He follows me along the wide hallway. “We should leave everyone to rest and recover. After all, we have a honeymoon to get to, so I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“A honeymoon?” I didn’t expect such a thing given our unconventional marriage.
“Yes. Married couples go on honeymoon.”
“Right.” My skin prickles at his close proximity and the idea of spending days alone with him in a romantic setting. Nothing else to do but be together. No escape from his presence.
I shiver. Will I survive?
Though now that I’ve decided to stay, for my nieces’ sake, I eventually need to reevaluate my entire situation. I can hardly escape Maximo if we’re living in the same city, existing in similar social circles, not to mention the fact that we’remarried.
I’m married. To him. He’s my husband.
Oh dear god, what do I do now? This is not the time to spiral. Pull it together.
As we approach the family waiting area, I come across my cousins and their husbands milling about. Sophia takes one assessing look at us before she marches forward, determination scrawled across her features.
“Are you okay, Elena?” She scrutinizes me. “Don’t think the babies’ arrival has completely overshadowed the fact that you ran from your own wedding.”
Dread coils in my stomach. I knew I’d have to face the consequences of my actions sooner or later. Of course they want answers. Brides don’t sprint from the church on their wedding day for no reason.
“It was just cold feet,” I lie.
Ginevra sing-songs, “No it wasn’t.”
Her husband, Blake, wraps his arms around her. “Be good, magpie. Let’s stay out of their business.” His intense stare belies his diplomatic statement. He watches us with keen interest, surely eating up every juicy detail to come. Which is most unnerving coming from him because I’ve only ever seen him appear bored.
Sophia narrows her eyes at Maximo. “Ravenna refused to confirm our suspicions, but given everything that’s happened, we believe Maximo forced you into this engagement.”
“That’s not—” I start.
“Especiallysince you two were married yesterday and neither Gin nor I were invited tothatwedding ceremony. You know, the one that took place in the hospital’s chapel. So it’s time to come clean, Elena. What’s going on?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. It was stupid of me to think I could keep the truth from my cousins. We’ve known each other all our lives. They know me too well to be duped. Especially when it comes to something this important.
I sigh. “Fine. You’re right. I told Ravenna, but I didn’t want her or any of you interfering. This is my mess, my predicament, and I needed to deal with it on my own.”Or maybe I’m just a masochist. Maybe I was punishing myself like Ravenna claimed.
Sophia places her hands on her hips. “And how has that turned out for you?” Obviously she’s hurt that I lied to her, that I kept my struggles from her. That’s not what friends do to each other. We’re cousins, but we’re also friends.
I cringe. “It’s not as terrible as it could be.”
Maximo scoffs, clearly offended. “Elena?—”
“Yoube quiet,” Sophia snaps at him, stunning us all into silence. She’s giving off big sister energy like it’s going out of style. “What did you do, blackmail her into marrying you? Threaten her in some way?” Without waiting for his answer, she turns her questioning on me. “Has he hurt you? I—we—won’t stand for it. Say the word and I’ll make sure he can never touch you again.”
A hush falls over all of us as her threat hangs in the air. I’m quiet as I consider her offer. Isn’t this what I want? To escape Maximo? I don’t know how she’d keep him away from me, he is the don after all, but with her husband Roman, and her other brothers’ in law, they make a formidable force. One which no smart person would dare cross. They’ve made powerful, untouchable people vanish before.
“He hasn’t hurt me,” I murmur. Beside me, Maximo visibly relaxes, just a fraction. Did he really think I’d lie and say he has? “And I… I’d like to continue to deal with my personal situation on my own.”
Sophia studies me for several long seconds, before heaving a sigh. “You’re not alone, Elena. Youneverhave to do anything on your own if you don’t want to. I hope you realize that.”
My chest twists. I nod. I know they’re here for me, but I also have to be able to rely solely on myself. My complicated situation with Maximo is mine to figure out, no one else’s.
“Okay, then.” Sophia turns her attention to Maximo. “If you hurt her, Iwillkill you. Just so we’re clear.”
His eyes light with sincerity. “I’d never?—”
Sophia punches him. Right in the face. “That’s for trying to deceive us all.”
