I should be livid. I had been livid when I’d waltzed into my brother's office that day. Somehow, in a weird way, Gilly snapping back at me had not only cooled my anger, but now it has me all over the place inside. The tables have turned now, and I’m the one avoiding Gilly.

“Maybe I should try something else.” Because they aren’t wrong. As I stare at myself in the mirror, that is not a girl staring back at me. I’m a woman in every sense of the word.

One that has offered herself up on a silver platter to suitors. The problem is, even if I really did want to do this, I would never know if the man I picked actually gave a shit about me or merely wanted part of my last name and the connections it would bring.

“We don’t have time, and that one is perfect!” Angelica protests as a knock sounds at the door.

It swings open a moment later to reveal Butcher. His eyes go straight for Bianca. There has always been a darkness that surrounds Butcher, but when he sees Bianca, I get a glimpse of Fernando. The man behind the Butcher. The one few know. I think Bianca is the only one that truly knows him in every way.

“You have guests.” Butcher steps forward into the room, revealing three women behind him.

“Come in, ladies.” Bianca grabs a hold of Butcher, trying to show that he’s not as scary as he appears. They all give him wary glances. My first thought is that she’s lucky most people are scared of her man. Keeps everyone at arm's length. When women see Gilly, they swoon, and I want to vomit. “Who put you on door duty?” She laughs, pulling him back out of the room. The door falls closed behind them. I think Butcher just stole her. She’ll be back at some point.

“Come. You can set up here,” Angelica tells them before she makes introductions. “Do you mind if I go first? I want to make sure everything is going as it should.”

“Nope.” I drop into one of the chairs and watch both girls descend on Angelica–doing her hair, nails, and makeup.

She’s all worked up because this is the first event she’s really hosted as my brother's wife. She’s good for him. Angelica can be equal parts sweet and fuck around and find out. Especially when it comes to someone she loves.