“So if you feel that way too, don’t you agree this isn’t working anymore?” I say instead, trying to get him to see reason.
But this man doesn’t know the definition of the word. “Well, we made vows, Vienna. And I made a promise to serve my country, which meansyouare obligated to that promise as well.”
“You don’t need me to be a senator, Cole. All I am is a trophy and pawn to you anyway.”
He chuckles. “Well, trophies and pawns help me win elections. Eye-candy and appearances show people that I value family and marriage.” He swallows the rest of his scotch. “Which is why we need a family of our own, but you can’t even seem to get that right.”
“I’m done, Cole.” Hoping that if I utter the words enough he’ll start to hear them.
He reaches forward and grips my chin, squeezing my jaw tightly. Pain radiates up to my temple, but I fight off showing him that he’s hurting me. “You’re mine, Vienna. The second you signed that marriage license, I owned you. You can never leave me. You promised me forever, Vienna…and that’s not something I’m ever going to let you forget. You may think you can be done with me, but that will never happen, and that’s a fucking promise.”
Chapter 25
Rhonan
Wedding Confessions
“Your little sister is getting married today.” My father is straightening the chairs in rows on one side of the aisle in the courtyard of Hart Winery, while I’m working on the other side. All of the chairs are facing a white trellis that is covered in white and mauve roses where Fletcher and my sister will tie the knot later this afternoon.
“Yes, I know, Dad.”
“All I’ve ever wanted is for the two of you to find a love like your mother and I had.”
When I glance over at him, I can see unshed tears building in his eyes. “She’s here today, you know that, right?”
He taps the center of his chest. “Trust me, I know, Rhonan. I feel her every day.”
“She would be so freaking happy.”
My father laughs. “Yeah, she would. She’d also be coming up behind me right now and correcting every chair that I just moved.”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
“Just wait. Before you know it, you’ll be giving Ellis away and then you’ll understand why I’m so emotional today.”
His words hit me square in the chest. “I’d prefer not to think about that right now, Dad.”
“Avoiding it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen.” He stands up tall again and surveys the rows. “All right, these look good.”
“You know that you pay people who could have done that for us, right?”
He turns to face me. “I know, but it’s what your mom would have done. Plus, it’s keeping me busy. Everything is running smoothly so far, but I don’t want your sister to worry.”
I push a hand through my hair as I glance back at the main building of the winery where my sister, Ellis, and the rest of the girls are all getting ready in private. “I don’t think she’d even care if something did go wrong, Dad.”
He pats me on the shoulder. “Yeah, you’re right. She and Fletcher have figured out what truly matters, and it sure as hell isn’t a fancy party.”
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, a wedding does not make a marriage, right?” As I say the words, something occurs to me.
Fuck. That’s how Vienna must have felt with her husband.
It makes my fucking chest ache for her—because even though I only had Sarah in my life for a few short years, our marriage was the complete opposite of what Vienna has experienced. Sarah was my best friend, she was the person I wanted to tell everything to, the person I never imagined my life without.
That’s why it hurt so fucking much when I lost her—because never in a million years did I think that could be a possibility.
And now I’m realizing that Vienna is that person for me, and I’m fucking reeling from how good it feels.
“Dad?”
