Page 43 of Mercy in Betrayal

“She’ll calm down,” Angel reassures me.

“I don’t really care,” I find myself saying. Beside me, Vivi intakes a sharp lungful of air before she races after Rowan, no doubt to throw more fuel on the fire.

Signs have been printed out directing all the guests to the main function room. Waiters stand about, available to give directions to anyone who can’t be bothered to read. As we pass through the first set of open double doors, every guest is handed a glass of champagne. Rowan, not hiding her disgust, storms past. She needs to calm down and know her place, but clearly that won’t happen anytime soon.

Vivi is on her heels like a dog. I take a glass of champagne, smile at the waiter, and keep walking, trying to keep my fingers loose on the stem of the glass. I got what I wanted but it’s increasingly clear there’s going to be hell to pay.

Just before we enter the main room, I see Luca, Carina, and the wedding coordinator have stopped Rowan from charging ahead without me. She still looks like she’s chewing steel, but she has stopped walking, at least.

The wedding coordinator smiles nervously as I join them. “You’re here; wonderful. They’ll announce Luca and Carina first, and then Enzo and Rowan. Just smile for the photos…you can give each other a kiss if you like—”

Rowan rolls her eyes. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Reaching out, I place a hand around the back of her neck, my thumb and fingers circling the slender column almost completely to stroke lightly. She stiffens under my light grip and tries to shrug loose, but I tighten my hold the tiniest amount—just enough to send a message.

Behave.

Two members of staff clad in white gloves reach out and push open the double doors, revealing us to the crowd already within the room. I let my hand slide down her arm to take Rowan’s hand, surprised when she lets me.

Everyone stands and claps as we enter the room. I’m surprised when Rowan falls into step beside me; she isn’t smiling, but she doesn’t appear murderous. Her nails dig into my hand. We keep walking, the cat by our side, and I dip my head to whisper in her ear. “I like it when you try to hurt me.”

Her head snaps up, and she looks ready to tackle me to the ground. She could try; it might be entertaining, but she merely relaxes her hand, and we finish our walk to the head table; only then does she take her hand out of mine and find her seat.

Once we sit down, the clapping stops, and everyone dissolves into chatter.

It’s funny how everyone is pretending that what just happened was what was planned from the start. A part of me hates ruining my sister’s moment. She doesn’t show any disappointment, yet I’m sure she feels it.

Seated as I am between my sister and Rowan, I know conversation with her isn’t an option. I lean into Carina. “Well, there wasn’t anything stereotypical about your wedding.” Carina wrestles with a smile. “You can thank me for the memories later,” I add.

Her laughter is light.

“Care to share the joke?” Luca asks.

“I was just saying how everyone looks so happy,” I say. All of it is fake.

Luca snorts, “Hilarious.” He, too, must see all the fake smiles directed at us. Some may even be plotting our deaths.

They see through you as easily as you see through them. My father’s voice bounces around my skull. I take another glass of champagne off the table in hopes of drowning out his voice.

Everything you touch rots. You’ll destroy that poor girl. He won’t stop, and I rise, drawing all eyes to me.

“I need to use the restroom,” I say to Carina as she’s the easiest person to speak to, but I’m also aware the room is watching, so I lean into Rowan. “You should smile; the whole world is watching, and it’s not the world you are used to,” I say before placing a kiss on her cheek. I lick my lips and taste salt. Was she crying?

Why does it matter?

I nod and accept all the smiles as I pass through the room. I keep my gait slow and don’t race as I want to. The moment I leave the room, I take a left to where the restrooms are. I need to splash some cold water on my face in hopes of banishing my father’s voice from my mind.

I turn another corner and stop. Vivi Valachi is standing there. Without a word, she strikes me; her hand burning into my cheek. The force snaps my head to the right. I rub my jaw and turn to her with a grin that I know will terrify her. It does. Her eyes flood with fear.

“I’ll let that one slide out of respect for your brother.” I take a step toward her. “But that is the only time you will walk away after putting your hands on me unless it’s in a way that’s pleasing to me.”

Her hands curl into fists. “You are disgusting. I pity Rowan.” Her body shakes—with anger, with fear…I’m not sure which. I don’t know her well enough.

“Be careful.” I bite back. “Be very fucking careful.” My warning sinks in, and she shakes her head before marching away.

Laughter behind me has me glancing over my shoulder.

“Talk about a party….” The laughter continues. “I mean, this is my idea of entertainment.” Kael Gallagher, the new head of the Irish branch in Philly, holds out a drink to me and I take it. His presence here—waiting in the hall with two drinks—isn’t lost on me.

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