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With each swipe of my makeup brush, I can feel my heartbeat start to settle into a more reliable pattern.
Getting ready for class is soothing.
I’ve always liked school. I like learning. When I got a scholarship to Millerton, I jumped at the chance to enroll in their pre-law program. Most of my friends from high school stayed local too and we’re still hanging out when we can.
I love my friends. I pull out my phone and read the group messages from last night that I missed.
The girls hung out at Tori’s house for our Sunday ritual of nachos and watching Housewives together. Julia and Mandy came too.
Will I still be able to have nights like that now that my life is all crazy? Will I still get to see them? Can I even tell them what has happened? Or will that put them at risk?
My fingers hesitate above the keyboard. There’s so much I want to tell them, but I can’t. If there’s any chance that sharing information about Albert’s real life will put them in danger, I’d rather never speak to them again.
I smile at the pictures of Julia and Tori goofing off in the kitchen but I can’t bring myself to respond. They had fun, and I don’t want to ruin it.
Nothing kills the mood like, “Hey! Sorry I missed our girls’ night. My mom married the Mafia and now I have to figure out if I’m about to be married off like chattel or if I get to go to college. What happened on Housewives?” I sigh and reach for my eye cream.
I’m a little puffy and red from crying myself to sleep last night, but otherwise, I look pretty normal.
Nico’s words echo in my brain as I study my reflection.
Mafia Princess. It doesn’t sound real.
I brush my hair and straighten my shoulders. My mother might be a pawn in some elaborate chess match between the justice system and the mob, but I refuse to let that happen to me.
Whatever my mother has gotten into, I want nothing to do with it. I’m legally an adult. They can’t make me do anything. If I need to move out, I could get a job and maybe a couple roommates. My scholarship pays my tuition, so I have options.
I set the brush back in the drawer and push it shut.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Nico asks, standing behind me.
I jump and let out a startled little squeak, not expecting to see him.
“Nico! What the hell! How did you get in here?”
I glance over to his side of the door and see that it’s still locked. It’s still closed.
“I walked through your door.” He crosses his arms against his chest as he towers over me.
I take my lip between my teeth and feel my face flush red with embarrassment.
Shit.
I shift uncomfortably.
“I asked you a question, Angel. Where do you think you’re going?” He cocks a dark eyebrow as he lets his gaze drip over my body. I wish I had my bathrobe on. My short sleep shorts and tiny tank top make me feel way more exposed than I’m comfortable with this morning.
“To class.” I reply, meeting his gaze. “I have a 9am and a 10:30 this morning.”
I swear to God, if he thinks I’m abandoning my future just like that, because my mother decided to get married, he’s got another thing coming. If anything, it makes me more determined than ever to follow my dreams and make a difference in this world.
Become someone who doesn’t abandon their morals for a man.
Nico raises an eyebrow at me. He’s radiating intensity and dangerous sex appeal and it kind of freaks me out.
Dressed like that in black jeans and a fitted black t-shirt, he looks like every movie bad boy I’ve ever seen.
Stop drooling over the evil spawn, Christina. He’s hot but he’s trouble and you know that.
