Bones (Bonetti Brothers #1)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ATHENA

His staff came in two hours ago and helped me into the dress he chose, as well as styling my hair and makeup. I don’t understand all the fuss. It’s not actually my wedding day. I’m being forced to marry him. This isn’t a story with a happily ever after. Why on earth we couldn’t go to a Justice of the Peace or something is beyond me. Then again, his mother apparently doesn’t know what’s going on. Maybe this is for her. I sit waiting for Bones to come and get me, in a white dress that is really gorgeous. It’s strapless and falls just above the knee. It’s not overly fancy, but it’s more than I expected for a fake wedding.

I rise from my seat on the edge of the bed, when Bones walks into the room and suddenly stops. “Fuck, Butterfly. You look ravishing.”

He looks handsome as hell in a black suit, showing only the tattoos on his hands. His dirty blonde hair is styled slightly to the side, and his face is clean shaven. If this weren’t all forced, I’d be attracted to him. A woman would need to be blind to not see the way he’s drenched in sex appeal, but I dismiss it, because I don’t have time for anything other than hatred for my future husband.

“Ready?”

He smirks at me. “You aren’t going to tell me I look good, Butterfly?”

Rolling my eyes, I laugh. “I don’t think I need to tell you, you cocky bastard.”

Reaching out his hand, I take it as he chuckles. “Always thinking about my cock, naughty girl.”

“You haven’t seen the outside yet. That’s where we’ll say our vows, but don’t get any ideas.”

I take in a deep breath as I tell my lie. “I won’t. I promise. ”

We walk out a back door that leads out to the massive grassy property. There’s a red carpet for the aisle, with white chairs on either side of it. At the front of it, there’s a priest, and flowers on top of large white pillars on each side of him. Glancing around quickly, I spot an older man in a seat with a woman beside him, and three men that look like they could be Bones’ brothers. They are all around the same height and stature, although two of them have darker hair than Bones. On the other side are two younger women, and one is Penelope, his sister.

Suddenly, the nausea hits me as he asks, “Ready to do this?”

“Bones, please don’t make me do this.”

He turns to me and cups my cheek. “Butterfly, I have plans for you tonight that do not involve the cage. However, if you force my hand, I will do what I need to. Would you like to get married, or go back to the basement?”

“Get married,” I breathe. That was mistake number one for me, letting him know how I felt about the cage, because now it’ll always be his biggest threat. He said he wouldn’t put me in there again, but I know he will if it gets him what he wants. This is what manipulative assholes do. I told him before I’d never forgive him for this, and I meant it. The sad truth is, I know he doesn’t care. He doesn’t give a shit about me, or how I feel.

Bones wraps his arm around mine, and we begin walking down the aisle in front of the strangers.

“Isn’t the music beautiful?” He asks, but I don’t respond, because I can’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears. Am I going to pass out? I hope not, because I’m sure I’ll wake up in the cage.

Leaning down as we walk down the aisle, he whispers in my ear, “Breathe, Butterfly.”

We reach the priest and he’s talking, I can see his mouth moving, but I can’t hear a single word. Bones reaches forward and strokes his fingers down my cheek, and I hate that it snaps me out of my panic. I hate that it provides any level of comfort for me .

“You need to say your vows, Athena.”

“Repeat after me,” the priest says.

Exhaling a deep breath, I do as he says.

“I take you, Luca Bonetti, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I will love and honor you for all the days of my life.”

Bones takes my hand and places two rings on my finger. “Athena, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

“In so much as Luca and Athena have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

I nearly choke on my saliva hearing him say we have consented to this marriage. Bones pulls me over to his family.

This is the part I haven’t even thought about. If I hesitate, he does not. Bones pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine. Taking my face in his hands, he tilts my head and slides his tongue into my mouth. His kiss is passionate and possessive. The small crowd cheers as he slides his hand down my back and tips me back, making a show for his family. When he lifts me up and breaks our kiss, I’m slightly dazed.

“Athena, this is my mother, Lucia.”

With a smile, I extend my hand to shake hers, and she raises an eyebrow. “Family does not shake hands. We are family now.”

She envelops me into a warm hug, and I’m taken aback as Bones chuckles. Pulling back, she holds my hands and smiles at me affectionately. His mother has dark hair pinned into an updo, and is wearing a classy dark blue dress that falls below the knee. It’s her smile that is the most striking to me; it’s warm. Penelope looks more like their mother, but Bones favors his father. She lets go of my hands as the man with her clears his throat.

Bones chuckles. “This is my father, Lorenzo.”

He’s far less friendly than his wife, and shakes my hand with a brisk demeanor, and a nod. I guess this is where the asshole comes from. Although I guess this is what you can expect from the man that leads a mafia family.

Bones places his arm around my waist. “Butterfly, these are my brothers; Kage, Reaper, and Psycho.”

I gasp at his words, because those names sound terrifying. If Bones got his nickname from his excitement of breaking bones, why did the others get theirs? Do I even want to know? He chuckles softly as he whispers in my ear, “Yes, wife, it’s exactly what you think, but you’re safe with me.”

Safe with him. Sure, until I piss him off and end up in the cage again.

“And this is Penelope.”

I shake her hand, pretending we’ve never met before, and she does the same.

Bones says, “I’m going to take a moment with my wife. Eat, drink, enjoy yourselves.”

He pulls me to the other side of the massive yard and stares at me. “Are you planning to behave yourself, wife?”

I nod. “Yes. I’ll be the perfect wife tonight. I’ll make you a drink, get you food, whatever you need.”

He takes a little piece of hair hanging down, framing my face. “So beautiful, Butterfly. You’re mine now. I own every inch of you.”

Rolling my eyes, I say, “You don’t own me, Luca.”

With a groan, he wraps his hand around my throat. “I will prove to you tonight, when I’m fucking every goddamn hole you have, how much I own you.”

My eyes widen, and of course, his response is laughter. “Oh yes, Butterfly, even your sweet little asshole. ”

He moves his hand slightly, and rubs his thumb along my bottom lip. “Open and suck.”

Glancing over his shoulder, I’m relieved when I don’t see anybody watching us, and part my lips. He presses his thumb into my mouth, and I suck his digit as he groans.

“Good girl,” he says, and I immediately hate myself for how those two words make me feel. Bones pulls his thumb out of my mouth with a grin. “I need to get my wife food. She has a long night ahead of her.”

Yeah, a long night of running my ass off. This has to work, because I know it’s only a matter of time until he locks me up again. And I won’t live that way. In constant fear over the worst moments of my life being repeated.

We walk back over to where everyone else is, enjoying their food, and laughing like this is an actual celebration, and Bones places his arm around my waist, pulling my body close to his. Once we approach the large display of food, he puts food on a plate and hands it to me, before getting his own.

“Thank you.”

He smirks at me. “I have expectations for you as my wife, but I will take care of you. You’re mine, and that means you’ll have every need taken care of.”

I roll my eyes as I swallow a bite of food. “Except freedom, right?”

Bones grins at me. “You’ll never have that. It’s not what you need anyway.”

Ignoring him, I take a bite of braciole , and join him at the table. He sits beside me instead of across from me, like I might run at any moment. He’s right to fear that, but I won’t do it when he’s awake. I’m not that stupid.

When everybody starts to leave, I get excited, but try to act nonchalant. It’s almost time. I just have to get him to turn his back, so I can put the pills in his drink. Once he’s passed out, I’m gone.