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***

Noah's POV

I rubbed my soapy hands together as I let the water run over them, cleaning off any trace of soap. I finally did the impossible, I looked up to face myself in the mirror.

My eyes instantly went down to my neck where a purple hickey rested on my neck.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Braxton's morning voice filled my ears, I jumped back from the sink.

"I was just looking in the mirror," I replied, Braxton chuckled as he walked closer to where I was standing.

"You're looking at this?" He asked, his hand came up letting his thumb press against the hickey. "I'm guessing you've never gotten one?"

"No," I said, but it came out as a whisper.

"A hickey is something that feels really good and every time you look at it, it's a reminder of that person," he said as he edged closer. "It's like that person is writing something on your skin, but with their mouth."

"What could you possibly write that I would want to remember?" I shot back, but I instantly wanted to take it all back. "I didn't mean it like that, I just–"

"Stop," Braxton demanded, my lips sealed close and I looked away. His hand moved up from the hickey and gripped tightly on my jaw, making me look at him. "You're going to learn one way or another to control that mouth of yours."

"And if I don't?" I challenged.

"I'll make it where you can't speak at all," he replied through his teeth. "Don't underestimate my power, Noah."

"Let me go," I whispered as if I didn't want anyone to hear. "Please." He released my jaw, letting me take a step back before I let my head hang.

"I think you should go to your room," he suggested, but it sounded more like a demand.

"Braxton, I–"

"Do you ever listen?" He snapped making me flinch with a whimper. Before I could hurry out, he had a tight grip on my arm and he began dragging me out.

"No, please," I cried out as I attempted to resist him dragging me along, but his grip only got tighter along the way. I clawed at his hand, but it didn't phase him as he tossed me into my room. "Braxton, please, don't lock the door!" My only reply was the door slamming in my face and the lock turning. "Braxton."

"You need to get ready," was all he said. "And I don't think you want me to ask you again." My hand rested on the locked doorknob as I listened to his footsteps recede.

"Why don't you ever listen, Noah?" I whispered.

"Why can't you ever fucking listen, you little brat?" He yelled as he threw me into the corner of the room. "Why do I always have to ask you more than once?"

I wiped my eyes from any stray tears before I pushed myself up from the floor. I dragged myself over to the bathroom, but I avoided looking in the mirror at all cost.

Between shampooing, conditioning, and washing my body, I cried. Once I started, I just couldn't stop.

I found a tan dress in the closet along with a pair of sandals that went along with the dress.

I was brushing through my long black hair when I heard the doorknob jiggle, my heart stopped as I watched the door.

What felt like eternity, the door finally opened, but it only revealed an aggravated Braxton. He took his key out from the door and looked over at me.

"Are you ready?" He questioned as he shoved his fists in his pockets. "Or do I need to be physical again?"

I didn't say anything as I picked up my dress and walked over to where he was standing.

"Why can't you be cooperative all the time?" He asked as he closed the door behind us, I didn't say anything as we walked down the hallway. "I see you didn't cover up the mark on your neck."

"I thought your mom would like to see it," I whispered. "It might give her hope on grandchildren."

"You know," Braxton started as he locked the front door. "If you behave like this for the rest of the day, tonight might go a bit more smoothly." I nodded in agreement as we stepped onto the elevator.

He moved behind me and moved my hair away exposing my neck, he pecked it and then leaned next to my ear.

"Don't you dare disrespect me in front of my family and the people who work for me. Or so help me God, Noah, I won't kill you, but you will wish that I did," he whispered, I closed my eyes before I nodded in understanding. "See, I don't always have to get physical."

"No, you don't," I replied with a smile. "But that's just who you are."

"See, you're getting the hang of it," he replied with a sly smirk, but I only looked away in disgust.

***

I was on the verge of slitting my throat.

What do you think about these flowers?

What about this theme for the wedding?

Where do you want to go for your honeymoon?

To hell. That's where I want to go. Oh wait, I'm already there.

"Hey," I heard a hushed voice speak from behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see a girl standing over in the corner. "Follow me." She disappeared around the corner before I could even question anything. I did a 180 and followed her pathway.

She was fast even though she was clearly walking in heels and I'm wearing sandals! She led me all the way up to the roof. I probably shouldn't be up there with a stranger, but it's not the worst decision in my life.

"Who are you?" I asked as I stepped out from the doorway.

"I'm Alexandria," she replied with a wide smile. "But, please call me, Alex, because none of those assholes will."

"You're part of the Collins family?" I questioned, she only replied with a sincere laugh.

"I'm not only part of the Collins family, baby," she replied. "I'm the mafias daughter, the sister of Jackson and Braxton."

"You're their sister?"

"It's not as bad as it seems," she replied lazily. "Braxton was worse with me than Jackson was growing up."

"I can actually believe that," I chuckled, but my head was still encoding the newly information.

"Only because I'm fathers favorite and father never took to Braxton quite well," she said, but she never met my eyes as she stated the sentence. "No matter what I did, father always blamed Braxton. He never believed his princess did wrong, even when I confessed."

"The only thing I gained from my father was the knowledge of gambling," I replied as messed with the fabric of my dress. "Hence the fact why I'm being forced to marry your brother."

"Braxton has anger problems, we're all aware, but he's not that bad when you get to know him," she spoke softly as she walked closer, she took my hands in hers. "We should get back, before Braxton notices you're missing."

When we got back into the dinner hall, it was like nothing had changed and no one noticed I was gone.

"There you are," a voice spoke as they approached us. Spoke too soon. I looked over to see Braxton's father walking my way. "You disappeared when it was time to toast."

"I was in–"

"I don't give two shits about where you were," he cut me off, I looked over to let Alex intervene, but Alex was no longer there. "I think Braxton needs to teach you a bit of manners."

"He's my fiancé, not my father," I shot back, he seemed taken back, but kept his composure. "But from what I've seen, you're not that much as a father either."

"You little–"

"I think I can take it from here," a new voice intervened, I looked over to see Braxton walking up to us with a smile. "Thank you, father for finding her, but I think I'll take it from here." Mr. Collins didn't utter a word as he slipped away from the two of us, but my heart was pounding even faster with Braxton. "I thought we agreed that you would behave."

"He insulted me, Braxton," I defended myself, but I knew it wasn't going to do any help. "I know I don't belong here, but it's not fair for them to rub it in my face." I was twisting my engagement ring around my finger, avoiding eye contact with him at all cost. "I hear what your family thinks about me, but I'm not allowed to say anything." I could feel the tears threatening to fall, but I did everything I could to hold them back.

Braxton put my hands in his and turned me so I was out of the line sight of his family.

"I know it sucks, Grey, I really do," he said in a hushed voice. "But if you let them see that their words effect you, it'll only fuel their fire." I closed my eyes as I took in deep breaths to calm my emotions. "That's my fiancé." He leaned down to kiss my forehead.

"Mister Collins," a deep voice spoke breaking us apart. "I'm sorry to interrupt you and your fiancés night, but there is some business that needs to be handled." Braxton rolled his eyes before his eyes glanced around the room.

"Take Noah back to the apartment," Braxton ordered him before he slipped away and out of the ballroom.

Braxton's POV

I was about to pull out from the parking lot till my passenger door swung open and Grey hopped into the seat.

"What do you think you're doing?" I barked at her, but she only looked forward. "This isn't something you're going to want to see."

"You said, a divorce has never been heard of in the bloodline of mafia families," she replied softly before she looked up at me. "I might as well get use to the mafia way, right?"

"Just don't talk," I rolled my eyes in annoyance before I backed out from the parking spot. Grey hooked her seatbelt around her and adjusted her dress in a more comfortable position.

I drove for almost an hour following the GPS' directions to the desired destination. Grey stayed silent the whole ride there, her eyes were glued to the dark sky.

I slowed up my speed as I came up on the place, but it was just the dead end of a road. I didn't see anyone around and I glanced over at Grey, but she was already getting out of the car.

I followed her action, but I was cautious as I used my phone flashlight as guidance.

"Look," Grey spoke up, I followed to where she was pointing and I saw an iPad. "It's a video." I dug in my pocket for my headphones and I plugged them into the jack.

I put both earbuds in my ears before I pressed play on the screen. It was black before a picture of two men popped up, but one man was tied up and on his knees. He was clearly beaten up pretty bad and the other man held a gun to his temple.

The man with the gun had a mask on, but I recognized the man on his knees. He was one of my fathers' men.

I didn't even flinch when the gunshot went off and his body fell to the asphalt. The man stepped over the corpse and looked straight into the camera.

"You have something that belongs to me, Braxton Collins," his voice came out distorted. "You have 72 hours to give Noah to me or I'm going to keep killing your men till I reach your sister."

The video cut out and I stared down at my reflection in the back screen. I looked back at Grey–except Grey was no longer behind me, and neither was my car.

That bitch.

Noah's POV

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as I turned the sharp corner and I slowed down to a stop. The purr of the engine came to a stop as I took the key from the ignition.

I picked up my dress before I sprinted across the grass in the night. I stepped up on the doghouse and launched myself up and onto the roof.

I heard a rip sound as my dress tore from being caught on a nail. I tiptoed across the roof until I reached the window.

I opened the window with ease and stuck my legs in as the door knob rattled, my heart skipped a beat as it swung open.

"What in the hell are you doing?" Nolan snapped as he shut his door back. "I don't want you here."

"You remember the first day we became friends?" I asked.

I sniffled once more as I wiped any stray tears from my face.

"Not a good day?" a voice spoke making me jump in my spot, I looked up to see Nolan Davis looking down at me.

"No, I'm fine," I chuckled in an attempt to change the mood, but he didn't seem convinced. "I have to get to class."

"How about we skip class?" he asked as he walked closer, my breath hitched in my throat as I looked at my shoes. "Come on, let's go get a smoothie."

"What does this have to do with anything, Noah?" he asked in annoyance as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I took a big risk that night, Nolan," I said through my teeth as the tears welled up in my eyes.

I cried out once more as the cold, leather belt struck at my skin again. I clenched my fist up tightly letting my fingernails dig into my palm.

"Next time, don't bite me when we're having fun," he shot at me before he spat at me. I squeezed my eyes shut till I heard the bedroom door slam.

I winced as I pushed myself up from the cold, wooden floor. My legs wobbled as I made my way to my twin size bed, I gasped as I lifted the mattress and retrieved my flip phone.

I clicked through my contacts till I reached Nolan's, I pressed send and put the phone to my ear.

"Why are you bringing this shit up?" Nolan snapped once more, but my eyes were still focused on my feet. "Answer me, Noah, or I will drag you out of this house." I stayed quiet, but when I heard him come towards me, my head shot up.

"He wants me back," I whispered as I looked up at Nolan.

"I'm not falling for it, Noah," he said as he shook his head. "He left, and he's not back. You just want me–"

"Stop," I snapped. "I shouldn't be the one heartbroken over losing you. I should be the one upset at you, you...asshole." he looked taken back at my choice of word, I never cursed–never. "You know how long it took me to get over what he did to me, for me not to be disgusted at myself. Yet, you still had the audacity to say Braxton only was attracted to my body. You have no idea what that did to me."

"You started it," he said through his teeth. "You were okay with being there–"

"No, Nolan, I wasn't okay with being there," I cut him off. "I was okay with the fact that I don't have to worry about not eating for days, because I don't have food in my house. Or about not having clean clothes. Or having to take cold showers, because the water heater is off." I took a breath in as I tasted my salty tears. "Braxton doesn't have to ever love me, but I'm not going to dread in a situation I can't change."