Page 211 of Heartless Sinner

My mind flashed back to the last time I’d been in Calira, when I’d told Enzo I’d be the one to walk Daphne down the aisle at his and Blair’s wedding.

I couldn’t do that now.

But watching another man walk her down the aisle?

I’d rather take a fucking bullet.

Thinking about her was hard enough.

But seeing her? God, it’d destroy me.

“Sorry.” I pushed to my feet. “Not doing it.”

“Go with me, Brooks.”

Adelina’s soft voice stopped me.

She sat curled into the corner of the couch with her hands tucked under her thighs. “Please.”

Fifty-Six

Daphne

Champagne flutes, makeup, and curling irons covered nearly every surface of my bedroom in the castle. The morning sunshine spilled into the room while birds chirped on my balcony.

I’d offered Blair my room to get ready for her wedding.

When she’d first told me she and Enzo were eloping in Calira, I’d laughed, convinced she was messing with me. No way would the Marchettis not hold some huge, elaborate wedding, and no way would Enzo come here after what I’d done.

But Blair wanted it, and unless it placed her in harm’s way, Enzo gave Blair whatever she wanted.

She and Enzo had arrived last night, along with Cristian and half the Mafia. Blair and I had stayed up talking until sunrise, deciding sleep was less important than cramming two months of friendship into one night.

My grandfather had arranged to close a portion of the beach for the ceremony. Instead of a cathedral packed with hundreds of guests, they’d gone with something intimate.

I’d overheard my mom and grandfather saying that Monster Marchetti had donated over two million dollars to different charities here in exchange for great Caliran hospitality and privacy.

Gemma, Alessia, and Seraphina joined us this morning.

It had been awkward at first. Conversations kept stalling when I joined them. They knew the truth about me now. But after a few hours, the weirdness had melted away, replaced by inside jokes and laughter.

I missed this so damn much.

Elodie had taken it upon herself to help us with our dresses.

Blair didn’t have a dress code for the bridesmaids or me, the maid of honor. She simply told us to wear whatever we felt comfortable in. As much as I wanted to wear pink, I was in Calira, which meant my strapless gown was green.

A knock on the door cut my champagne sip short.

The door cracked open, and Adelina poked her head inside.

For a split second, it felt like old times. Back when she’d barged into my room at Saint Vale without knocking.

I grinned and waved her inside.

She opened the door but hesitated before stepping inside.

I wanted to run across the room and wrap her in the biggest hug of my life, but I stayed where I was.