The color draws my eyes down before the dress transitions into soft, gauzy layers of fabric that fall to the floor in delicate ripples.
Her veil, made of a sheer fabric studded with pearls, subtly hides her face.
A thick band of white that sits on her head like a crown holds the veil in place as it wraps around her intricate updo.
She’s breathtaking, the closest thing to an angel I think I’ve ever seen, and as she floats down the aisle on her father’s arm, she moves so gracefully, she might just be on wings.
I’ve been dreading this day for months, envisioning all the ways it could go wrong, all the possible traps the Yakuza might have set for us.
But as Sora walks down the aisle, all that melts away.
Nothing matters but her.
9
SORA
Heart in my throat, I keep my eyes locked on Leo as I make my way toward him one step at a time.
I find it ironic that he is who I set my sights on to keep my shaking knees from giving out on me during the agonizingly long walk.
He’s given me no reason to think this walk down the aisle will end in anything but misery.
Still, the day of my wedding arrived, and now, it’s all I can do to tell myself that once I reach him, the hardest part will be over.
I never realized my wedding day could be so terrifying. But with all eyes on me, I can’t screw this up.
The fate of my family rides on me. Me and the unreasonably handsome man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
Dressed in a black tux and white shirt, with his hair perfectly styled, his strong jaw clean-shaven and his shoulders broad as he stands with impeccable posture, he’s the vision of a dark prince ready to devour my very soul.
Heat climbs up my neck when I think about what happened last night in my dreams.
I couldn’t stop imagining his hands on me, picturing the ways he might choose to claim me.
And in the broad light of day, it’s become my dirty little secret. His piercing gaze makes me feel like he already knows—knows that I want him even though I shouldn’t.
My heart hammers with each slow step I take toward him.
I don’t dare look away, though I can hear the hushed whispers of the crowd as I pass, the murmurs of how beautiful I look, how perfect this day is.
Then I’m taking the last few steps to reach Leo, and as my father passes my hands to him, I get a closer look at my groom.
He looks exhausted—hung over, even—his eyes bloodshot and a slight pallor beneath his olive skin.
Still, he’s the most attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on, his gaze glinting in the sunlight, his dark hair perfectly styled to suit the tux that he wears better than a model ever could.
Even in a waistcoat, he looks tall and muscular, filling it out in all the right places, and at the same time, lean enough to look like an athlete.
“Welcome, family and friends of the bride and groom,” the officiant starts. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two great families through the marriage of Sora Tanaka and Leonardo Chiaroscuro…”
As his voice carries across the open space, instructing our guests to be seated, Leo’s large hands clasp mine firmly, offering me a stability I desperately need.
He pulls me a step closer, and my heart skips a beat—because getting too close to Leo is dangerous, especially when I need to keep my head on straight.
But the veil seems to help keep me in my own bubble.
“I’m surprised you made it,” he murmurs, barely moving his lips so our guests won’t see, though the corners of his mouth curve up into a charming grin.
