O L I V I A701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHDSWVW2pP
"Hey, beautiful."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXauuvJcFt
My eyes flutter at the sound of Alessio’s voice and I wake up to the brightness of the sun glaring in my eyes. Something soft strokes up and down the skin of my arm.
It feels good…701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JVlIWEfUQ
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There’s something else though. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvHcfkm0gU
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The soft breeze against my skin. Exposed skin. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtunLPZFPSx
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Exposed. Bare. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYIILbMmtg
I immediately sit forward and cover my chest. I realize Alessio is sitting next to me on the lounge chair and staring out towards the setting sun. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gt1UB2QTF
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“You’re beautiful, Olivia. I wish you wouldn’t hide. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEueZci7Vf
I ignore his compliment and pull my straps back up over my chest. He waits until I’m finished and looks back at me. The sun casts shadows against his high cheekbones.
He silently leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. “It’s time to get ready, love. Anna is waiting.” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0AMo4uK5k
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I nod a little and let him lead me upstairs back to Anna’s room. She’s sitting in the middle of her bed with several black boxes
"Here you go." She says and impatiently tosses me a box.
Inside I found a pair of black stiletto shoes with red bottoms. Tiny diamonds decorate the surface.
“Love those!” Anna grins and tosses me another with no warning.
There's a gorgeous teardrop diamond necklace inside with matching earrings.
"Wow!" She nods in approval, "Alessio really does have good taste."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPNt8GXbcP
"Anna..."I start. "What kind of party is this?"701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgWYN6VOMF
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She doesn’t respond. Instead, the last box lands in my hands. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7NfQiFabT
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Inside there is a cute and dainty black mask with intricate details through the matte mask that seems to expand out like little butterfly wings with silver glitter. It is stunning but the sight of it makes my stomach hurt.
She chuckles when she notices my expression. “Did he not mention that it’s a masquerade ball?”
“A ball!? You have to be kidding!” I drop the mask.
She rolls her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic. You'll be fine and you'll look gorgeous."
I start to pipe up and argue with her when a pair of unfamiliar girls walk in with two portable chairs and what looks to be salon equipment.
"Makeup and hair time!" Anna winks.
The two girls set up shop in the bathroom. Anna decides to pop open a bottle of wine and pours out two glasses for us both. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iUZFgqJyU
“How many people will be there?” I ask and look down at my shaky hands.
“Maybe fifty...maybe two hundred.”
“Two hundred,” I repeat robotically. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJu4FVPLjA
"What’s the problem?” She laughs. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHcTR6zycb
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I look over at her. “I’m the problem, Anna! I’m not masquerading material.” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BLJDeSNwS
She sighs and takes a drink. “It’s really no big deal. We host these parties every year.”
I nod and decide to change the subject. “Can I ask you something?”
"Sure."
I try to swallow the lump in my throat. “People tend to talk a lot...about things...with your family.”
"Things?" Anna raises her brow.
"Things that are not necessarily legal."
My skin is burning hot. I'm so worried I will say the wrong thing.
"What are you asking?" Her voice hardens.
I don't reply.
She grows annoyed. "Olivia."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKRNy6ZAXM
I panic. "Anna, I'm sorry! Don't feel like you need to answer that. I know I'm invading your privacy.”
She laughs and sets her glass down, "Just know we do what we need to for our family, alright. We'll also keep you safe. We're smart, especially Alessio."
I nod and look back towards the mirror as the girl behind me starts to curl my hair. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUbX64XH17
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Finding out the truth isn’t going to be easy.
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"You look so beautiful!”
I smile down at Alessio as I finish descending the stairs. I’m grateful that my ankles don’t snap like I thought they would.
He looks so good. His suit black and hair neatly slicked back with gel. Looking at him makes me feel so small just being at his side.
"Where is everyone?" I ask.
He takes my hand. “Just down the hall and through the doors.”
I nod nervously and a shaky breath comes down. I feel his lips at my ear. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT6GRN5F5t
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“Are you ready, love?”
"If I said yes, I would be a liar." I admit and feel my heart pound in my chest. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD9hyrKMqV
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Alessio gives my hand a little squeeze and leads the both of us through the doors together.
Inside is a magnificent ballroom full of people in gorgeous gowns and suits. All of them seem to move with one another in sync as the harps and violins play at the front of the room.
Several silks hang above us from the ceiling as people in full body silver suits wrap themselves in the silk as they plunge towards the floor.
I look out towards the dance floor and find Anna. She looks incredible. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vDNAsTxxh
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A man with blonde hair dips her back playfully and kisses the exposed neck. Alessio and I watch them for a moment as he spins her out and back in towards his chest. They laugh together loudly and kiss.
"That is Anna's fiance from Sicily,"Alessio whispers."They'll be married early next year."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlosJH6Bnw
I smile and continue to watch them move together gracefully. Alessio’s arm snakes around my waist and he pulls me closer.
"Would you like to dance?"701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyCNEzfxT6
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I look up at him terrified. “I’ve never danced before.”
He smiles a little and positions his hands on my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck and stare at him before I realize we are already moving. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXfU0m60E6
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Our feet step side to side as we sway back and forth.
“What are we doing?” I giggle. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtzf5usK9C
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He laughs and kisses my nose. “Dancing.”
“I’m not a good dancer.”
"You're doing just fine."
I laugh a little too loud as he spins me away from him and dips me low. His mouth finds my neck and I feel his breath tickle me there. “What do you want, love?”
He pulls me up to him again and we stand before one another. Our lips just centimeters away. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmaj7PCuCd
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Without even thinking about it I feel the pull between us. I feel as if I’ll explode at any moment.
"Alessio?"701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQSwVCWvEF
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The electricity between us dies down as a new voice rings out. I realize Alessio is staring someone down and he doesn’t look happy.
The voice had come from a beautiful girl with caramel locks in a stunning green dress. The material clung to the curves of her body and she moved with confidence. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq67r7EyDP
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Everything about her screamed elegance. She looked like a real life angel. Something about her seemed so surreal. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hVoarmOHr
She approached the both of us slowly and glanced over at me with a pair of poison green eyes. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgID9izEgRI
“Monica.” Alessio spit out.
She smiled warmly at him. “I was hoping I’d see you tonight.”
"You did." He states blandly and looks away. "Did you need something?"701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr1a3wM6t9
“Not really,” She purrs out in a heavy Italian accent. Her hand plays with the edge of his suit. “I’ve missed seeing you.” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t7B5Ru7T5
Alessio stops her. “Quit.” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3hccTtbdj
“We’ll see about that.” She taunts.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aU3wCZlYK
I watch silently as she turns away from him and gives me one more disgusted look as she disappears in the crowd. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKdUFDgmgC
I look back at Alessio and can tell he is absolutely fuming. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAgKigYgUC
“Alessio?” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9cMnHU6it
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He pays me no mind and motions for someone behind us. I look back and notice Mateo walking up to the both of us. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYvGhuYmCk
"Take Olivia to my room." He demands. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA74Jd1miZ
I frown at his sudden coldness but say nothing as he leans down and presses his lips to my forehead. I open my mouth to say something but without another word he disappears into the crowd. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYlJr0lVvK
I look over at his uncle Mateo. “Do you know what is wrong?” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjy0wYk1wA
His eyes soften and he smiles a little, “I am afraid that I don’t, dear.” 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e5X1sSO6L
I nod a little and follow Mateo out of the ball and back up towards where Alessio’s room is. Once I’m inside I take no time undressing and climbing into the massive bed. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTesCv31ml
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My heart hurt and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGD2mhVh8i
It was as if all the progress we had seemed to make today was just gone. I didn’t understand Alessio and I felt so lost.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqrLouk7F4
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"Olivia."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDjsXIKVEq
The sound of his voice in the morning causes me to jump and I push up in the bed and rub at my eyes. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP86f1pX3H
He's facing away from me and staring blankly out the window. His voice seems strained...almost as if he is upset.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXBDgSIamW
"Are you okay?" I ask softly and my fingers itch to touch him.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdvhru6D1
He continues to stare out of the window as he speaks.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspgOuICzi2
"Mateo will be taking you home this morning."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zx2cZXYm5
I stare at him as hurt and confusion cover my features.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfqeyFV3on
"Alessio...what's going on? Why won't you talk to me? Why wo-"701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP4JpcxUHc
Before I can finish he is already in front of me and our mouths are on one another. I gasp as little kisses trail up from my neck to my chin. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJGwGRy9Pw
Time seems to stand still as he takes me in. His mouth is warm and hot as we embrace one another for the first time.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZJX3RiQUw
I moan against his lips as his mouth hungrily kisses me. His hands snake down my curves and hook onto my waist tightly.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLzBbxB0Ko
I can feel my core tighten as my nails dig into his back through his shirt.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3MOfIZpuu
"P-please."701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje8d7hQwR5
His grip loosens and he's standing up running his fingers through his hair. I can see his breath coming in hard as he tries to compose himself.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsNHj3JXXl
I struggle to sit up and push my hair away from my face. My skin is still red hot from our touch.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxfr44y5Ev
He turns and faces the door. I can see the muscles in his back strain a little from whatever he is dealing with internally. 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KtyYxsbKh
"I think I'm falling in love with you." 701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidJjfPDOfY
My lips part and I stare blankly at him. His words rang continuously through my ears.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TyndNJqlR
I stare after him as he crosses the floor and disappears. Once more...I'm alone.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S40JxgRwV
I don't try to stop the tears from falling.701Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T26LAxgDk
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