“You should’ve left me where I was, then,” I sneered, chin tilted. “But you didn’t, so here we are.”
He stared at me for a long, cold beat. Then he exhaled through his nose and ran a hand over his face like he was counting backward from ten.
“Get your shit together,” he said, stepping back. “Clean yourself up, fix your attitude, and prepare yourself for our engagement dinner.”
My brows lifted. “Excuse me?”
He looked me dead in the eye. “We’re announcing the engagement tonight at the family dinner. It’s time to get this wedding over with. We can’t keep stalling.”
I opened my mouth, but he raised a hand to silence me.
“You want to play the part?” he said. “Then play it well. Or don’t—just make sure you don’t make me regret not leaving you locked in that basement.”
And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there with a mouth full of rage and a body still humming from the storm he dragged in.
Everyone was gathered in the dining room by the time Khalil and I arrived. Naeem was at the head of the long table, and Tatum sat beside him with her legs crossed, sipping a glass of what looked like water. Next to her sat Riley, poised and polished, her silky bob framing her face. Khalil’s mom sat at the other end beside her husband, looking elegant as ever, with a glass of red in hand and a cool expression that gave nothing away, but her eyes followed every move I made.
Sophia was missing, and so was Dallas, whom I found out at the last minute had been invited. I didn’t know if he’d decided not to show or if something else had come up, but either way, it didn’t sit right with me. One would think he would’ve had the decency to show up to at least make sure I was still breathing. He hadn’t checked on me since he sold me to the Bulgari.
Khalil led me straight to her and kissed her cheek before introducing us. “Madre, this is Felicity. Felicity, this is my momma, Daphne.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” She stood and pulled me into a quick hug.
“Nice to meet you as well,” I replied, wrapping my arms around her.
When she finally released me, Khalil moved on to his father. “Papa, this is Felicity.”
“Welcome to the family,” he said before placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Thank you,” I replied, forcing a smile.
As soon as he released me, I waved at the others and said, “Hello,” before taking my seat.
No sooner than my butt hit the cushion, Tatum said, “I know we met at the club, but why am I just finding out you two are in a serious relationship?”
She was poised, polished, and very obviously clockingeverything. She looked effortlessly beautiful, with her rich mocha skin and hair cascading across her shoulders in jet-black waves. Her thick, arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, and full lips made her a timeless beauty. I was surprised how much I hadn’t paid attention to her the first time we met.
This wastheTatum Genevese, my brother’s ex-fiancée. During the time Dallas was with her, we had never met or spoken to one another on the phone. I had also never even seen a picture of her. Hell, if it hadn’t been for my mother, Isabella, calling at the last minute to extend an invitation to the wedding, I wouldn’t have even known my only sibling was engaged.
As long as I lived in Paris out of my family’s hair, no one gave a damn about me. One would think I would have some type of relationship with the woman my brother was to wed, but that wasn’t the case. She was just as much a stranger to me as I was to her.
Speaking of Naeem Bulgari, his stare was intimidating. He was broad-shouldered and at least six-four, with a muscular physique that suggested he could handle business with or without a weapon. His skin was deep, velvety brown, and his jawline could’ve been carved from stone. His eyes, dark and unreadable, held the weight of a man who’d seen too much and trusted too little.
Naeem was someone I had to keep an eye on.
Khalil tensed beside me. It was subtle, but I noticed the shift. He was probably expecting me to show my ass atthis moment, but I was biding my time for the right moment. Besides, we had not too long ago gotten here, and I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. This was the first time in a week that I was in the company of others without Khalil breathing down my neck. I was going to soak up as much of this moment as I could.
“It was so much going on, I never had a chance to get around to it,” Khalil answered, his tone casual, but his eyes slid to me to see if I’d call him out on his lie. “But we’re here now. Tatum, meet my girlfriend, Felicity.”
Girlfriend… hmm.That’swhat we were going with now?
“Felicity, you met Tatum.” He continued, and I didn’t say a word.
My face remained still, blank, pleasant even, but inside, my stomach twisted. Not because I wanted him to call me his fiancée, but because I wasn’t anything to Khail besides his hostage. Introducing me as if our relationship was consensual made my insides boil. This arranged marriage was downright barbaric and sick.
Tatum’s eyes flicked to mine. “You’re beautiful,” she said, assessing me before asking, “How long have you two been together?”
Khalil leaned back in his chair, the picture of ease. “A few months,” he answered without giving me the chance to reply to her question.
