“I-I’d like to go to my room, please. I, um, I’d like to freshen up and maybe get a nap. If that’s all right?” She doesn’t ask me. She’s looking at Eliseo. My Aunt Vella chooses that moment to enter the room with the staff holding two trays of drinks and sandwiches. She takes one look at Althea, and her face turns to stone as she glares at the three of us men.
“Oh, dear child. Come on. You must be exhausted.” Vella puts on an exaggerated show, I’m sure more for the staff than anything. Not wanting anyone to know this marriage is nothing but a contractual agreement. “Let me show you to your room. Your bags are already put away, so you can freshen up and rest for a bit if you’d like. Bruno, please follow us with a glass of water and a sandwich for Miss Drakos? You can eat when you’re done, dear.”
Althea doesn’t argue. She simply follows my aunt down the hall with her shoulders sagging and her head hung low. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to go after her. To make her understand. To prove to her that this could be a love-filled marriage. But I doubt she would believe me.
I don’t know that she will ever forgive me for my father’s sins. Even after she gets her brother back, she will still have to live with the fact that it was my father who broke her heart and tortured her twin brother.
25
ALTHEA
I’m surprised when Vella has me follow her through the patio doors and down a stone path to what looks like a small cottage. I stop along the path to stare over at the water down below.
“Does this path lead to the water?” I ask, slowing my steps, taking in the splendor of the waves crashing as we pass through the trees and large rock formations.
Vella smiles at me over her shoulder. “It does. Although you shouldn’t venture down there without Enzo or Stavros. They’ll want to notify the guards that you’re taking a stroll. They’re on high alert these days.”
“Is that your subtle way of telling me I shouldn’t try to escape?” She gives me a knowing look. I’m only half teasing.
Vella stops, her hands finding their way to my shoulders with a gentle squeeze. “It’s my way of encouraging you not to tempt our guards into shooting you. They’re all deathly afraid of my nephew as it is.” Leaning in closer, putting her hand to her mouth, she whispers, “He has quite a reputation, as I’m sure you know.” Amusement dances in her eyes as she pulls back, and I find myself liking her even more. “I don’t think my men want to test its validity.”
All amusement leaves her expression as she explains, “I’m sure you’re aware of the threat your presence brings to us all. Although I am proud of my nephew for making the right decision, I am not pleased with his prolonging the ceremony or waiting to tell your father of the arrangements. A party could be planned anytime if that’s the only worry. The only necessary ingredients for a wedding are a priest, a couple of witnesses, and the paperwork.”
“I find that interesting, since you were the one who seemed so excited about planning the entire event.” I cross my arms, wanting to understand her endgame.
She smiles, rubbing my shoulders. “I am the wife of Eliseo Venatti. How I respond when my husband seeks my help with a situation is watched by all.”
“Meaning you’re just being the dutiful wife, playing her part.” My eyes roll. “I don’t need an elaborate wedding. The vows aren’t real. I see no point in putting in the effort. I’d prefer to just get it over with so I can start serving my sentence. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner Enzo and I can have it annulled.”
Vella steps forward, her hand now cupping my cheek. “Oh, sweet child.” She taps my cheek. “You are naïve to think that man in there will ever let you go. When a Venatti chooses his bride, he chooses for life. The only way out is death.”
“Death in human form is coming to meet you. Do not fear him—but embrace him. He will lead you to the truth. He holds the key to your past and the ring to your future. Trust him to protect you, even against his own instincts. Remember this. Death doesn’t know love, only pain. But you will give him both.”An icy chill runs up my spine as I remember the fortune teller’s words.
“It’s not what you think. Enzo and I are—” My words are cut off by her laughter.
“Oh, you’re both fighting it. We can all see that. But if he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have saved you from Nazario’s wrath in the first place. Remember that reputation we spoke about?” She gives me a pointed look, then releases me, turning to walk again. “And think about this. It was Enzo who demanded everything be perfect for his bride to be.”
“That’s just Enzo being the dominant control freak that he is. Or, like I said before, it’s all for show. My papa will know this isn’t real, only an arrangement. It will not be easy to convince him otherwise. But we have to, because if he believes I’ve been forced into this union against my will, Papa won’t care about the consequences. He’ll burn everything to the ground to take me away from here.”
“You seem quite sure about this.”
I nod. “I am. Some men in our world would marry their daughters off to the most advantageous match, looking for the highest gain for the family. Since my brother’s disappearance, all Papa has cared about is whatIwant. It comes second only to my protection and happiness.”
“Well, let’s hope for all our sakes you two are convincing enough. I don’t think Enzo could handle the guilt of your father’s blood on his hands.”
I gasp as the severity of what she’s said sinks in. Whatwouldhappen if Papa and Enzo went to war over me? Who would win? Would Enzo kill him to keep me? And what if Papa were to rescue me? Would I even want to go?
I’m lost in my somber thoughts, and Vella leaves me to them, not saying anything more about the wedding as we walk the rest of the way to the cottage.
She opens the door and there’s a spacious living room and kitchen with double doors that open onto a balcony view of the water below.
“The kitchen is fully stocked, and you’ll find everything you need for the espresso machine in the cupboard above it.” I follow her upstairs to a small hallway. “The bedrooms are all up here. The linens are in the closet beside the en suite, and your bags are already inside the main suite on the right.”
We head back down to the main floor where Vella makes a beeline and stops near the front doors. She doesn’t seem upset, but something I’ve said must’ve upset her because she suddenly seems in a hurry to get back to the main house and away from me.
“I’ll leave you to find your way,” she says, turning the knob on the door. “Oh, and you should know, Stavros will be staying in the cottage next door.”
Translation: your babysitter has returned.
