Chapter 2 - Mariano (2)

Back at the hospital, I could sense regret filling in her head. She must've realized that she could've prevented her man from dying if she agreed with me the first time I gave her a proposition when I met her several days ago. I could've done a lot more than just watch things unfold before my eyes. But how could I have known what my crazy brother allowed his men to do?

That changes now. After we get married, I'd have a lot more control over the rabid dogs in my family.

I glance up at her again, and the small stud piercing on her right nose catches the light, drawing my attention. I can't deny the beauty that Riri possesses, and I only feel sorry for the fact that she has to waste her life and be married to someone like me. But I brush away that feeling because I have my priorities. And then it's gone just as fast as it came.

Riri lowers her head, her dark, luscious hair falling down the sides of her face and covering it like a curtain as if shielding it from me. Her monster.

Her body shakes and I realize that she's cold, seeing as she tries to pull the hem of her short dress to her knees. Without thinking, I grab the coat between us and toss it over her legs haphazardly and then adjust the temperature of the backseat, warming our seats.

From the corner of my eye, she's looking at me like she didn't expect my kindness—and I'm starting to question myself as well. I'm not a total asshole. I need her alive for us to actually be married, so I can't have her freezing to death.

She looks away again, adjusting my coat on her legs. And then her shoulders sag as if she's finally resigning to this fucked up situation she's in with me right now.

God knows even as I'm taking her with me to accomplish my goals, my nerves are burning like a flame running on its course, causing me to think twice about this whole ordeal.

But I tamp the feeling down and gaze outside the window, seeing the Manhattan skyline pass by the farther we drove away. The faster we get out of here, the faster my plans will fall into place.

Just one more step and it will all end. No one has to get hurt anymore.

I stretch my hand out toward her, wishing I had done this sooner. "Give me your phone."

"Why?" She draws her brows together, her hand gripping the device tightly.

Do I have to explain? No. I give her a pointed look that says: 'You know why.'

Riri looks at me, frustration flashing in her eyes as she shoves the screen to my face. "I already turned it off."

"How do I know you're not going to turn it on again while I'm not watching?"

"You don't. You'll just have to trust me."

A small chuckle leaves my lips as I face her, my eyes slowly scanning down her body. "Trust you…"

Shifting uncomfortably under my gaze, she clears her throat. "Well, I'm here. Aren't I? And I'm trusting you to follow through the end of your promise, so you can at least trust me with this."

Not gonna happen. She could change her mind any time and I'm not stupid to give her a chance to. Not when I'm this close.

Before she could react, I swiftly slap the bottom of her phone upward, causing it to fly out of her grasp and I snatch it mid-air. She gasps. I then pocket it into the left side of my pants—away from her.

"What the hell!" she lunges for me but I raise a hand to stop her, and she actually does. But she does it as she breathes heavily and scowls at me, her hot breath fanning against my palm. I retract my hand immediately.

"I'm keeping this for now. You'll get it back after."

"After what?"

"The wedding tomorrow."

"To…" She scoffed. "Tomorrow? You want to get married tomorrow?"

"Actually, I want it as soon as possible. How about tonight? Would you prefer that?" I only ask to gauge her response. I want to know what's running in her head apart from wanting to claw my eyes out at the moment.

Riri lets out a furious growl that I think is adorable. She's like a kitten wanting so badly to be a lion. But then she turns away from me and stares at the window, back to ignoring me now.

And when I think she's going to stay quiet, I hear her low whisper. "Tomorrow. Not tonight…please."

She doesn't have to explain for me to understand why she said that. Her boyfriend just died less than 15 hours ago. She needs to grieve.

Though I'm not supposed to care, I guess giving her until tomorrow before she'll finally be at my mercy wouldn't hurt. It's the least I can do.

See? I'm not that bad.

"Tomorrow," I mutter, already looking out the window.

Then you'll be mine.