wouldn't hesitate a second if I asked him to pull his knives. Philip is always ready to stick his knife into the next person who annoys him.
"She's a real beauty, Jace,"
Finnick said proudly. "You won't regret your choice."
There hadn't really been a choice on my part, but I kept the words to myself. There is no use in starting an argument, especially with Father watching me like a hawk.
"She's completely pure. She's never allowed to go anywhere without her
bodyguards. She's only yours." I forced a smile. Not that I didn't appreciate it. The idea that someone might touch Selena made my blood throb furiously in my veins. I felt fucking possessive of her. I'd never cared if the girls I'd had affairs with fucked other men, but with Selena, I'd kill anyone who dared to look at her the wrong way.
"There's nothing better than breaking them in," Selena's cousin Bernie said. He is a head shorter than me. If tonight ended in a bloodbath, he'd be the one I'd kill last, so I could take my time with him.
Let's see if he'd still manage that ugly grin with my knife sticking out of his eye socket. Matthew sent his soldier a hard look, and Bernie quickly glanced back down to his drink. It is the first time Matthew has shown any kind of emotional reaction at all. His wife had died not too long ago.
Silas is officially still the Boss of the Outfit, but I couldn't help but wonder if Matthew is the man who ran the show. Someone knocked. When the door opened, and Selena slipped in, keeping her back to us, I stiffened. She didn't look like the girl I'd seen yesterday. She is wearing a skimpy dress, revealing long, lean legs, creamy skin, and a nice butt. Damn it. When she finally turned, I found that the front is just as nice to look at.
Then my eyes traveled farther up. Selena kept her head down, her eyes cast on the ground, and I could see her shivering in fear and discomfort.
Something protective and furious reared its head in my chest, startling me. She is mine. How could her mother have let her walk around in this outfit? I'd bet my left ball that Selena hadn't had a say in choosing that fucking joke of a dress. I'd fucked girls with skimpier dresses, but this is my future wife, and she is only fifteen. Her parents should protect her, not treat her like this.
She finally risked a peek up and met my gaze. For fuck's sake, she looked like she wanted to cry. If I ever got the chance, I'd kill Finnick, and I'd fucking enjoy it. I put my glass down before I could fling it at the wall.
Selena's eyes flitted around nervously. The other men in the room watched her with the necessary respect, but that fucker Bernie is undressing her with his fucking eyes. If this were Montavero, I'd relieve him of the burden of ever seeing anything again. And maybe I'd do it anyway if he didn't stop the leering soon. Oblivious to Bernie's disrespect, Finnick ushered Selena toward me. He looked at me as if he expected my jaw to drop to the floor because of Selena.
She is gorgeous, and in three years I might appreciate her being dressed like this, but now it only pissed me off that Finnick tried to make Selena look like some fucking sexbomb when she obviously hated it.
"This is my daughter, Selena," Finnick said with an eager look like a
German shepherd waiting for his master to throw a stick. Silas gave me a self-satisfied grin. "I didn't promise too much, did I?"
Fuck you. "You didn't."
Selena's little brother snuck up on her and slipped his hand into hers. My eyes went to her legs for a moment, but I tore them away.
"Maybe the future bride and husband want to be alone for a few minutes?"
Father said with a look I knew only too well. He probably thought he was doing me a fucking favor. I didn't miss Selena's panicked expression or the way she practically begged her father with her eyes to forbid it.
Of course, Finnick didn't. He'd probably let me manhandle her right in front of him as long as I didn't steal her virginity before the wedding.
"Should I stay?" her bodyguard asked.
Relief flashed across Selena's face. I had no illusions as to what I am, but in this room, I am the one Selena had to fear the least.
"Give them a few minutes alone," Finnick said, and Selena froze. What did she think I was going to do to her? Ravish her on the sofa? Father winked at me. He obviously thought I was going to grope my fifteen-year-old fiancée. He probably would have. Everyone started to leave until only the little boy was left, clinging to his sister protectively. I had to give it to the midget; he is the only one from the Outfit with an ounce of courage.
"Ken. Get out of there now," Baker snapped, and the boy let go of Selena and sent me a scathing look before he left. I liked that insolent brat.
The door fell shut, and Selena and I were alone. She peered up at me through her long lashes, biting her lip. Did she have to look so fucking terrified? I knew how I appeared to others, and for a petite girl like her, I probably looked like a menacing giant about to crush her, but I had absolutely no intention of hurting her, much less feeling her up, no matter how delicious she looked. I amn't that depraved. I'd never forced myself on a woman, and Selena is only a girl. My fiancée. Mine. Mine to protect.