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I had to, despite having people around me who cared about me and were ready to declare war if they had to in order to protect me.
My friends’ parents will always have my respect and gratitude because they accepted and loved me as if I were their own, keeping an eye on my legacy and making sure no one took away my rights and inheritance.
If it wasn’t for Uncle Lucian and Uncle Jacob, I wouldn’t have had an empire or the means to protect my sister.
With power came responsibility, and I had to rein in the chaos to achieve the highs in my professional career and win the custody battle over Estella.
My control is ironclad, and the only person who ever threatened it is Isla.
At the thought of my gray-eyed beauty, my body grows hard while a sense of ownership washes over me, so I straighten up and reply, “I guess I met one woman with whom I couldn’t stay levelheaded. I want her, Father Paul.”
“You want her so much you can’t wait to give her a proper wedding?” He crosses his arms and raises his chin. “All of you were raised better. Instead, you drag these poor women to my church and subject them to horrible weddings where they say I do, but it sounds as if they are signing a contract with the devil himself.” He shrugs off Florian’s embrace and steps back, trailing his gaze over us, and announces, “I won’t consecrate it. You want to marry her so much, go to the courthouse. I’m done allowing you boys to make a mockery out of my values.”
Anger sparks up inside me, awakening the beast roaring in displeasure at anyone standing in the way of claiming my woman, so hooking my thumbs into my pants pockets, I ask, “Isn’t favoritism a sin, Father?”
His eyes widen in shock, and he exhales heavily. “Don’t even, boy.”
“Octavius is right.” Florian stands next to me, resting his elbow on my shoulder as we stare at Father whose cheeks heat, clearly ashamed under our scrutiny. “You gave us a whole lecture on how we shouldn’t show favoritism when we refused to play with other kids.”
“It’s a sin, Father Paul.”
“I’m trying to do the right thing.” Judging by his defeated tone, though, we forced him into a corner, and well…it’s not our proudest moment, and our parents would probably have our heads once they learn about this.
However, desperate times call for desperate measures. I can’t have him delay my plans because his consciousness suddenly became louder.
Besides, we could have acted way worse and used threats. I think our staying civil deserves a reward in itself.
“When Santiago and Remi came to you, you accepted their explanations and agreed to go through with the weddings.” I tap on my chin while Florian clicks his tongue. “Does this mean we are less important?”
“A reminder that Dad makes a hefty donation to your church as well,” Florian tells him. “Father Paul, do you have favorites among us?” He motions his hand between us. “You love Santiago and Remi more than us?”
Remi grins while Santiago winks at us as Father Paul’s eyes dart back and forth, and finally, his shoulders sag. “Fine. One more wedding and that’s it.” His voice grows firm. “This is my final word.” He points at Florian. “I will consecrate your wedding, only if you have a big ceremony with a happy and willing bride.”
My best friend tenses next to me, and we share a long look with Remi when Santiago barks a laugh, finding even the idea that Florian might settle down someday laughable.
One thing is for sure, though.
Florian won’t be marrying Jimena in the middle of the night while blackmailing her.
But he will marry her no matter what.
That’s why he says, “Deal.”
Father Paul clasps his hands together. “Great. I need to change and grab my Bible, and I’m good to go.” With this, he walks off, leaving us alone, and without uttering a single word, I march outside.
Breathing in the frigid air, I snatch a pack of cigarettes from my back pocket, put one in my mouth, and Florian lights it as he joins me outside right away. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Taking a greedy pull, I send smoke flying as Santiago and Remi walk out, and we all stand in a circle where they watch me carefully, all traces of our earlier amusement gone. “What is it?”
“Now that we’re finally alone and have around fifteen minutes before the bride arrives, we need to talk.” Santiago puts his bottle away. “What are you doing, Octavius?”
“Getting married.”
“To a woman who was ready to betray you?” Florian asks, flipping the lighter through his fingers as he studies me. “Or rather…to a woman who you’ve been stalking for the past several months in New York. Your levelheaded nature sadly didn’t work whenever she was in danger, and we all had to face your mood swings without you voicing why you’ve been in a shitty mood.”
I should have known hiding anything from them was an impossible task. Besides, this brotherhood was built on honesty.
