Shattered Vows: An Arranged Marriage Standalone Romance (Tarnished Empire)

“Let’s take this shot with a dare.” My best friend, Linny, lived on the edge of reason, ready to take life by the horns and make it her bitch. She had too with a successful travel blog that allowed her to fly around the world and be known as some sort of influencer.

“What do you mean?” When I tilted my head, my long dark wavy hair fell to the side of my bare shoulder. It was all I could muster for this night out. The black crop top hinted at my tattoo of the sun and matched my black jeans.

I hadn’t even tried to put on heels after our limo ride out of our small town to this big city’s hotel. My combat boots provided comfort and I needed it, considering I didn’t venture out much. Linny’s boyfriend, Chet, had put us up in a hotel so Linny could visit him at a club in Miami tonight. We only lived about thirty minutes away but being carted around in a limo in a big city meant something to some, I guess.

“I’ll give you a dare to complete by the end of tonight. You give me one.” Linny bounced about in the limo, the seat’s leather creaking under her.

“What if my dare was that you have to cheat on your boyfriend?” Pushing the boundaries of her game was my attempt to shine light on her risky behavior.

Still, Linny wasn’t a party pooper by nature. She shrugged. “I’d make do. Plus, your heart’s too good to make me do that.”

A disgusted sound came from my throat. I hated being pegged correctly. “Fine. I’ll play. I dare you to figure out his job and invite him to dinner in our town.”

Her eyes narrowed, the makeup around them looking even smokier. I guessed my blue eyes had the same effect, considering she’d lined them with dark makeup before we left. It was probably her attempt to make me look somewhat presentable in my combat boots and unkempt hairdo. “That’s playing dirty. You know no one likes our little Coralville town.”

Coralville was made up of only about two thousand people and ran off the oil terminals that belonged to corporate in the big city next to it. Tourists flocked in and out but never stayed long.

I shrugged. “I love our town. If he’s legit, he’ll like it enough.”

“Fine.” She pointed to my shot, and I downed it. “My turn. You find the guy you’re most attracted to in the club tonight.”

She paused, and I thought, this is going to be so easy.

“And you talk his ear off. Have a full-blown conversation for at least thirty minutes. And the first place he invites you to, you go. No hesitation.”

I wrinkled my nose immediately. Mentally scrolling down my list of guys I’d been attracted to in the past few months, I cringed. “That’s probably going to be impossible, Linny.”

A laugh burst from her, and the bottle of vodka sloshed in her hand. “Why?”

Before I could answer, a laugh bubbled out of me too. “Oh, God. All the guys I hook up with can’t hold a legitimate conversation!”

She pointed and laughed more. The city lights streamed in the limo as we fell apart at my expense.

Some things were downright funny when you accepted them and that was it. For a while now, I’d gravitated toward big men with small IQs. I didn’t have a reason for it. They just felt safe, easy… No complications.

Sobering, Linny leaned in and clinked her shot glass with mine. Her red nails were a hard contrast to my unpainted ones but her dark eyes were genuine and full of love when she said, “Cheers to hearing your laugh, Morina. It’ll get easier after it gets terrible. I’ll be here for you whenever you need me.”

I sighed and downed the shot with her. The terrible taste made me cough, which only made me chuckle at how inexperienced I must have been in comparison to her. “God, I’ll never get used to the burn of liquor. I’m going to need it in the next few weeks. I just know it.”

“How’s Grandma Maribel?” she whispered and her dyed black mohawk curl fell onto my shoulder.

I let my head fall onto hers as we slumped down together in the leather seats. “Not good. She’s refusing further treatment for the lung. The cancer metastasized, and the doc said two weeks ago that she had two weeks to live.”

“For fuck’s sake.” She breathed out. “You need this night out more than me.”

“I need a button to pause time. I’ve wished on it, but the damn stars don’t care what I have to say. My horoscope read like a girl’s with bad luck for the next week.”

“Oh Jesus.” Linny rolled her eyes.

“Hey, I didn’t wear any bracelets or bring crystals tonight. Be proud.”

“I’ll be proud when you complete my dare.” She poked my bare stomach.

“In my defense, the men I hook up with are normally very nice and amazing in bed.”

“Are they though? Like what’s amazing in bed if you have no connection?”

Linny loved every man she dated, and I envied that in her.

For me, it was just about sex. I didn’t need an emotional tie. No complications. “If they can work their stick, I’m not complaining, okay?”

Linny laughed and turned toward her window to point at the club as our driver pulled up. “That’s us. Get over here for a selfie before we go in, you little player. I need one before we get all sweaty from dancing or, in your case, talking in the club.”

I leaned in and stared at us in the glow of her phone screen. Our eyes were ringed with makeup and our straight smiles looked damn good on our contoured faces. Linny was a louder, more-in-your-face beautiful, but my hair was pushed to the side with a bunch of long waves. I’d always been able to snag a guy or two—probably from my oversized chest and butt. I had an hourglass figure because I’d never been any good at counting calories.

Linny snapped two photos.

“Enough?” I asked between smiling teeth.

“One more!” She tilted her head and took another.

“Please tell me we aren’t going to document every second of this night?”

She shoved her phone in her clutch and rearranged her shirt before opening the door. “Oh, get over your camera phobia. I have to catalog you dressed this hot out with me for one night. When was the last time I caught you out of a swimsuit and with makeup on?”

If I sighed, I’d probably be without her as a friend.

I ushered her forward as the club’s bouncer waved us up. “We’re with Chet,” she announced, so loud I was sure the people at the club across the street heard.

The bouncer appeared twice my size, and I wasn’t thin. He glared at us with his dark thick brows down over his eyes, then he lifted the cord to the inside and pointed to our hands. I glanced at Linny, not sure what he wanted. The local tiki bar was my scene—the one I frequented even as a minor. There, Bradley waved me in with a smile and no questions asked.

She held her hand up, fingers curled, and he stamped the back with a large, capitalized font.

VIP.

Right away, a man with spiced cologne beckoned us down an aisle that only a few select people seemed to be admitted to. We took stairs that lined the club and watched the sea of people below dancing with the pumping music. The second floor held a beautiful, dark oasis of men and women who indulged both in alcohol and people-watching those downstairs.

As I stepped toward them, the man with too much cologne shook his head and pointed to a dim staircase. “Another floor.”

I narrowed my eyes, but Linny shrugged and waved me on.

As we ascended to the third floor, I could barely make out the steps. Thank God, I’d worn combat boots.

When the door opened, diamonds and glass and crystal shone like the ocean at sunset on black everything. I gasped as I walked forward—even the floor was made of glass. We stood directly above those on the floor below.

“Interesting.” I murmured to Linny and pointed down.

Her eyes lasered onto her man, though. She’d scanned everyone along with me and squealed when her gaze landed on a tall man with hollowed-out cheeks and ghostly eyes. He lit up when he saw her, though, like she could cure him of whatever caused his distress.

He hugged her when she jumped into his arms and murmured something into her ear. Laughing, she pointed to me. “That’s Morina, Chet. She accompanied me. So I’m not on my own.”

“Morina.” He held out his hand. “You both should have a guard for how good you look.”

What was I supposed to say to that? The comment threw me off. “Thanks. We’re not really that important.”

“Anyone with Linny is important to me.” He snuggled into her neck, and the butterflies for both of them started. I didn’t know much about love, but his smile with Linny was genuine, infectious, and doting.

Too many romance novels and movies made me long for something I didn’t need.

Linny turned to wink at me. “Remember the dare, Morina.” Her eyes got wide as she ticked her head at a guy in a navy suit walking up behind Chet.

Not really walking, but gliding like he couldn’t be bothered by the mere restriction of gravity. His dark eyes read me, the room, and all his surroundings, but his face drew everyone to him. He was tall and well built, sure, but he had a bone structure that cut through all the others. The strong jaw and plump lips had my mouth dropping open.

The problem was his suit. It held all the information I needed to know that I would never see him again. A man who wore something that well-tailored wouldn’t be in one place for long. Money pulls people in all sorts of directions. He’d have been a nice conquest. Except this time, Linny thought I was going to chat his ear off and I was seriously concerned that his IQ was as striking as his looks. He looked me up and down as if taking me all in and then glanced away, like I wasn’t worth his time.

I completely accepted that.

To him, I probably didn’t meet some standard of the wealthy businessman who had a model on his arm at every event. Instead, I took on a guy here and there who stopped on his way through our town to talk business regarding the plant.

Chet turned and nodded to him and the other man I noticed stuck by his side. “Bastian, meet my girl, Linny.”

Bastian’s smile flew across his face, welcoming even, as he extended a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Linny.”

She tilted her mohawk my way. “Also a pleasure. That’s Morina, my very best friend. Out to enjoy a night with us all.”

“I figured.” He whispered almost to himself before his hand slid out of hers to shake mine. This time, his smile dropped, and he glanced back at the man on his shoulder. Immediately, the guy ducked into his phone.

My eyes narrowed. Were they wary of me for some reason?

“I’m going to go get a drink,” I mumbled, but Chet waved a waitress over. She wore leather booty shorts and flirted shamelessly with all three men who stood near us. Bastian took a moment to talk with her, and I kept from rolling my eyes. She’d get a big tip and probably a date by the time the night was over.

Instead of idling, I stepped around them to talk to the man behind Bastian. His smile was gentle when he looked up from his phone, and his dark green eyes popped against his tanned skin in such a unique way. I might have stared a bit too much.

“Want a picture, Morina?” His deep voice rolled out, soft and comforting like a warm tide creeping in.

“Jeez. Sorry.” I shook my wavy hair from my face. “You have really pretty eyes.”

A glare came over his face. I almost took a step back from the way it plowed through me, so mean I wasn’t sure if I should cower away or try to ignore it, if only to save myself. Then, his face cracked into a smile so bright, I thought I had whiplash. Yet I found myself smiling back. “I’m Dante. And I get that a lot. I’m messing with you.”

I bit my lip and relaxed enough to tease him back. “Can’t you buy a girl a drink before you start with jokes?”

“I bought the drinks instead.” Bastian’s voice rushed through me, loud and lethal this time. It was nothing like a warm tide washing over me. Instead, a cold wave crashed onto me, taking my breath away, and he had all my attention immediately.

Bastian’s big hand held a small glass filled with clear liquid, lime, and ice. The gold ring on one of his fingers matched the very expensive watch that peeked out from under his cuff. I’d learned to judge an escapade by his attire and accessories, because that’s all he’d be to me for an evening or two.

“We good, Dante?” he asked his friend without looking at him. Instead, our gazes held over our drinks like he searched for something more from me, and I definitely tried to read way too much into our interaction.

And there was the stupid dare. Should I talk to him or Dante for the next thirty minutes? I broke our stare to look over at Linny. She was already on one of the chaise lounges with Chet.

“All good, Bast.” Dante nodded at me like I was the topic of conversation.

“Well, Morina. Seems you’re a legitimate friend of Linny’s.” Bastian announced and took a sip of the amber liquid in his tumbler.

“Um, what?” I sputtered, my eyes wide. “Are you researching me?”

Dante patted my shoulder but didn’t say anything before disappearing into the crowd like he wanted nothing more to do with my gaping mouth.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” I murmured and glared up at Bastian. “I’ll have you know I’m a stand-up friend.”

“Seems that way.” Bastian’s finger tapped his glass a few times as he glanced around to find Linny and Chet. Then he sighed and motioned toward a table and chairs. “It also seems our friends are occupied for the time being.”

I could have told him off for doing whatever weird background check he’d decided to run on me. I could have left him in the dust too. Yet I had a very serious problem.

I was nosey.

I walked toward the barstools and sat down. “Why are you running a check on me? And how?”

“Unique name and face.”

“Face?” My voice squeaked.

“Technology is crazy these days. I don’t know how, but Dante does.” He was already bored with me as he looked around the club. “Anyway, I know Linny’s history. It was easy enough for Dante to work a little magic. It’s his job.”

“To vet all the people that hang out with you?” I set down my drink and crossed my arms.

“Essentially.”

“Why? That sounds like it’s no fun.”

“What’s not fun about it?” He rolled the crystal tumbler in his hands so the liquid swirled.

“There are no surprises.”

“Oh, I find enough surprises to last a lifetime in even the people I associate with.”

“Probably,” I grumbled and picked up my drink. “So, what’s the deal with Dante?”

Scanning the crowd, I set my sights on someone who looked likely to have less baggage. Bastian’s appearance far outranked anyone in the club, but Linny didn’t need to know that.

“The deal with him?” Bastian cocked his head.

“Yeah, like is he single?” No harm in cutting to the chase.

“You’re interested in him and not me?” He sounded completely shocked, and now his focus was directly on me, with no sign of that wandering eye.

“Bastian, I’m much too simple for your tastes.” And he was much too complicated for mine. “Dante seems nice.”

“Well, I’ll be damned that a girl looks at my security team instead of me tonight.” He rubbed the stubble across his chin. “What’s your story, Morina?”

“I don’t have one. We’re out in Miami for a night and then back to the grind. I work, I eat, I sleep. I’m sure it’s a much more boring life than you live. One your friend would probably be much more interested in.”

He sighed and brought his drink to his lips. I’d had too much to drink in the limo, that sloshy feeling coming over me. I knew right as he took a swig and my eyes trailed down his neck. The liquid flowed down over his full lips, sat on his tongue and then probably rolled down that thick neck of his. His mouth looked so pillowy, I wondered if he could possibly lead with such soft lips.

One side of them tipped up, and my gaze snapped to his. He murmured, “I lead in everything I do.”

“I…” I didn’t even know what to say as I slapped a hand over my mouth. “I’m really embarrassed that I said that out loud. I drank…”

“The liquor can catch up to you when you don’t drink a lot.” He nodded, not making fun of the fact that I had totally been considering him sexually.

“So, about Dante…” Back to the real matter—the safer matter.

“I don’t think it’d be a great idea to hook you up with one of my closest friends after you’ve hit on me, Morina.”

“I’m not hitting on you. I was admiring your face,” I threw out and then slammed my mouth shut with a wince.

He chuckled, and I shook my head to motion for him to stop.

“This is not normally how I am. I’m better at hiding my attraction to someone.”

“You’re attracted to me now?” He leaned on the table, a twinkle in his chocolate eyes, and I found myself wanting to lean in.

I turned to the crowd. “I’m attracted to your friend too. He seems like a safer bet. More realistic.”

“What makes me so unrealistic?” he asked in my ear and a shiver ran over me, making me aware of how close he’d come.

“For one, your suit probably costs more than my whole wardrobe.”

“I have no idea how much combat boots go for. You very well might be more expensively dressed.” He shrugged in his suit.

“Oh please.” I waved off his joke, both of us knowing my shoes were for comfort and not a fashion statement at all. “Second, no one’s bothered you since you’ve been up here, which means you probably are the one who commands the whole room, and you all probably do illegal things.”

“What if I told you only one of those things was true?”

“I’d ask which one.” I shrugged, but my mind had run away with another idea already. “What are you doing in Miami?”

He nodded and sat a little straighter, like he was ready to give his elevator speech. “I’m scoping out companies my father owned. He squared away a lot of his business dealings when he was more involved in his investments, but then the economy took a dive. Anyway, he’s been gone a long time and now I’ve taken over a lot of those dealings.”

I nodded, trying to sound interested. “Really?”

“No, not really.” He shook his head, and then his long lashes lowered over his eyes. He studied me like I was a rubix cube. “I don’t know why I want to tell you the truth, but it might just be I’m sick of Miami and I need some excitement. My business dealings aren’t exciting.”

“They sound great,” I said with about as much enthusiasm as I could muster. I didn’t want to sound bored with his businesses, but my mind took off easily if I wasn’t fully entertained.

“It’s boring as shit and you know it.” He dragged a finger down my nose, and my eyes met his immediately. Our touch was like a zap to the system and he seemed to know the pull he had when he did something like that because his smile flashed like lightning across his face.

I leaned back out of his reach. “It doesn’t matter. I’m sure someone else would be more interested in your work. I’m just more interested in your friend.”

“What for?” He crossed his arms.

“He’s safe!” I huffed, annoyed he hadn’t heard me the first time.

“What’s with you and being safe? You can’t live any type of life if you’re safe.”

“I live just fine where I’m from.”

He peered behind me, stared at my friend Linny, and then glanced back at me. “Have you been outside of where you’re from ever?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“I could take you somewhere else, though.”

“Oh, are you offering to take me back to your apartment or hotel? Show me how you really work your magic stick?” I laughed at my own joke, sure he was about to use it as a pick up line.

He narrowed his eyes and his next words came out cold, almost condescending, but still he gave me a question, not a command. “Do you think I can’t show you a good time, Morina? That I couldn’t show you something new?”

“Of course you can’t. You’re just another guy wearing a suit.” I’d had my fair share of them come through the tourist town I’d lived in. I knew his type.

Sort of.

Something behind his dark eyes, that wolfishly fast smile and all the perfect angles of his face, made him different. He was nice enough, soft lips, or so I guessed, and was saying everything right, like he really was an accommodating gentleman… right up until he closed the door to his lair and ripped you apart.

“I’ve been with a lot of men like you before.” I searched the room for Dante.

“Like me?” The corners of his mouth lifted, but the warmth in his smile was gone. Bastian’s sheep skin was sagging, and the wolf was coming out to play. He had power or confidence or a sheer sense of knowing that he was greater than all of us.

It made me want to back away and lean in all at once.

Maybe it was the particular evening and how I knew my grandma was about to leave me. Linny lived on the edge for fun, but I was teetering on it. I was about to be alone in this world and at 23, that seemed a little unfair. Cruel, even. I questioned a lot on my good days and on my bad. I grabbed my crystals and hoped the planets and stars would work in my favor.

Tonight, the edge was close for a lot of reasons, but not for fun. The voice in my head echoed that we were doomed, like we tiptoed through a valley of razor-sharp rocks, about to trip at any moment.

I shut my eyes and tried my best not to spiral and fall. “Look, Bastian, right?”

He nodded.

“Bastian, you’re older, wiser, probably have a lot more experience with women. So I’ll tell you. I’m probably like a lot of women you meet. Like the really eccentric ones that you like to avoid. I watch for full moons. I’ve been known to sage my house. I’m a believer in signs. I’m not your thing. I read my horoscope yesterday, and my week is supposed to be filled with a lot of the same. It told me to avoid that and go down a rabbit hole.”

“What sign are you?”

“Oh, do you actually know signs?” I’d never met a man in a suit that wanted to discuss astrology.

Maybe, just maybe, our stars would align.