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My heart pounds faster and faster the closer I get to him. This is it. I have to marry Salvatore. I’m just trusting Theo to get me out of it.
Antonio hands me over to Salvatore, which only annoys me further. Why does Antonio get to hand me over like he owns me? I should have a say in my life. I should be the only person to have a say in my life.
Salvatore’s cold, clammy hand wraps around mine as I stand before him. Father Enzo begins the ceremony. Salvatore licks his lips as he stares at me. I want to vomit.
When Father Enzo reaches the part of the ceremony where we have to make vows to each other, I’m not sure I can speak.
“Do you, Salvatore Fontana, take Cecilia Moretti to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Father Enzo asks.
Salvatore stands up straighter. “I do.”
Father Enzo turns to me. I can feel the entire room look at me, waiting to hear me speak. “And do you, Cecilia Moretti, take Salvatore Fontana, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I try to open my mouth, but it’s not happening. I glance out at the crowd and find Theo seated behind my family. He nods once.
“She does,” Salvatore says. “She agrees to marry me.”
“I need to hear Cecilia speak,” Father Enzo says. “Cecilia?”
I turn back to Salvatore and say the words that burn my throat, punch my stomach, and crush my heart.
“I do.”
Salvatore smiles triumphantly, and all I want to do is to smack that grin off his face.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Salvatore grabs my face and leans in. I tighten my lips as he pecks them. He’s not getting more than a dry kiss from me. Salvatore tries kissing me harder, but I don’t give him anything.
Someone in the audience clears their throat. Salvatore pulls back, scowling. He’s not happy about my disobedience. I don’t really care.
We walk out of the church together and drive to the reception hall. I didn’t even get the chance to see Theo. But he’ll be there, waiting for me.
“What was that?” Salvatore asks once we’re alone, except for our driver. “What kind of kiss was that?”
“I’m sorry. It was my first kiss,” I lie. “I guess it didn’t meet your standards.”
He huffs. “You and I both know that wasn’t your first kiss. How many times have you kissed that guard of yours?”
“Whatever do you mean?”
Salvatore gets right up in my face, and I have to resist the urge to jerk back. “You better be a virgin on our wedding night. Do you understand me? If you don’t bleed for me, then I’ll kill your favorite little guard.”
I gasp, terror seizing my heart. “You’re a monster, you know that.”
“But I won.”
I fight back the tears that wait to spill over. Patience. Patience. Theo will get me out of this situation.
We reach the reception hall and go inside, where all our guests greet us. I see a handful of men hanging around the corners of the room. “Who are they?” I ask.
“My men,” Salvatore says. “They’re keeping an eye on things tonight. In case anything goes wrong.”
I remain calm. This isn’t good. I can see over twenty men. How will Theo get me out of this? The longer the day goes on, the more impossible it feels.
Salvatore drags me onto the dance floor for our first dance. He places his hands on my hips tightly. I keep my hands steady on his shoulders. We sway back and forth. He’s not getting much else from me. I refuse to.
As the night goes on, Salvatore becomes more and more irritated with me, probably because I’m not fawning at his feet.
