Page 19 of The Villains We Make

“Did you just sign it to humor me? Were you having a good laugh, yet another one, at my expense? I mean, all you need from me is my I do, right? And once we are married, you can do whatever you want. I know that. You can do whatever you want whenever you want no matter what we agreed on. I mean, look at us. Here and now. If I want to walk out of here, are you going to let me go?”

“Things have changed, Ophelia. Last night?—"

“Would you let me walk out of here?” she demands.

“No.”

“Exactly,” she says, anger, hurt, and frustration warring in her eyes, making them burn a deep amber. “At least don’t be cruel, Silas.”

“I’m not being?—”

“Let go.”

“Listen to me, Ophelia.”

“Let go of me, Silas.”

“No. Fuck! Something happened last night.”

“Let go!”

“Fucking listen.” I shake her once. “It’s your father.”

She stops fighting, then blinks up at me as if not quite sure what to do.

The chapel door opens in that moment, and Father Emiliano and Lourdes appear, alarm in their expressions.

“Silas,” Father Emiliano says.

I pull Ophelia closer out of instinct because something is wrong.

“They know you’re here,” he says. “It’s all over the news.”

“What happened to my dad?” Ophelia asks, voice small.

I keep hold of her with one hand, scrub my chin with the other. “We need to get this done. Now,” I say, not sure if it’s to Ophelia or to Father Emiliano or what.

Father Emiliano’s eyes move from me to Ophelia, taking in the fact that she is not standing beside me of her own free will.

“Silas, I told you, I won’t do it without her consent.”

“You’ll have it.” Any way I need to get it. I turn to Ophelia. “There was an attack in the prison last night.”

Her face goes white this time. “What attack?”

“Your father was stabbed.”

“What?”

“He’s going to be all right.” I rush to fill in. “He’s in the hospital.”

“I have to go to him.”

“I’ll take you. I promise. As soon as I can. But Ophelia, we need to do this now. The game has changed. The stakes are too high. Too dangerous.”

“It’s not a game, Silas. It’s never been a game. This is my life. Please let me go to him. Please.”

“Agree to this. Say the words, and I’ll make sure you see him. Whether you believe me or not, I am doing this to keep you safe. And all those things you think about me, well, you’re not right—not about all of it at least. Not about me being cruel. Being like Sullivan Fox. And I’ll prove it to you, after. Once you’re safe, I’ll prove it to you by letting you go. I promise.”

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