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“She’s not late, Father!” Carmine snapped, but I pushed his arm away before my father could retaliate against him for speaking out of line.
“I’m sorry, Papa,” I said, looking down at the ground. “I wanted to look perfect for the ceremony.”
I lied.
He knew I lied.
But it appeased the predator in him the slightest bit to see me trying to go along with his elaborate plan. Especially because I wasn’t drugged anymore. He probably envisioned me coming downstairs in a flurry of chaos and refusals.
I knew my fate wouldn’t change, even if I made it a difficult process.
And I’d never admit it, but a small part of me didn’t want my husband to meet me for the first time while I threw a tantrum like a child.
I kind of wanted him to be proud of the woman he was being married off to.
As I said, I’d never admit that to anyone. Especially not my brother.
“Let’s just get this done,” I said firmly, nodding to my father and giving Carmine a glare that hopefully would spur him into behaving. I couldn’t bear the thought of him receiving punishment on my behalf.
In a few minutes, I wouldn’t be his problem anymore.
“Go to your seat, Son,” my father commanded, and Carmine nodded to me before walking out onto the patio.
Curtains covered the doors, to hide me until I made my walk down the aisle if I had to guess, but I caught a glimpse of the crowd gathered outside.
There were probably fifty people outside on the lower patio, and I was hit with a wave of nerves again.
“Are all of those people his?” I asked my father as my feet froze under me.
“Don’t worry about that, just smile that pretty smile of yours, and let’s be on our way,” He said and wrapped my arm around his, squeezing it almost painfully. “Be on your best behavior,” He stared down at me, “Or I promise you, I’ll make Amelia and Carmine pay dearly for it. Just like I plan to do for your disobedience with the blessing ceremony last night.”
“What?” I gasped in surprise. “What are you-” I gasped, “God!” I cringed as his hand tightened around my fingers so much that they popped and lightning bolts of pain shot up my arm. “Please!” I cried, bending to try to remove my hand from him. “I’m sorry! Please!”
“Mr. Rosetti,” Saul snapped from behind us, and my father glared at him. They stared at each other for a few tense seconds more as nausea from the pain nearly consumed me before my father released my hand and placed it back on his arm like he hadn’t just tried to dislocate twelve different knuckles at the same time.
I sagged and swayed on my feet as my vision darkened. My father said something and then the doors opened, revealing me to the grand affair waiting outside.
I swallowed back the sob that tried to rip free as he stepped forward and dragged me after him.
I’d been willing to go through with the entire thing, resolved to simply accept my fate. Of course, he had to go and tip the scales once again, exerting his power over me as he dragged me down the aisle.
I fought to keep my face impassive and devoid of the pain I was feeling as I passed by strangers who looked me up and down with criticism written all over their faces. Most of the guests were men, in fancy suits, with women dressed in elegant ball gowns on their arms.
Tears welled in my eyes as I tried to focus and keep my poker face in place. I didn’t want anyone to see the weakness on my face as I walked down the aisle. I’d accepted my fate and wasn’t balking at that.
My vision blurred from the tears as my father led me to the alter and I vaguely made out the silhouette of my future husband standing there waiting for me.
I tried to blink again to clear my view of him, but it was impossible to see through the haze.
“Here you go, darling,” my father said in a sickly sweet voice, passing my hand to the man before leaning over to kiss my cheek. I flinched when his lips touched my skin as my soon-to-be husband held onto the hand I was sure was broken in multiple places.
“Thanks,” I whispered with a tight smile, looking down at my feet as my sister Amelia took my bouquet and Anita fixed the train of my dress to lay perfectly.
The tears fell to the ground at my feet and my vision cleared enough to see things again and I looked at the man’s feet, almost afraid to look up at him now that we were so close, and on display for so many people.
I forced myself to be brave, and let my eyes travel up his body.
He was tall, really tall.
