Scarlett Mila Marino

My mind keeps drifting back to Rowan. The way he held me, the way he looked at me...it's driving me crazy. I want to get that out of my head. I need a distraction. This must be my body just playing a game. I can't be attracted to Rowan.
It's probably just me wanting some male attention, and he happened to be there.
I need to forget about him for a moment.

I spot a guy. He's got that look in his eye. Confident. Attractive. Exactly what I need right now. I need to leave my complicated emotions behind, even for just a moment.
Maybe a kiss. Or more. Something to forget about Rowan.

It's not Rowan I want. I tell myself.

I walk toward this new guy. Trying to look casual. I need this. He notices me immediately, his eyes lighting up.
I flash him a smile, the one I know works. After a little chat he's following me upstairs, to a quiet and empty room. Far away from my father and the crowd. They can't know I'm faking my love for Rowan.

Just as I'm about to reach out, let this man pull me in and lose myself in the moment, I get lift up by two strong hands. Tossed over his shoulder.

Rowan is moving before I can react.

"She's my wife you moron." Rowan says to the guy with a warning tone, then leaves the room. With me still on his shoulder.

Shit.

He places me carefully down in a dark hallway.

His expression is unreadable. Cold, but there's something different in the way he holds my gaze.
"Get out of my way." I say, my voice sharper than I intended.

The alcohol making me bolder than usual. He takes a step forward. Making me hit a wall.

"No." Rowan replies simply. There is no sign of hesitation. He's not backing down.

I narrow my eyes, the frustration rising in my chest. "I mean it, Rowan. Move." I snap.

He doesn't move. Instead he steps closer, his presence towering over me.

"So do I." He mutters. The intensity of his gaze never leaving mine.

"This act might work on those girls down there. But not on me. Stop being an ass and let me have fun." I say sounding so stupid.

Rowan doesn't flinch, instead he looks me up and down."It's not an act...You want to hook up and have fun?" He asks, his voice a little softer now.

"Fine...But you do it with me. No one else." He says leaving no room for argument.

I blink, my heart stuttering in my chest. Rowan of all people, is standing in front of me, telling me I can have what I want, but only if it's with him.

He's offering me exactly what I wanted. Except it's not how I imagined it.

I laugh nervously trying to regain some control over myself. "You think I'm just going to... hook up with you?" I challenge, my voice shaky.

"If that's what you want." He says. I pause to look at his lips. It's exactly what I want. It has to be the alcohol talking. I would regret this tomorrow. I can't.

I can't be wanting my enemy. We had an agreement. We would not speak unless necessary. He's bad for me. I'm just a way to get what he want. I mean nothing to him.

"I...no. It's not what I want. What I want is to forget about this day and go home." I say my cheeks bright red.

"Then we go home." He says not pushing any further. I nod.

"Rowan." I say sharply before he walks away.

"This," I point between us. "Can never happen, okay? We agreed on it." I say.

He looks back. "I know." He says, his smile dropping a little, then starts walking as I follow.

________________________________

[A week later]

Rowan Marino

I'm back at my fathers office. I'm here once a week. The gleam of the polished mahogany reflects the light of the chandelier, but all I can see is the reflection of his eyes. Cold. Calculating.

He leans back in his leather chair. I know what's coming before he even opens his mouth.

"This...softness, Rowan. It's starting to show." He begins.
"You're letting your emotions rule you. And for what? That girl? You've changed since you married her." He says.

The mention of Scarlett tightens somthing in my chest. I know where this is going. I force myself not to react.

"You need to divorce her." He continues, as if it's the most logical thing in the world. "You've fulfilled your part of the deal. The girl isn't important anymore. She's only making you weak."

"No." I say my fists clenched.

He raises a brow, clearly not used to being defied. Especially not by me.

"No?" He questions.

"I'm not divorcing her." My voice comes out flat, but inside the anger churns. "You know what happens if I leave her. She'll be in danger."

He scoffs. "That's not your concern. She's not your responsibility." He says.

"She is now." I snap, and there it is. The truth, laid out bare between us. She is my responsibility. I've promised to protect her. I can't walk away from that now. Not even if it means going against my father.

For a moment there's silence. Alessandro's gaze sharpens, and I can feel the shift in the room. The shift in him. When he stands it's slow. He snaps his fingers and two guards grab my arms from behind making it impossible to move. He walks around his desk with the kind of calculated menace that sends a chill down my spine. He stands in front of me, just inches away.

"You think you have the power to stand up to me? Look at you, softened by a fucking girl." He says his voice low and dangerous.

"I'm not soft." I grit out through clenched teeth.

"Then prove it." He snaps his hand moving faster than I can react. His fist slams into my stomach. Pain explodes through my body.

The guards push me down, on my knees.

"Look at you. You're weak." He says again, mocking, disgusted.

He kicks me, his boot driving into the same spot. I gasp for air. My vision blurring.

"I gave you everything, and now you're throwing it away for a...girl?" He says kicking again and again. I can't move for a few seconds. I've been through this many times, but it never gets easier. Not with him.

I want to scream. I want to hit him back. But I don't. I just stay down, gasping for air, trying to force the pain back down where it belongs.

Finally he turns and walks away. Leaving me crumpled on the floor like I'm nothing. The door slams shut behind him, and I'm alone.

I force myself to stand. Every moment feels like a fresh wave of agony through my body. But I push through, I always do. I know this pain.

***

When I get home it's late. I can barley walk straight, every step hurting the bruise on my stomach.

Scarlett is the last person I want to see right now, but as soon as I step inside, she's there. She's seen me like this two times now. Fucking vulnerable.
Standing in the hallway, her eyes widen as she sees me clutching my side.

"What happened?" She asks, rushing forward. There's genuine concern in her voice, and I hate it. I hate that she cares, that she's looking at me like I'm broken.

I try to brush past her but she doesn't let me. She's right in front of me now, her hands gently reaching for my jacket. I flinch, pulling away. "Let me look." She insists.

I walk slowly to the couch in the living room. My breath comes in short gasps.  She follows helping me sit down. "It was just a fight. I'll live." I say trying to make it seem like nothing.

I should stop her. I should push her away, but I can't. My body won't move. She pulls my shirt aside, and I hear her gasp at the sight of the bruise. Dark and ugly on my skin.

"Oh my god." She says. Her fingers hover over the bruise, careful not to touch it, like she's afraid of hurting me.
"Rowan talk to me. What happened?" He asks.

I don't answer. I can't. I just stare down at her. At the way she's looking at me, like I'm something worth saving. And I don't get it. I don't get why she cares.

She brings a cloth and gently presses it against the bruise. Trying to dress the swelling. I wince, biting back a groan of pain. Her touch is soft, almost too soft, and it feels foreign to me. I'm not used to this.

"Why?" I blurt out, the word slipping from my lips before I can stop it. She looks up at me confused.

"Why do you care?" My voice cracks, and I hate it. I hate how vulnerable I sound, how weak. But I can't stop the words from pouring out.
"I don't get it. I'm odd...I'm cold...I'm awkward...I'm barley human. So why care?"

Her eyes soften. "Because you're not what you think you are" she says softly pausing to take a breath.
"You're more than what he's made you believe, Rowan."

Her words hit me harder than any punch from my father. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve her kindness. But for a moment, I let myself believe her.

I can't stop looking at her. The way her long hair falls in her face, the way her eyes flicker with determination, and god her smile.

I think my heart might burst out if she gives me another smile.

Someone's falling in loveeee<3