"No. Now. Before I walk down that aisle." I take a step toward him. "You want me to do this? Fine. But I want proof my brother is alive. I want to see him."
"That's not possible." He’s talking to me like I am a child who he is trying to keep calm, and I feel myself growing annoyed.
"Then I'm not walking down the aisle.”
Adrian's jaw tightens. "Don't make threats you can't follow through on, Seraphina."
"It's not a threat. It's a condition." I'm shaking but I don't back down. "Show me Gabe is safe. Let me talk to him. Then I'll say my vows, and we can move on.”
For a long moment, he just stares at me. I can see him calculating, deciding if I am bluffing.
I'm not. He'll have to drag me down the aisle, and he will realize that I can put on just as big of a spectacle as his mother.
Finally, he pulls out his phone. Taps something. Turns the screen toward me.
It's a video.
Gabe is sitting in what looks like a hotel room. He's bruised, not as bad as me, but bad enough, and he looks terrified. But he's alive.
A voice off camera: "Say your name."
Gabe looks confused, but he complies.
"Gabriel Romano."
"And the date."
He rolls his eyes.
"October 26th." His voice shakes. "Sera, if you're watching this—I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant?—"
The video cuts off.
Gabe is alive. He's hurt and scared but he's alive.
I feel a sense of relief.
"He's at one of our safe houses," Adrian says. "Unharmed.Fed. Comfortable.” He tucks the phone in his tuxedo. “Not that he deserves it.”
"Why is he bruised?"
"He was like that when we found him." Adrian's voice is matter of fact. "I've been gentle with him."
Tears burn my eyes. "Can I talk to him?"
"After the ceremony."
"Adrian—"
"After." His voice hardens. "You wanted proof. I gave it to you. That was the deal."
I want to argue. Want to demand more. But I can see in his eyes that I've pushed as far as I'm going to get.
"The bridal suite," I whisper. "Bianca said?—"
"I'll have someone take you." He moves past me toward the door. "One hour, Seraphina. Then you become my wife."
It feels like a threat.
