O L I V I A665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ979B48Oo3b
"Hey, beautiful."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG1Xg8X8A3
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…665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6kvP20afR
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There’s something else though. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyR93SN5Hv
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The soft breeze against my skin. Exposed skin. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLl1V0s25n
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2ReitCFn2
Exposed. Bare. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaBI5YtVmC
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1XTKQXcTk
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWgY8fItZX
“You’re beautiful, Olivia. I wish you wouldn’t hide. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxNn800YGO
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.” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt4PJe2oHT
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobypHyxUse
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."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASEhAxz91e
"Anna..."I start. "What kind of party is this?"665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hZ7x0Druo
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She doesn’t respond. Instead, the last box lands in my hands. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz6eUvIYF8
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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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVpnsSIYFe
“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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAgR7xBaJk
"What’s the problem?” She laughs. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrNbtAeNkO
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I look over at her. “I’m the problem, Anna! I’m not masquerading material.” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJiwA90RZz
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."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZhIzlNUx6
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMab3Dq3Y4I
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbhgUMYcnH
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dIpQPTx5
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8kaSx6hhE
“Are you ready, love?”
"If I said yes, I would be a liar." I admit and feel my heart pound in my chest. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7z1VznyUl
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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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJPqLoaBdV
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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."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcrE4W8sgy
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?"665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIE50k9D2Y5
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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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbrVBFc4DP
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARbOjJUw0p
Our feet step side to side as we sway back and forth.
“What are we doing?” I giggle. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrgxOqvarj
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjdoa2FpEY
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky5izVBaAC
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFJpqSgejs
Without even thinking about it I feel the pull between us. I feel as if I’ll explode at any moment.
"Alessio?"665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9OH5Yg0HF
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadLAzouqFr
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqywrzk23L
665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlPC8jKtEd
Everything about her screamed elegance. She looked like a real life angel. Something about her seemed so surreal. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3YXIfFLh2
She approached the both of us slowly and glanced over at me with a pair of poison green eyes. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyQfrejnNh
“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?"665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogqVyCNg10
“Not really,” She purrs out in a heavy Italian accent. Her hand plays with the edge of his suit. “I’ve missed seeing you.” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkiOd8D5FS
Alessio stops her. “Quit.” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVKhjScne4
“We’ll see about that.” She taunts.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJtDH5jZ6f
I watch silently as she turns away from him and gives me one more disgusted look as she disappears in the crowd. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulbJwR1coA
I look back at Alessio and can tell he is absolutely fuming. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLscn8O6lJP
“Alessio?” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLtrJG80dK
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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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh54EVvU3j
"Take Olivia to my room." He demands. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP13gdSPCMT
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsoG7S1Pae
I look over at his uncle Mateo. “Do you know what is wrong?” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtnBMUuBEG
His eyes soften and he smiles a little, “I am afraid that I don’t, dear.” 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uvVYsNMeo
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcORyR3XJou
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My heart hurt and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2OFtwtC7p
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.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4jmyLy8x1
⟡ ⟡ ⟡665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA06xESFRKs
"Olivia."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRkiG4Tsfg
The sound of his voice in the morning causes me to jump and I push up in the bed and rub at my eyes. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDmkDKBzxY
He's facing away from me and staring blankly out the window. His voice seems strained...almost as if he is upset.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvwHYUB3rE
"Are you okay?" I ask softly and my fingers itch to touch him.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRnF6xvUTv
He continues to stare out of the window as he speaks.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6vGAObW2I
"Mateo will be taking you home this morning."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMgsWsvr9s
I stare at him as hurt and confusion cover my features.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtkJJyEmIo
"Alessio...what's going on? Why won't you talk to me? Why wo-"665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDPdHZKJ5m
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. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRurG7GmERL
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.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX80JFGRYL
I moan against his lips as his mouth hungrily kisses me. His hands snake down my curves and hook onto my waist tightly.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnkNYPpx5l
I can feel my core tighten as my nails dig into his back through his shirt.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuaNcwrdhF
"P-please."665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuVa8YVDj6
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.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSMYpwEOr2
I struggle to sit up and push my hair away from my face. My skin is still red hot from our touch.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblHi3fJQb0
He turns and faces the door. I can see the muscles in his back strain a little from whatever he is dealing with internally. 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFPsyPrZ8N
"I think I'm falling in love with you." 665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA25J0eZZ5
My lips part and I stare blankly at him. His words rang continuously through my ears.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2XCKnG66S
I stare after him as he crosses the floor and disappears. Once more...I'm alone.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKqpqC8e6e
I don't try to stop the tears from falling.665Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BDVI5VwUh
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