Accidental Bride by Cristina Lollabrigida
ChapterThirty-One
Alessandra awoke with a start.She called out for Drake, but received no response. He wasn’t in the kitchen when she helped herself to a glass of water. The bed hadn’t been slept in, and she started to worry.
Quickly slipping into a wrap knit sweater dress, she pulled on a pair of knee-high boots and headed into the brisk Chicago morning. Luckily, it was early enough that the doorman could quickly hail her a cab.
She knew of only three places to look for Drake. His parent’s home was in Lake Forest, but that didn’t seem likely. Jerry’s club, where he had a private room that included a bed. Or his office.
His office seemed the most logical place to start, and she gave the address to the driver. The short commute stretched forever in early rush hour traffic. Eventually, the driver pulled up in front of the high-rise. She swiped her card without looking at the total fare.
The elevator moved at a snail’s pace dinging as it passed every floor. Twenty-five floors later, the doors opened to the firm where Drake was a partner.
The door hit the wall with a bang, and a sleeping Drake jerked awake with a start. His hair was disheveled, his tie was askew, and a mostly-empty bottle of whiskey was on the desk within arm’s length.
“Che cazzo!”
Multiple emotions slammed into Alessandra at once. A fear she couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge as she waited for him to walk through the door that Luca or her father may have hurt him. Anger at him for not even bothering to call or text that he wouldn’t be home. Abandoned and hurt that he ignored her all night.
But the emotion that flooded her at his blurry-eyed expression was relief that he was safe. She wanted to slap, kiss, hug, and scream at him all at once.
Alessandra stepped closer to throw her arms around him but stopped short when she saw smeared red lipstick on his collar. Riley’s mocking smile popped into her mind as proof of their affair knocked the wind out of her.
Knowing she couldn’t break down in front of her husband or confront the end of her marriage in that state, she turned on her heel and walked out the door.
* * *
With her achingheart and no other place to go, Alessandra made her way to the jail where Marcello was set for release that morning. He was the anchor she needed. This was a chance for them to start over and have a more honest and open relationship.
Marcello stepped into the sunlight as a free man a few hours later. He was dressed in all black, and though he appeared thinner than the last time she’d seen him, the clothes were appropriately sized. His dark hair was shaggy, down around his ears instead of slicked back, and he appeared as though he hadn’t shaved since his last court date.
Alessandra rushed to meet him, and he greeted her with wide-open arms. He lifted her up and spun her around before stepping back with a huge grin.
“It’s great to see you, little sister. How are you?”
Alessandra’s smile slipped.
“Who do I have to kill to make you feel better?”
At that, she burst into tears. “That’s not funny, Marce! Don’t let them hear you say things like that.”
Marcello pulled his sister back in for a comforting hug. “I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
Alessandra shook her head and stepped back from him. “Did you know, Marcello? Be honest with me, please.”
“Did I know what?”
“What Papà and Luca had planned for me? Did you have any hand in their plans? I’ve felt so used and manipulated. I need one man in my life to finally be honest with me.”
Marcello’s face hardened. “Can you handle the honesty?”
She could face the consequences of the truth later, but for now, she needed honesty. The jovial brother she used to know melted away into an imposing man.
“Did you know what Papà and Luca planned to do with me? Did you help them set it up?” she asked again.
“It’s more complicated than that. I was facing possible life in prison for murder. It was supposed to be a simple job. Set fire to a warehouse owned by a family corporation that refused to continue paying protection. The insurance collection would’ve lined our pockets, and the protection fee would’ve doubled after rebuilding.”
Alessandra’s jaw dropped at Marcello’s cold recount.
“Don’t act so scandalized, Alessandra. You know this life! We all have our part to play. I know my place, but you refuse to learn yours. Why do you keep fighting when there’s nothing left to fight for?”
“You can’t mean that! You’re my brother. How could you say such a thing? We’ve always supported each other.”
“No, I’m a Russo. It’s about fucking time you start acting like you’re one too. You should’ve learned your lesson years ago but had to be taught the hard way.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He didn’t have to say anything else, but she needed to hear the truth.
“I was the one who told Papà of your plans to elope.”
Alessandra flew at her brother in a blind rage. She slapped him and beat at his chest with her fists. “You let our father sell me like a whore! How could you?”
He grabbed her wrists and attempted to shake sense into her.
“If it wasn’t Drake Walker, it would’ve been some other man. You should consider yourself lucky. A woman’s place is to serve her family through marriage.”
She yanked free of his grasp and slapped him as hard as she could. “You son of a bitch! I hate you!”
“I’m sorry.”
Sorry?Sorry didn’t make up for her fragile illusions crumbling down around her. Alessandra’s world spiraled as she ran away, blinded by her tears. Somehow she managed to make her way back to the penthouse because she had nowhere else to go and crawled into bed.
She was trapped with nowhere to run, no place to call home, and no one to trust. She’d suffered years of abuse and neglect because her father blamed her for her mother’s death. His hatred caused the scars on her back that now throbbed painfully with every heartbeat.
Finding love with Luca in the bleakness of her home was a gift. But now she knew it wasn’t just her father who’d torn them apart, but her brother, someone she and Luca had relied on and confided in.
When Alessandra was forced to abort the baby Luca left her with, Marcello was the one who offered to escort her to the clinic. What a fool she was, thinking he was supporting her. He was likely there to make sure she went through with the procedure.
Drake was her second chance at love and a future that could finally be her own. But he proved to be just another man who made empty promises, fed her just enough to keep her in line, used her, and broke her heart into a million pieces.
Alessandra pulled the blanket over her head. The crushing emotional weight of the past few days left her with a migraine. She welcomed the physical pain to bury her heartache.
But it wasn’t just a headache. Her stomach flipped, threatening to force her to spill its contents. Alessandra’s heart began pounding furiously in her throat. She clawed at her clothes, which were suddenly so constricting, making it hard to breathe. The walls of her cage were ever-shrinking, locking her in.
Her whole body began shaking as sweat beads broke across her forehead. Only one thought crept into her mind—she needed Drake. She cried out as her vision blurred, on the verge of losing consciousness.
The door burst open, and Drake scooped her up like a white knight. She shook and cried in his arms.
“I… can’t… breathe…”
“Shh! You’re having a panic attack, amore mio. Try to take some deep breaths and calm down. I’m here now. I’m sorry for everything. Let me take care of you.”
She wanted to push him away but didn’t have the strength. Physical and emotional exhaustion left her aching all over. He crawled into bed behind her, pulled her body against his, and spooned her.
The problems between her and Drake couldn’t be ignored. But for tonight, his arms were the comfort she needed.