“Feels like an unnecessary hoop to jump through,” I said.
“Perhaps, but I believe he’s trying to show Lucia that he has no intention of keeping her from her family,” Savio said. “I know you don’t care for him, but believe it or not, our brother is trying to be good to his bride-to-be.”
“That’s sweet,” I replied flatly. If in six months or a year, Romeo was still being good to Lucia, then I’d start to believe he was changed for the better. People could get caught up in the moment - I knew that all too well.
My hand drifted to my stomach on reflex.
I barely noticed it, but Savio saw it happen immediately. “Are you feeling sick?”
“I’m fine,” I replied, and it was a bold-faced lie.
That morning, for the first time, I was sick. It came fast and suddenly and had me bolting into my bathroom just before one of my family’s men came to collect me for the ride to the chapel. It could have just been random sickness. Worried over Giorgio leaving his room for the first time today. It could have just been that I’d eaten something bad or was experiencing second-hand wedding day jitters.
It also could have been the beginning of a pregnancy.
“Now that I look at you, you seem a little pale,” Savio said. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” I whined back. “I don’t leave the house much. I think it’s just anxiety.”
“Well, everything will be fine,” Savio said. “It’s a happy day.”
“Yeah, I know.”
An older woman, who I’d seen floating around the estate for the last couple of weeks as the wedding drew closer, came and collected Savio to bring him to the top of the altar to prepare for the ceremony. Unlike the traditional groomsmen walking down the aisle with the bridesmaids, Marcello and Savio would start the ceremony at the altar with Romeo, and Chiara and Alessandra would precede their sister down the aisle. It was the most amicable way to do everything, given theperceivedhatred between our families.
I knew better.
Shortly after Savio was led away, I saw one of the grunts entering the chapel with Giorgio in tow. He was wearing a well-tailored suit, and though his face was still marked with signs of his torture, he looked as handsome as ever, almost more rugged with the scars. His hair was slicked back as opposed to all over like it normally was, and though he was limping, he still had his shoulders back and head held high.
I gave a quick look around, making sure my father and brothers were nowhere to be found, then I made my way over to where they were standing. Giorgio’s eyes rested on me and went wide, and a smile rose to his face.
“Mateo,” I said to the grunt.
He looked at me and stood upright. “Yes, miss.”
“Romeo informed me that Giorgio is supposed to be brought down to his sister’s suite so that she may see him before she walks down the aisle,” I lied. “Please bring him there immediately.”
The grunt started to stutter and stammer. “Er, uh, I’m sorry, Miss. I don’t know where that room is.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “I suppose I’ll go inform Romeo that…”
“No, please! I’ll find it!” he yelped.
I looked back over my shoulder as if I was checking for something and then looked back at him. “Tell you what? I’ll bring him, so long asyouhelp me out at some point later on.” Racking up favors with my father’s men never hurt, especially when it was going to buy me a few minutes alone with Giorgio.
“Of course, thank you so much. You’re too kind Miss Cavetti.”
He released his hold on Giorgio, and I took it, leading Giorgio away from him and down the hallway towards the rooms which were normally used for classes at the chapel during the week.
“That was quite the act you put on,” Giorgio said when we were safely out of eye and earshot.
“When your only resource is getting what you need from the guards, you learn how to lay it on thick,” I replied.
Giorgio stopped moving, pulling me to a stop with him. I looked back at him, nervous that maybe he was hurt, but he had a longing look in his eyes. He lifted his hands to my face and brought his lips to mine, gently pressing them together, sucking the very life from me. It felt so good to be kissed by Giorgio again that it had my mind swirling, but I knew if we lingered any longer, we could end up being seen, which would be the worst thing.
Dragging myself away, I looked up at him, my cheeks burning. “That was bold.”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to do that in weeks and… I couldn’t resist.”
