"The alliance matters, what we're building matters. Do you understand what your role is?"
I turn to face him, watching the anger flare up once again in his eyes. "I do," I respond, straightening my shoulders.
"You will smile, say your vows, and do your duty." His voice is cold. "Whatever has been going on in this house?—"
"Da—"
"I haven't finished." He glares down at me. "The chaos that Daire has caused, the instability, everything she has done, falls on this family. On me and today is how we begin to address it. Do you understand?"
I look at him steadily. "You're blaming me for what Daire did?" I ask incredulously. It’s one thing for Mam to choose Daire openly, but to have Da do it too? That’s heartbreaking.
"I'm not blaming anyone." His jaw tightens. "I'm telling you what today requires."
"And if I'm not a willing enough participant, what then?" The words come out before I can stop them. Years of pent up anger tumble out of me. "Because I've been as willing as anyone could be, Da. I stepped in when Daire left this family in chaos. I agreed to the arrangement. I've done everything required."
"Watch your tone."
"I'm just asking a question."
"Quinn." His voice drops. "Don't push me, not today."
"I'm not pushing. I'm standing here wanting to know why it’s always me? Why am I always the one who has to pay the price for Daire’s actions?"
He pulls on my arm, his fingers digging into the underside of it. I know that it’s going to leave bruises. Hopefully, they won’t show up today or if they do, it will be later when it’s darker, and no one can see them.
"You will not embarrass this family today," he sneers at me, his breath hot against my cheek. "You will not make a scene, you will not say a word out of turn. You will walk into that ceremony, you will marry Lorenzo Mariano and you will do it in a way that shows this family has class and dignity, do you understand me?"
"Yes," I say, trying not to cry as his fingers dig deeper into my flesh. "I understand."
“You will not disgrace this family,” he snaps as he pushes me away from him, hard. My heels slip beneath me, and I topple backwards, unable to stop myself from falling. I slam into the mirror I had not long ago been looking at. My head smacks against the corner of it, and I cry out, my knees hitting the floor as pain flashes white behind my eyes.
"Da." I hear Daithí's voice from the door. I don’t look up. The pain in my head is too much and I’m trying my hardest not to let the tears fall.
I feel hands on me and I know by the gentleness of them that they don’t belong to Da.
"I'm fine," I say, as I look up and see Caden’s concerned gaze staring back at me.
"You're not fine—" he says thickly.
"Caden." I whisper as the pain in my head grows stronger. "I need today to go smoothly. I don’t want anyone to see me as a target." I hold his gaze. "Please."
I hope that he catches the deeper meaning of my words. I don’t want anyone, especially those in the Mariano household to see me as vulnerable, as a target. I don’t want this to happen there too.
He looks at me for a long moment, I can see the anger in him searching for somewhere to go and he doesn't have anywhere to put it. His eyes are bright with pain and fury.
"Quinn—" he starts.
"I know," I say quietly. "I know."
He pulls me into his embrace. His arms wrap around me and hold on, careful of the dress, his chin at the top of my head, and I let him because I'm tired and because it's Caden. Daithí stands with his back against the door and looks at the ceiling and breathes.
"After today," Daithí says, "this stops."
I don't say anything. What is there to say? Da is who he is and there’s no changing that.
“It’s time,” Da says, glaring at me and Caden.
“Da,” Daithi warns and I watch as my da’s shoulders tense.
