Page 46 of Mercy in Betrayal

I leave the glass on the table and walk into the hallway. I see faces and hear voices, but everything sounds far away. Luca killed my brother. Luca, who just married my sister.

As I enter the main hall, Luca is whisking a laughing Carina around the room in the money dance. Carina can’t know. She loved Francis. But that look in her gaze behind the nun’s school wall haunts me.

He’s laughing at you. He took your brother and now your sister.

I keep walking into the room; Rowan sits at the head of the table, Vivi at her side. I focus on her; she is a beacon in a raging storm. I just need to return to my seat and not kill Luca.

You thought you were smart, tricking Rowan into marrying you. The Marzano lad has you in spades.

I squeeze my burned fingers together, the pain silencing my father’s voice.

Rowan and Vivi stop speaking, and I sit down. Rowan glances at me and hesitates. My focus returns to Luca as he twirls my sister around. She can’t know. It’s not possible. Carina would kill him where he stands.

I pick up the glass of champagne and empty it.

The evening moves in drifts of faces and noise, and all I can think of is how I’m going to kill Luca Marzano.

I stay for what is considered a respectable length of time since so many people are watching. Rowan left the table shortly after I arrived and is speaking to some elderly gentleman. Her troubled gaze keeps rotating around the room, but not once does she look at me.

I get up and make my way to my bride, but I’m intercepted by Cassidy.

“We are leaving.” I don’t pause but keep walking to Rowan.

“It’s time to go,” I say. I expect Rowan to argue, but she almost looks relieved. We leave the room in silence. I’ve messaged to have a private car pick us up.

Outside, the air doesn’t do much to clear the rage that still roams and erupts in my body. It wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge. So, when Evie and Cassidy arrive outside, I’m tempted to tell them to fuck off.

Cassidy stands in front of Rowan, who folds her arms. He opens his mouth to speak but closes it. I want to tell him having his sister married off isn’t much of a concern. Imagine finding out your brother-in-law killed your brother.

I glance at Evie, who glares at me. I smirk. God, I’m glad she’s pissed. After the shit she tried to pull at the docks, this is the justice she deserves.

“I’ll speak to you soon,” Cassidy finally says after a long, awkward silence. Rowan turns with tears in her eyes and gets into the car.

Cassidy meets my gaze, and I’m waiting for a threat, but his jaw is clenched so tight he looks like he might shatter.

I turn away from them and get into the car.

“Where are we going?” Rowan asks from beside me. Her voice is scratchy, like she’s been crying, I keep my focus out the window, and I don’t answer her; nor does the driver.

“What about my cat?”

“You will see your cat when you get home.”

I meet her eyes, and she shakes her head slightly, her eyes brimming with tears before she looks away.

I meet my gaze in the reflection of the car window.

And all I see is my father looking back.

Chapter 16

Rowan

Outside the tiny windows of the jet, a winter storm rages.

Sitting across from Enzo in the butter-soft leather seat, I tug at the lap belt and try without success to hide my nerves. I need Clem.

Enzo is in a terrible mood. Something changed during the reception. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like a switch flipped, and he went from being defensive to righteous to angry.

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