“Do you think you’ll still be leaving on Wednesday?” Rosa tucks a loose curl back into place and pins it down with a bobby-pin.
“That’s what Uncle Vicente said this morning. They’re supposed to be meeting tomorrow for something.”
“Okay, so while he’s off doing whatever he’s doing, we’ll come over. We can get lunch, charge it to his room, or we can go shopping. I’m sure you’ll have access to his credit cards now, right?” Kara’s eyes glimmer at the idea of uncontrolled shopping.
I laugh. “That sounds amazing. This place has a whole salon. We’ll get facials and massages. The whole nine yards.” I grin at her through the mirror.
“It’s a date. Now, let’s get this pretty thing on you so we can go eat. I’m starved. I was so nervous this morning I didn’t eat anything.” Kara waves the dress at me.
“You were nervous?” Rosa deadpans. “You’re not the one going to bed with the enemy tonight.”
“She already went to bed with the enemy, and at least that’s one thing going for him, right. You said he knew his way around?—”
“Okay, that’s enough.” I put my hands up in the air. “I know what I said, but that was before I knew who he was, before he knew who I was. When I tell you the devil himself overtook that man’s body when he saw me walking down that aisle toward him, I’m not exaggerating.”
“He was probably just shocked.” Rosa uncorks the champagne and pours three glasses.
“You said he had to have known,” Kara reminds me.
“Well, maybe he didn’t, if he looked surprised.”
“He sounded surprised. And angry.” A shiver drags down my back at the memory of the darkness swirling in his eyes when he realized it was me. “So angry.”
“Well, maybe he’s had time to cool off. Seeing as he’s already abandoned you.” Kara zips up the dress and puts the final hook in place. “This dress is amazing on you. He’s gonna wish he’d been here for the whole night.”
I check the mirror and run my hands over my hips. It’s my wedding day. Shouldn’t it be filled with love and excitement?
All I feel is dread.
Did he know who I was last night? Have I made a complete fool out of myself?
And those vows. Does he actually believe I’m going to subjugate myself to him for the rest of my life?
It may be a necessary evil until I find a way to get Tommy under my permanent care, but once that happens, marriage contracts be dammed. I’ll find a way out of this mess.
A harsh knock on the door makes me jump. Kara rolls her eyes at me, then opens it a crack.
“Is she in here?” Uncle Vicente’s question sets my nerve endings on fire.
I’ve done what he demanded, and yet he still holds me in the least regard imaginable. If having to marry Kaz lets me move thousands of miles away from him and the rest of this ‘family,’ I can handle his cold demeanor.
“I’m here.” I gently nudge Kara away from the door and open it more.
His gaze scrapes over me with pointed scrutiny.
“They’re serving the food. You need to get back into your position.” His bushy eyebrows spasm. “It’s bad enough the groom isn’t here; the bride should at least be present.”
“You say that like it’s my fault he isn’t here.” I roll my shoulders back.
“Isn’t it?” His lips pucker like he’s just eaten something sour. “You must have done something, said something to make him ignore his own wedding reception.”
“I didn’t say anything to him. We barely had a chance to have a conversation before he dumped me on his men and walked off.” I don’t know why I try to defend myself. No one ever takes what I say as truth.
Me, a mere woman, could never be trusted with anything so important as the truth.
“You better not mess things up, Sienna. Marco told me, often, of your brazen behavior, how you would fight him at every turn. If you ruin this peace it’s not only me who will be disappointed.”
“Who else do I have to answer to?” I ask.
