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Killian eyes me and I know what he’s thinking. I ignore him. What happens between Melina and I from here on out is just between the two of us.
melina
“It seems you were wrong, Marco,” I mutter, looking down at my hands. I have them clasped together. My skin is a pale white because I’m gripping them so tightly. I didn’t have much hope yesterday, but I tried to hold onto the little bit that I could muster. I was hoping my brother was right, but with each minute that passes, I’m feeling more hopeless.
“The day isn’t over yet, Lina. Have faith.”
“I’m a Stratakis. We don’t harbor hope. Remember?”
“Well, I’m hopeful. Now, I need you to stay close to me when we walk out and be ready to obey me when I give you an order.”
“Obey you? I’m not one of your women.”
He frowns. “What do you know about me that you shouldn’t?”
“Please, Marco. We may not talk much, but the staff does—including the girl that father hired to assist Paulina in cleaning.”
He frowns, his annoyance slipping through every pore he has until it stifles the air around us. Maybe he is more like my father than I realized. If I survive today, I should text Helen and warn her.
“I haven’t touched her in over a year,” he confides for some weird reason.
“It’s your business,” I murmur.
“I haven’t,” he insists, and I frown.
“Okay?”
“I’m engaged now. I don’t want her hearing shit when she visits.”
“Hmm…”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. I just didn’t think you cared for Helen. It’s not like you’ve met her.”
“I haven’t, but we’ve spoken, and I won’t disrespect her.”
“God,” I whisper, ignoring this conversation as the wedding march plays. My stomach clenches and for a second, I stagger as a wave of sickness threatens to overtake me.
“Are you okay?” Marco asks, clearly worried.
“Great for a woman about to face a firing squad,” I grumble, closing my eyes and letting my stomach settle. “I’ve not even met this man. How do I even know him when we walk down the aisle?”
“He’ll be the one standing by the priest,” Marco says dryly.
“Oh.” I sigh. “Are you sure I couldn’t just run out back now while everyone is waiting for me to show out front?”
“No. We need to be careful on how we do this. Every single detail will be reported back to our father. Until this agreement is honored and I have the firepower to take over as head of the family, I need to be careful.”
“If this wedding doesn’t go through and the others don’t help you, our father will kill you, Marco.”
“Worried about me?”
“Of all our brothers, I’d probably grieve over you the most.”
He laughs and then surprises me by giving me a hug. He places a kiss on the top of my head, and I feel his body tighten for a moment. When he pulls away, all signs of laughter are gone. “Remember what I said, Lina. I need you to be very careful and do exactly what I say out there. Your safety and mine depend on it. Understand?”
“Yes,” I respond, my teeth coming down to bite into my lower lip and worry it.What is it that he has planned?I want to ask him, but I can’t find the courage. I figure whatever happens, happens at this point.
