Harper’s already holding the door open for me. “Hear what?”
I listen for another second, but there’s nothing else. Just the neighbor’s wind chimes and the distant hum of the street.
“Nothing, I guess.” I shake my head and move toward the stairs. “I think I left it in the bedroom.” The dress rustles with each step, layers of tulle and silk that suddenly feel too tight. “It’s probably?—”
Harper’s hand closes around my arm.
I stop.
Her grip is too tight, her nails digging into my skin. When I look at her face, her expression has changed. The bright smile is gone. In its place is something hollow. Haunted.
Terrified.
“I’m sorry, Sierra.” Her voice breaks on my name. “I had to.”
Cold crawls up my spine. “Had to what?”
Harper doesn’t answer. Instead, she moves past me, her heels clicking against the hardwood as she walks into the kitchen.
She opens the back door.
Six men step inside. Big. Armed. Guns already drawn and pointed directly at me.
My gaze snaps to Harper. She won’t look at me. Her shoulders are shaking, tears streaming down her face, but she doesn’t say a word.
The betrayal sinks into my chest like a blade. Straight down to the bone.
My legs threaten to buckle.
“Harper.” My voice doesn’t sound like mine. It’s thin. Fractured. “What have you done?”
39
MATTEO
I’m not worriedat first.
Sierra’s family shows up on time, all decked out. We don’t have a wedding party, but we encouraged both sides to dress up for photos after the ceremony. They look ready. They look happy.
Sierra isn’t with them.
Her mom catches me scanning the doorway behind them. “She’s right behind us, honey. Coming in a separate car with Harper. She had to run back in for her phone.”
I nod. My two guys aren’t with her parents, which means they’re with Sierra. Good. A couple minutes. No big deal.
Ma fusses with my tie, which is apparently crooked. I let her fix it because it gives me something to focus on besides the empty doorway. Dario slides up beside me, voice low.
“No sign of Viktor or anyone else outside. Perimeter’s clear.”
Good. Maybe the bastard won’t show today. I thought I had him figured out. Thought his obsession with Sierra would make himstupid enough to crash the wedding. But I might’ve been wrong, and for once, I hope I was.
I can hunt him down another day. Today, I marry the woman I love.
And I’ve been a coward about telling her.
I’ve been holding back, telling myself I needed to prove something first. Eliminate the threat. Show her I could keep her safe.
But Sierra doesn’t need that from me.
