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“This isn’t a celebration. Marco doesn’t want to marry me. If he doesn’t hate me yet, give it time, he will.” I was yelling now. “I’m not wearing shoes or a veil, just like I’m not going to pretend this is anything but a business agreement. I’m a bribe not a bride.”
“Shh.”
Deidre rushed to the bottom of the stairs. “Are you ready for dad?”
“No.” I was ready to shove my mother down the stairs. “Can you please get Romi?”
Deidre nodded and returned a moment later with Romi.
“What’s going on?” Tim stepped into the foyer.
I met them at the bottom landing. Romi pulled a tissue from her sleeve. “I was prepared to cry, too,” she said and smiled as she dabbed the mascara smudges on my face.
“What do you want?” Tim spoke low, his tone calming the pounding of my heart.
“I want to get married outside.”
“Done,” he said. “Give me five minutes. Anything else?”
I shook my head. Deidre left with Tim. My mom huffed, walked around me, and headed into the other room. And then I was alone with Romi.
“You love him?” She picked up the veil from the floor.
An incredulous laugh bubbled into my throat. “As much as I hate him.”
She stood on a step above me to fix my hair.
“I don’t want to wear the veil.”
She curled a finger under my chin. “You’re fire, Allegra. You burn brilliant and beautiful, but you’re dangerous.” Her gaze narrowed. “A man holds fire too close, he risks smothering the flame. If he allows the fire to burn, he risks the flames becoming uncontrollable. Only powerful men can manipulate fire and not be burned.”
I hadn’t had enough wine for her analogy. “He hates me.” I didn’t have to hide from Romi. I slept alone. She’d know Marco shared Francesca’s bed with her soaked sheets, and the scent of sex on the pillow.
I hated Francesca, hated that he wanted her. Marco and I were falling apart, yet I was still holding on. My body ached for his touch as much as my heart hurt for his whispered words, his laugh, and his trust.
I wanted back what we had, but not everything lost could be found.
“Men like Marco don’t play with fire unless they like the heat.” She tucked the comb of the veil into my hair and spread the delicate lace around my shoulders. “He sees your fire, and he can’t help but be drawn to it.” She smiled. “And he’s yours.”
“My princess.”
I turned at the sound of my father’s voice and glanced into his eyes.
“You’re beautiful.” He stepped closer. His still strong and formidable hand trembled as he grasped my fingers and brought them to his lips.
Romi handed me her tissue. “I’ll make sure everyone is waiting outside.”
She slipped away. My father’s face softened. “It was hard to imagine you as you are now when you were promised to Marco.” His eyes grew heavy as they searched my face. “You were my feisty, little girl, full of mischief and always ready to take your punishment for your disobedience.”
“Punishments always came from mom.” He was busy running his business to concern himself with the weapon he’d had in his wife.
“I’m worried. You’re stubborn, Allegra. You should’ve been a boy. You and Santi are so much alike.” He shook his head. “Maybe I don’t know how to raise girls. Dee is just like you.”
“She’s a good girl.” Maybe a bit less concerned about being caught, but she wasn’t best friends with a boy in the Irish mafia.
“She’s a little shit. I don’t think I can find a husband willing to take her.”
“Maybe you should let her meet a boy, fall in love, and choose for herself.”
