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I don’t understand why I’m breathless as I watch him.
Oh no. I like him. It’s the only explanation I have. I like Elio Gallo.
I am so damn screwed. How the hell am I going to survive being married to him when all he's after is revenge? This doesn’t bode well for me and my mental state. I could fall for him. I can feel it in my heart.
Crap. I need to step back and remember exactly what he has planned for me. I need to remember why he’s marrying me. I can’t fall for him.
TWELVE
TEAGAN
“Are you excited?” Nell asks with a smile. She’s dressed to the nines again. She got the job, and both Portia and I are so damn proud of her. We’re so happy that she’s able to start merging into the working world. I can’t even begin to wonder how tough it must be for her, but I’m so damn proud.
“It’s a dress, Nell,” I say evenly. I’m not happy about going shopping for a wedding dress, and even less happy that it’s going to be with Jade Gallagher, the woman who lied through her teeth only for her family to put me back into a cage. Thankfully, this one isn’t suffocating—as of yet, that is.
“Oh my god,” I hear Portia squeal in excitement as the elevator doors open. “Tee, you have to see this.” She rushes toward me with a newspaper in her hands. “We got a call from the doorman. You had a delivery. Look,” she says as she places the newspaper in front of me.
Splashed across a center-page is my face. Well, mine and Elio’s. “God, they worked fast,” I mumble. After that bitch was removed from the apartment, Johanna got to work on doing my make-up as Jade and I picked out a few outfits. Within an hour, I was primped and pampered and in Elio’s arms as pictures were taken of the two of us.
I look at myself in the newspaper and I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me. She looks happy, and that’s something I hadn’t expected to see. I know it’s not a true emotion. It’s all photoshopped and edited to an inch of its life. But damn, I look happy.
“You look beautiful, Tee,” Portia says as she wraps her arm around me. “Remember, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. We’ll find a way out of this. Even if we have to ride it out for a year. We’ll get some money together and run.”
Nell joins us and holds me too. “She’s right. We’re in this together. We’re sisters, Tee. We’re not losing you. Not now, not ever.”
“I love you both,” I whisper, saying the words for the first time in my life.
Their arms tighten around me. “Love you,” they both reply.
The elevator doors open, and Jade Gallagher walks in. She takes in the three of us embracing and her steps falter. “Sorry, don’t mean to interrupt.”
The girls let go of me and move away. “No worries,” I say as I reach for my to-go cup of coffee. “I’m ready.”
She nods. “I just wanted to say that Elio called me this morning. He wanted me to pass on a message to Portia and Nell,” she says, and I stare at her, my body tensing. “He wants to let you know that once he and Teagan are married, you are both to stay here. He’s letting you have the apartment.”
I blink, completely surprised by her words. “What?” I whisper as I feel Nell get close to me. “Really?”
Jade nods. “Really. I’m not sure why or what changed his mind, but yes. He’s letting both of them stay. So you’ll have a few more days of sharing a room, but you’ll get your own when Teagan moves out.”
Holy shit, I can’t believe that. I’m not sure what made him change his mind, but I’ll be sure not to say anything so he changes it again. I’m beyond happy that my girls are going to be safe, that they’ll have a place to live when I’m not here. My stomach is in knots whenever I think of living with Elio. The thought of being in the same house as a man has my heart racing. Will it be like last time? Is he like the Demons?
“Ready?” Jade questions, thankfully pulling me from my thoughts.
I nod. “Sure.” I’m nowhere near ready, but I have to do this. I don’t have any other choice. I’m marrying Elio, so I have to put on a brave face, smile, and do exactly what is expected of me.
An hour later and we’re downtown. Jade has tried to get me to speak, but I have so much to say, and speaking to her the way I want to is a huge no-no in front of people. Portia and Nell have been a huge help in having me understand the dynamics of what the mafia is like. It’s a respect thing. Being disrespectful to an Underboss in public is seen as an insult and will have you killed. The men we have with us are Jade’s men, Caolán and Ros. Both men are her most trusted soldiers. Her right-hand man is her eldest brother, Hayes. He’s not here today, but both Caolán and Ros have the utmost respect for Jade. They seem to worship her.
We enter a bridal shop and I’m surprised to find it completely empty. “Mrs Gallo and Ms. Mitchell, I’m Lydia. Welcome,” the very smiley, gray-haired lady greets us, handing both of us a glass of champagne.
I smile at her as I take the glass from her. “Thank you.”
She beams at me. “I appreciate you choosing to shop here, Ms. Mitchell. We’re honored to have you.”
She’s laying it on thick, but I just nod.
“Having you wear a dress from her shop means that people will come here,” Jade says quietly to me. “Your wedding will be spread over magazines, just as your engagement was in the newspaper. Be prepared to have your pictures taken everywhere now, Teagan. With the money and power that you and Elio will have, it’s only normal for people to be drawn toward you.”
Christ, that’s just utter craziness. Why would anyone take any notice as to what I’m wearing or what I’m doing? Surely, there are other people they could watch and look at?
