Turning to face him, I catch a glimpse of the first pew, and the woman I saw last night in the hall gives me a weak smile. She gestures with her hand in a sort ofhellowave, then mouths something that looks like an apology.
Glancing at my side of the church, the pews are filled with my uncle’s men and associates. Some of my family is here—cousins who are desperate to get my uncle to notice them. Wanting to take Marco’s place as the head of the family here in New York or in Chicago.
Kara and Rosa are watching from their seats with sympathetic stares. I’m sure part of Kara is thinking this is great for me.
The man I’d told her all about this morning while I was getting my hair done and having this stupid veil installed on the top of my head, is actually the man I’m marrying. The other part of her, the part that is observant, can see how unhappy he is about me standing here.
“This is where you say your vows.” Kaz snaps at me.
I swallow back a retort that will cause the church to burst into flames and grab the ring Father Steven holds out to me.
“I’m sorry.” I give Father Steven an apologetic smile.
He swallows, his throat pushing against his collar. This isn’t his fault, but he’s stuck in this insanely awkward moment with the rest of us.
I lean toward Father Steven and whisper, “Can you repeat what you said?”
He nods. “Of course. Do you take this man, Kazimierz Roman Volkov, as your lawfully wedded husband and forsake all others, loving and keeping him in sickness and in health?”
My throat dries. “I do.”
“And Kazimierz, do you take this woman, Sienna Christiana DeAngelo, as your lawfully wedded wife and forsake all others, loving and keeping her in sickness and in health?”
His jaw ticks as the mention of my middle name, but he gives a curtI dowhen prompted.
“Good.” Father Steven nods approvingly. You’d think he just made it through an obstacle course with the relief displayed on his face.
He launches into another short lecture about loving one another even the worst of times. An eerie sensation makes the little hairs on my neck stand on end, and when I swing my gaze back to myfiancéI find the cause.
He’s glaring at me as though I’ve just committed a great sin by standing at the altar with him.
“If you’d rather not go through with this, I’m happy to end the facade now,” I offer under my breath.
Father Steven hears me and stumbles over a few words before continuing with his lecture.
“Get to the damn rings,” Kaz grinds out, and Father Steven breaks off and calls for us to bring out the rings.
“So that’s a no?” I ask as I turn to face him. “You don’t want to ditch this whole pretense?”
He might actually break a tooth if he clenches his teeth any tighter.
“I didn’t get a ring for you,” I confess.
“I have it covered.” He turns as the eldest of his brothers makes his way out of the pew and hands over two gold bands. “Give me your hand.”
He snaps his fingers as he opens his palm.
Snaps his fingers.
I stare at his open hand, counting to ten silently in my head to keep my temper from bubbling over. Uncle Vicente would take out any anger he has at me for messing this up on Tommy, and I can’t allow that.
“Dear, he needs your fingers.” Father Steven leans forward, keeping his voice as low as he can to keep it from carrying across the church.
With a nod, I lift my left hand. Kaz snatches it and isolates my ring finger.
“With this ring, I give you the promise you will from this day forward never walk alone.”
He shoves the ring over my knuckle until it’s in place.
