Chapter 7 7

Sasha Castillo.

“Damiano, this is Esme,” Mr. Giovanni went on to introduce, his tone grim as always, his eyes fixated on his son as he gestured to my mother in his arm. “You have not had the chance to meet until now.”

I could not tear my gaze off the man standing beside me.A part of me wanted to believe it is some kind of coincidence or my eyes were playing some sick trick on me. But the longer I stared, the more realized it is as real as it could be.

His gaze shifted to my mother, not yet glancing my way. With his shades now folded and held in one hand, his expression remained grave as it was, unmoving in the slightest when he gave her a curt nod. “Mrs. Castillo.” He acknowledged.

My mother’s face fell slightly at the use of her former last name, and i did not miss the momentarily intimidation that passed through her orbs. Still, she tried to mask it off with a well practised smile.

Luckily for her, before she could speak, her new husband jumped in to her aid. “Mrs. Giovanni.” Leonardo Giovanni corrected, his tone as firm as his expression when he stared down at his son with the same impassive coldness he had showed towards me. And i have to say, it feels good to know I am not the only one at the receiving end of his coldness for not being a part of his family. Even his son gets it by the looks of it.  “She’s a Giovanni now.”

But the said man did not seemed moved in the slightest by the edge in his father’s tone, nor did he once shift his gaze from my mother when he responded. “Not yet.” He breathed calmly, blinking with ease. “You have yet tied the knots. Anything can happen in the time left, you never know.” 

There was this way he spoke, as if the wedding would not take place if he wanted to. Or to be more specific, he does not want it to take place. And I would be lying if i said I do not wish he had something to do to ruin this wedding because if there is one thing we seem to might be able to see head to head with, then it might just be this ridiculous wedding.

Leonardo parted his lips to say something, but my mother tightened her hold around his bicep, before quickly stepping in. “Just call me Esme,” She eased, her smile still in place. “We are family now anyway.”

Damiano simply arched a brow, before nodding ever so slowly, as if he was allowing the thought to simmer in his head to see if it fits.

My mother’s voice came again before he could say anything, not that it seemed he had any intention of doing so. “By the way, Damiano, this is my daughter,” She introduced, shifting the attention to me much to my dismay. “Sasha.” Her gaze shifted to mine, her smile encouraging and i could practically hear the same words she had been chanting to me all day repeating in my head. 

‘First impressions matter, Sasha. Make sure to leave a good one on him’.

I mentally scoffed. I wonder how she would react to knowing the first impression had already happened in the worst possible way.

Great. Just to my luck. There goes trying to stay lowkey. 

My only consolation was hoping by some sort of miracle he would not recognize me. Maybe amidst the haze of yesterday’s killings and who knows how many women he was with, my face would blur. 

But who am I kidding?

He shifted his attention to me, turning around to face me, and those electric blue eyes found mine, and I could swear the slow tilt of the corner of his lips did not go unnoticed by me. Then, he reached out to take off the black gloves he had on one hand, before extending the hand out to me. “I know who she is.” He mused, his voice deep, knowing.

I swallowed a lump, my heart hammering behind my ribcage as my eyes widened in fear that he would disclose what happened last night to her. I am many things, but my mother knowing my nights spent out in clubs drinking is one thing I wanted no part of her to know.

I am her good girl in her eyes.

And if he exposes me now…well, shit will hit the fan.

“You do?” I could hear the questioning in her tone as she leaned in, her eyes on him. Then from the corner of my eyes, i saw her shift it to me. “Have you met before, darling? You did not mention it.”

My response was quick, and instant. “No.” I kept my gaze on him, swallowing a lump. “We have never met before.” I added an edge to my tone, hoping he would get the signal and not expose me.

But who am I kidding really to assume he would do as I want?

He slowly arched a brow. “That’s not quite true.” He mused, and I did not miss the amusement in his tone. “Are you quite sure we have never met before?”

“Darling?” My mother’s voice came again, the confusion in it evident. 

One of my hands curled by my side, my eyes narrowing at him. “No.” I gritted out. “We have never met before.” I forced myself to breath out calmly. “How can we?”

The corner of his lips curled into a smirk, and I saw the moment he caved in. “I must be mistaken then.” He extended the bare hand forward. “Damiano Giovanni.” He introduced.

I glanced down at the hand, intent to ignore it as a part of me is urging me to. But with my mother and his father present, as well as his people, I knew deep down that it is not something I should dare to do.

Not to mention regardless of his smirk, everything that happened in my mind is still vivid, and I am intimidated by the man truthfully. 

So, I swallowed down a lump and forced aside my feelings, before extending my hand to take a hold of his–the same hand that held a gun to my head yesterday and pulled the trigger on someone.

I meant for it to be a light, brush of the hand, but he gripped it firmly, refusing to let go.

“Sasha Castillo.” I introduced, though we both know he knows it already. 

He shook the hand, “Nice to meet you.” He brought the hand up, his lips brushing the back of my hand, and when i attempted to pull back, he held it firmly in place, his lips leaving a lingering kiss there, his eyes never leaving mine. “Step sister.”

Well, fuck. Just when I thought this marriage could not get any worse.