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I beam at him. “So do you.”
He gives me a smile, and I witness something else flicker in his eyes. What is that? But even as I try to recognize it, the moment is already gone.
Tino takes my hand, pulls me in, and kisses my cheek. “See you in there,” he says against my ear.
The two men vanish inside the small building to let everyone know the bride has arrived.
From inside, string music swells.
I turn to my mom. “It’s time.”
She gives a nervous smile and nods. I hold out the hook of my arm to her, and she takes it.
My mom doesn’t have anyone to give her away, but it doesn’t matter. I’m the one who’ll be walking her down the aisle. I don’t want to feel as though I’m giving her away, however. More that we’re just binding ourselves to a new family.
I try not to feel a stab of guilt on behalf of my father at the thought.
Taking a steadying breath, I enter through the arched wooden doorway, my mother on my arm.
The chapel looks incredible. It’s only tiny, which means there isn’t room for much more than the wedding party, the priest, and a few guests seated either side of the aisle. To give the illusion of a full orchestra, a projector screen has been erected to one side, and a video of an orchestra is played on it. I’m sure I recognize the screen from the Devil’s den, and I’ll take a guess that Tino is responsible for the footage.
I love that they’ve made an effort.
Dom and Nataniele stand at the front.
I hold Dom’s eye as I walk and offer him a tiny smile. He doesn’t smile back but I try not to let it affect me. He probably doesn’t want to let everyone know about our relationship today. Today is about Mom and Nataniele.
Because the chapel is so small, it doesn’t take long for us to reach the front. I lean in and kiss my mom on the cheek, and then hand her over to Nataniele. I move back, giving them some space.
The music fades, and the priest opens his mouth to speak, but he doesn’t get the chance.
The image beamed onto the protector screen changes.
A murmur of confusion ripples through the small crowd.
It’s Mom and Nataniele on the projector now. I think they’re in their room. Has someone filmed a touching moment between them to show at their wedding? If so, it must be a surprise, as neither of them seem aware of it. In fact, Nataniele’s brow is pulled down in displeasure.
Mom’s voice fills the air of the small chapel, but it’s coming from the projection, or whatever is being used to play the sound.
“I can’t ever let her know.”
Then Nataniele’s. “She won’t. What possible reason could we ever have to tell her?”
“I just worry, that’s all. You know how badly she judged her dad when she found out the other stuff. What if?—”
Nataniele cuts her off. “She’ll never find out that you arranged to have him killed, Lucia. I’ll ensure it doesn’t happen.”
I gasp and stumble back in shock. The space around me goes strange, the sense of being underwater. I can barely believe my own ears. Mom arranged to have Dad murdered? That can’t be true.
I stare at the screen. This can’t be real. I flick my gaze to my mom, still standing at the altar. Her expression is like nothing I’ve ever seen on her before—even when I told her about what happened with the professor.
It’s utter horror.
Still, the footage continues to play.
Real life Nataniele bursts into movement. He rushes to the projector and starts to try to pull it down. Then he turns, his face so livid, I think he might shoot up the congregation.
“Turn this the fuck off,” he says to no one in particular.
