I shiver at the implication. What’s his ismein this scenario.
Gem interrupts the tension. “Should we get to it then?” she asks, looking around. “I mean, no time like the present?”
“Smart girl,” Matteo says happily. “Should I play the wedding march on my phone? Try to make this feel more—wedding-y?”
“No, thanks,” Stellan grunts, but he does offer me his arm.
I pause before taking it. This is probably my last chance to back out. Matteo and Saverino would probably help Stellan drag me out there, but maybe not in front of Gem. If I ran away, if I begged, I could get out of this nightmare.
But Stellan’s watching me. He’s holding out his arm, his muscular and incredible arm, and Gem was right upstairs. He looks like heaven. His hair’s freshly cut and styled, and the stubble on his cheeks makes him look like he’s fresh off a movie set. I don’t know how a vicious and dangerous man can be so obscenely attractive, but here he is, tempting me into all the wrong decisions.
I rest my hand on his bicep. We walk into the backyard.
The priest is an older man waiting on the porch. He smiles as we approach and spreads his hands. The folds of his robes fall open slightly, and I have the giddy thought that he might have a gun hidden in there. These are gangsters, after all.
But the priest is just a priest named Father John. He’s nice and likes bad jokes. I hate him immediately, nothing to do with him at all, but mostly because I think I hate everything right now.
I keep thinking about my father as the priest does his thing. There are a lot of words about God and faith and loyalty, and almost none of them penetrate.
Because these men killed my father.
That's what this boils down to. I'm the daughter of a traitor. He stole from the Corsettis, tried to take their most important asset,and I still don't understand why. I've been obsessing about it ever since Stellan told me the truth. Why would Dad steal from his own people? What would drive him to do such a thing?
And why would I want to go back to them after what they did to my daddy?
That's how I remember him. Still Daddy. That was slowly changing—more and more, I called him Dad—but when I needed something, like a hug, like comfort, like someone to talk to when I had a bad dream, he was Daddy.
And he was a good dad too.
Kind, patient, firm when he had to be, but I was a decent kid and didn't get in much trouble.
Stellan and the Corsettis took him away.
Matteo and Saverino could've pulled the trigger themselves for all I know.
Here I am, binding myself to them again. It didn't work out great for my father. Why do I think it'll work out better for me?
“You're shaking.” Stellan's grip on my hands tightens, and he leans forward. He whispers softly in my ear. “You'll be okay. It's almost done.”
I bite my lip. “I'm just nervous.”
“I know. You're scared. But you don't have to be, Kira. I'm here.”
That's the problem, I want to tell him, but he's being soft and kind. I don't even know why, but I grab on to that while I can. The priest is nearly at the end, and I'm desperate for him to finish.
The rings. The vows. I mumble the words, feeling foolish. Gem watches on, face impassive. Shouldn't there be tears? Shouldn't there be smiles? Everyone's so grim, myself included.
“This part's not strictly necessary, but that concludes the official part of the ceremony. Stellan, if you'd like, you may kiss the bride.” Father John steps back, glancing over at Matteo and Saverino, and I know he knows what's happening here.
I figure we sign documents next. Prenup, marriage certificate, name change, that sort of stuff. Instead, Stellan steps forward, presses me against him with one hand on the small of my back, and cradles my chin in his other hand. He stares into my eyes for one knee-shaking moment before pressing his lips to mine.
I'm so surprised, I kiss him right back.
It's a good kiss too. I've had some bad kisses in my day. Sloppy, ugly, bored kisses. This isn't one of those.
This is the kind of kiss that starts a new life. Or maybe it ends one.
I pull back with a start as the three gathered witnesses start clapping. Gem wipes a tear from her eyes, and I grin at her uncertainly, dizzy and off-balance from the taste of Stellan flooding into me. His hand still rests on the small of my back, and doesn't he know this is fake? He can stop pretending anytime.
