~ Jordan's POV~

It's been 6 months since I met Adrian at the coffee shop and I think the universe and all the Gods are on my side because he hasn't come back yet. He found my address in my phone, so I have no way of hiding. The touchpad thing on IPhones is meant to make the phone more secure, it doesn't work if an angry Italian forces your finger onto the touchpad to unlock the phone against your will. But he's three months late, he's probably forgotten about me or found someone in Italy, I don't know how someone would fall for him but everything's possible I suppose. I wouldn't be surprised if he forgot about me, it's not like I'm as beautiful as any of the girls he would get in Italy, I'm way out of his league.

I graduated with flying colours and now have a permanent job as a teacher at a primary school near my house. I was reluctant to take the job offered to me knowing Adrian said he was coming back but he never showed up and I wasn't about to put my life on hold in fear of him. I never told my family about him either, I figured I would cross that bridge when I came to it. Let's just hope I don't ever have to come to it.

I rolled my eyes at my sister who was busy texting next to me. "Grace start the damn car already. If you were going to take this long, I would have driven us."

She glanced over at me and shook her head.

"Shut up, I'm driving now. Look." She started the car with a smug smile on her face. "You're so immature."

"I know."

My sister and I were super close, there was only around two years between us and even though we argue like sisters do we've always been close, we do everything together and know everything about each other.

"What time is your date?" We were just coming home from a full day of shopping and Grace had a date in the evening, which she had been talking about all day. "I told you already Jordan, he's coming to pick me up at 7:30."

I nodded silently trying to remember when she had told me that but continued to draw a blank.

"Help me choose an outfit." We pulled up to the house and I looked over at my sister who was smiling weirdly. "I will if you promise to never look at me like that again. Save that for your date."

She nodded excitedly and got out the car, grabbing the bags and made her way inside. We walked in to see my mom and dad standing by the front door all dressed up.

"Mom you look nice, where are you guys off to?" My mom smiled at me and gave me a hug before hugging Grace. "Your father's taking me out to dinner, just the two of us."

She quickly added the last part when I opened my mouth to ask if I could go with them. I was hungry and I also hated helping Grace get ready for a date. Parties I don't mind but when it's a date all she thinks about is the possibility of sex. Something I am too innocent for.

"Fine." My mom smiled at the moody expression on my face while Grace just rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand dragging me upstairs. We went into her room and I lay on her bed watching her run around the room trying to plan an outfit.

"I want to wear something new that we got today, what do you think?" I nodded absentmindedly as I took out my phone and unlocked it. I was about to go onto instagram when a cushion hit me in the face causing me to drop my phone. "Ow what the hell?"

She smirked at me and held up an outfit. "What about this?"

I eyed the skirt and top and shook my head instantly. "No I chose that, I don't want you to get all hot and sweaty with your man in my clothes."

She rolled her eyes and hung the clothes up in her wardrobe. Grace and I always share our clothes since we're the same size, it means we can buy more clothes since we both get to use them.

"Fine help me choose something else then." I groaned and got off her bed going over to the shopping bags we had brought home. I sifted through the clothes until a black dress with lace detail caught my eye. "Here. This is sexy enough, wear it with some heels."

She looked at the dress for a moment before nodding. An hour later she was out the door with her date who she's hoping will ask her to be his girlfriend tonight. I wondered around the house trying to find my brother, eventually I found him putting on his shoes.

"Where do you think you're going?" He looked up and scoffed before going back to tying his laces. "A party."

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the wall next to him. "Riley it's Saturday night you can't leave me here all alone."

He smirked in response. "It's not my fault you have no friends."

I glared at him just as a horn sounded outside. "I do have friends!" He nodded and stepped towards me, his 5'10" frame towered over me as he kissed my forehead. "Just watch a movie and order a pizza or something."

I sighed as he left the house, leaving me all alone. I decided to listen to him and order a pizza and change into some comfier clothes. By the time I had taken off my make up, changed into some shorts and a tank top whilst throwing my hair up into a messy bun and chosen a movie the pizza was here.

I was halfway through the pizza when the doorbell rang. I decided to ignore it since I was enjoying my pizza too much but whoever it was continued their incessant ringing so eventually I had to get up. I walked to the door still eating my pizza slice, my eyes focussed on the movie which I left playing.

I opened the door just as I took another bite of my pizza, I turned towards the person and my heart dropped. He gave me a small smirk as he looked me up and down, his eyes spending a little longer on my legs. I swallowed my food before speaking.

"Adrian.."

I stared at him for a moment in silence unsure of how to react.

"Can I come in?" Part of me wanted to shut the door in his face there and then but the other, more sensible side, knew it was safer to let him in so he doesn't get angry. Eventually I nodded and moved aside, he stepped past me, his cologne causing my mouth to water a little as he made his way into the living room. I know he's a horrible person but I can't deny that he's gorgeous and smells amazing.

I nervously followed him and paused my movie which was still playing.

"Are you alone?" I thought for a moment before nodding. He smirked in satisfaction and took a seat on the couch before nodding towards the couch opposite. "Sit down."

I sighed but did what he said.

"Why are you here Adrian?" He chuckled and looked around the room admiring it.

"You know why I'm here tesoro." His thick Italian accent lingered in the air before I spoke. "My name is Jordan." He laughed again before shaking his head.

"I know. Tesoro means sweetheart." I blushed a little and looked away from him trying to hide my embarrassment. There was a tense silence for a while before he spoke again. "I had matters to deal with, but that doesn't mean I've changed
my mind. You're still going to marry me."

I shook my head having had enough of him. "Why do you want me Adrian? There's girls that would fall at your feet and beg you to marry them, who are a lot prettier than me, and that actually know Italian. I don't want to marry you and I don't want to move to Italy."

He sighed and stood up pacing around the living room.

"I want you. That's why. So go upstairs and pack your stuff Jordan. You're coming with me today." I shook my head and stood up too, feeling anger spark inside me. "No Adrian! You can't just come here and force me to go with you, I know I pissed you off that day and I'm sorry, but I'm not moving to another country to marry a dangerous stranger and have his kids. So get the hell out of my house before I call the police and have you taken out."

I was glaring at him and breathing hard by the end of my rant. His eyes were blazing with anger as he clenched his jaw. He stayed rooted to his spot across the room.

"Don't test me. I'm giving you one last chance. You either go upstairs, pack your stuff and leave a note, or I carry you out that door right now and you disappear never saying goodbye to your family and leaving them worrying about you for the rest of their lives. Your choice tesoro."

I forced myself to stay strong infront of him eventually I nodded and made my way upstairs, with him following closely behind me. We went into my room and he sat on my bed whilst I pulled out some suitcases and began to fill them whilst speaking all my thoughts out loud to Adrian.

"I don't know Italian."
"I'll have someone teach you."
"I want to work as a teacher."
"No."
"My family are coming to the wedding."
"No."
"I don't want to share a room with you."
"You don't have a choice."
"You're a jerk."
"Do you want a slap?"

I glared at him when he threatened me, if he thinks I'm going to submit to him and his cruel threats he's got another thing coming. I finished packing all my stuff and I looked around at my bare room. I had taken everything apart from furnishings like cushions and candles and things that I didn't really need.

"Give me your passport."

I turned to Adrian who was standing next to me, I gave into him and went over to my handbag and gave him my passport, too upset to even argue with him. I looked around my room; the place I've always lived in, where I felt safe and comfortable, where I thought I would always wake up and go to sleep, where I had so many memories with my family and friends. A lone tear made its way down my cheek as I looked around my room.

"Hurry up Jordan." I jumped at the sound of his voice behind me bringing me out of my thoughts and I turned to face him. "I need to change."

He looked at me with a blank expression.

"So?" I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief. "You seriously can't be that far up your own ass that you think I would change infront of you?"

I saw the anger in his eyes before I saw his hand coming towards my face, it made contact with my cheek causing me to let out a yelp and stumble to the side slightly but I stayed on my feet. My eyes met his and he just stared back at me with no remorse, anger still evident on his face. "I'll do worse than that if you speak to me like that again. Change. Now."

I shakily picked up my clothes and turned away from him, I stripped off my shirt and quickly put on my adidas sweatshirt and swapped my shorts for black leggings. I also put on my Tiffany and Co necklace that Grace and Riley bought me for my 21st birthday; the three keys represent us. It was always a joke between us that Grace got gold because she was oldest, I was silver and Riley was third so he got bronze. I smiled softly at the memory.

I turned around to see that Adrian had turned away from me and was texting on his iPhone. I put on my socks and adidas superstars before looking at him. "Let's go."

He turned around and eyed my outfit before rolling his eyes.

"Sorry what's the problem?" He sighed gestured towards my outfit with the hand that was holding his phone. "That. You can't wear that."

I chuckled and shook my head walking over to my suitcases.

"Let's get one thing straight Adrian. You can hit me as many times as you want, you can swear at me and do whatever you want to me, but I'll never be the girl you want me to be. I'll never wear fancy designer clothes and act all prim and proper around people. I'm a London girl through and through and I'll never change for you. As long as you know that then we're good."

Before he could respond the front door closed downstairs and the voices of my parents travelled up to my room causing Adrian to curse in Italian under his breath. "David she's been at it again! I swear all that girl does is eat. Jordan! Get down here and clean up your mess."

At the sound of my mom's voice the tears finally spilled over. All I wanted was to go downstairs and hug her and beg her to stop Adrian from taking me away. Adrian clearly saw my expression as a possible threat to his plan.

"If you tell her Jordan, I'll kill them both. Understand?" I nodded as he grabbed my suitcases whilst I picked up my handbag and phone and I followed him downstairs after glancing at my room one last time.

"Jordan who's this?" I looked at my mom as she stared at my tear stained face with worry. "This is Adrian...my fiancé."

I didn't really know how to introduce him so I just told them the truth I suppose. "Fiancé?"

I nodded as my parents stared between Adrian and I. "It's nice to meet you."

He stuck his hand out to shake both of their's politely.

"Mom I'm moving in with him...in Italy." At this my mom's eyes flashed to mine with shock. "No you're bloody well not. Jordan Marie Emerson go upstairs this instant and unpack your damn suitcases."

I flinched a little at the volume of her voice, if I wasn't so upset I would have laughed.

"Mom please.." I glanced over at Adrian who gave me a stern look, I cleared my throat before speaking. "I'm twenty two, you can't stop me."

Once she realised how serious I was her eyes quickly filled with tears causing my heart to break just that little bit more. "Jordan..."

I shook my head and stepped closer to the door hoping to hold myself together until I got to Adrian's car.

"P-please tell Grace and Riley that I love them and I'm sorry for leaving them. I love you both." I gave my mom a quick hug cherishing my last moments with her, I'm not sure how long it's going to be till I see her again or if I ever will. I gave my dad a hug as my mom let out quiet sobs, he stared in shock as the situation unfolded.

I followed Adrian out the door and closed it behind me, listening to the sound of my mom's crying from the other side of the door. The tears started falling as I made my way over to Adrian's car. I got in the passenger side as my body was overtaken with sobs. I covered my face with my hands sobbing quietly into them as Adrian silently started the car and drove away from my home and my family.

Thank you for reading, I hope you guys are enjoying this book, please vote and comment ❤️