Page 2 of Violent Attraction

Almost a year ago, my father called me into his office and introduced me to the man that would be my future husband.

I had no say in the matter.

It didn't matter that I didn't know the man, or that I was in love with another. I was going to marry Emilio Castro whether I wanted to or not.

Throughout my life, I have heard my father talk about finding me a good husband, but I always thought that he was just being a father. That’s what dads did, right? They joked about finding the perfect husband for their daughters because they couldn't fathom their little girls marrying someone that they didn't approve of. Right? That’s something that normal dads did?

Never did I think that my father was talking in the literal sense. Never did I think that he would force me to marry the son of another cartel drug lord so that he can gain power.

Because that’s what this is. A power move.

One that makes Ronaldo Morales more powerful than ever.

Just thinking about it has more tears forming in my eyes again.

God, I wish that my mother was here. I wish she was here to help calm me down like only she knew how. I wish she was here to tell my father that I wasn’t going to marry Emilio. That she would make him understand that the man he wants me to marry is evil in every sense of the word .

Of course my father would know a thing or two about that, since he is the evilest of them all.

I just wish that my mom was here to hold me and to tell me that everything will be okay.

But she’s not of course, because being my father’s wife killed her and now my siblings and I have to go through life without her.

“Okay, Isabella. You need to calm down. You need to calm down because in a few minutes all eyes will be on you and you have to pretend like this is the happiest day of your life.”

I shake my hands, trying to calm myself down as best as I can.

I don’t want to do this.

I don’t want to leave this room and become the wife of Emilio Castro, I just don’t.

But I have too.

In a matter of minutes, I will become Isabella Castro, a doting wife that is happy and in love with her husband.

I will give up everything that I worked so hard for only to become the perfect housewife.

God, help me.

I close my eyes and I take deep breath after deep breath, trying to get every single emotion running through my body in check.

I can do this.

I can do this.

There is a knock on the door. My eyes spring open. It’s time. As the knock sounds through the room, the church bells are ringing, signaling that it’s almost time for the bride to come out.

I can’t fucking do this.

“Come in,” I announce to whoever is on the other side of the door.

The door opens, but I don’t turn to see who walks in. I keep my eyes on the mirror in front of me, just waiting for the material to catch spontaneously on fire so I won't have to leave.

“Are you ready?” Camila’s voice comes up behind me. There is a sadness to it and I try to remember to keep the tears in.

My little sister is just as pissed about this as I am.

With one final look at the material covering my body, I turn to my sister and give her a sad smile.