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The sterile smell of the hospital hit me as Fee and I walked through the sliding doors.
Maybe I should force her to have someone look at her nose since we were already here.
I tightened my grip on her hand, and she looked at me with silent questions in her eyes.
The next couple of minutes would probably be pretty tense and emotional. Tense because of the news I had to share, and emotional, because judging from Fee’s careful inquiries and her tip-toeing around the subject of the extent of Matt’s injuries.
I nodded at the five men we had posted as security outside of Matt’s door, then knocked and dragged Fee into the room. Why was she suddenly stalling?
The tension in my chest tightened as soon as my eyes met with Matt’s.
He shot up, wincing, because of the strain it put on his wound. “What the hell? Did you know he would do this?”
Fee jerked around and stared at me, her green eyes blazing. “What exactly did who do?”
Maybe I should’ve told Fee before coming here but I really didn’t think Matt would know this quickly.
“Alex,” Matt growled.
I wrapped my arm around Fiona’s waist, drawing her close. For a split second, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to enjoy her warmth seeping into my skin. Used her presence to steady my nerves. I owed her the truth, no matter how much I wished to shield her from the ugliness of our world.
I ran a hand through my hair, then opened my eyes back up and locked gazes with Matt. “I’m sorry, Matt. He caught all of us by surprise.”
Matt scoffed.
“Vince insisted,” I began cautiously, “as reparation for Connor Donnelly’s men almost killing Matt.” I turned to Fee. “That Jemma Donnelly is to be married to Matt.”
Fiona’s jaw dropped, and she gripped my arm tightly, her nails digging into my skin. “He what?”
I sighed—the frustration had gnawed at me ever since I’d left that room to gather Fee. Why would Vince demand that? What was he to gain? And why Jemma and not Cara, or Fiona?
Was it a tactical move? And what was the strategy behind it?
And yet.
The Salvinis were the top dogs on the Italian side, the Donnellys were Irish. Why would Vince want an alliance with his archenemy?
“That’s insane! But also, Uncle Craig would never agree to something like that. He loves his girls. He would never force them into an arranged marriage. Look at Gabe and Sophie. He was so against it, but even attended their wedding.”
I gazed into Fiona’s eyes, my heart aching for her as, slowly, understanding dawned in her eyes.
Craig Donnelly had given his agreement—under protest. But then again, he’d been in a bad position. Vince had pulled the big guns and threatened to kill his brother and tear apart the whole operation.
And Vincenzo Salvini had the power and guts to do just that.
When realization sank in, I could see emotions flickering in her eyes.
Bewilderment, betrayal, panic.
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, princess,” I murmured, feeling guilt twisting my gut. Jemma, Cara, Sophie, and Fee were like sisters, much more since their kidnapping. “I was completely blindsided.”
She worried her bottom lip, doubt clouding her gaze. Did she truly believe I would subject her cousin to the same madness her father almost forced her to if I had a choice?
I cupped her face, forcing her to meet my stare. “I’ll see what I can do, okay?”
She nodded, but fear was etched across her face. “Is Jemma okay? We shouldn’t have left her there. What will happen to her?”
“I don’t know—nothing for now since the groom is obviously not up to snuff.” I nodded at Matt. “And until then, we’ll figure something out. I promise.”
