Page 41 of Mercy in Betrayal

I don’t think I’ve ever seen my brother so angry. Except—maybe when the O’Hanlons took Evie. “What the hell have you done?” He shouts now, face mottled with rage.

Without deigning to reply, Enzo lowers his head and rushes him.

The fight is loud and brutal. I shrink back into the corner where Enzo placed me, flinching at the crack of fists and the splintering of furniture as they toss each other against it.

Evie appears in the doorway, her eyes widening with confusion and then apprehension when she sees me on the other side of the men. She runs a hand over her mouth—a hand I can’t help but notice is shaking just a bit.

Others appear behind her, crowding into the narrow space of the stairwell. I catch glimpses of them around Enzo and Cassidy—Angel Valachi, Luca Marzano, Sal Fiorelli, the infamous Don of the West who took Carina Scarpetta in, and numerous bodyguards.

My own hands begin to shake. Even I know this is bad.

“Enough!” Angel roars and steps into the fray, narrowly missing a fist to the cheek as he moves between Enzo and Cassidy. Two bodyguards follow suit, restraining them both. “Explain yourselves, and the explanation for interrupting this day had better be good.” His voice is low and lethally quiet. Enzo and Cassidy still, their breaths soughing in and out as they struggle for control.

At last, Cassidy speaks. “He has besmirched my sister’s honor.”

Enzo sneers but doesn’t respond, his tongue darting out to lick at a trail of blood on his lip.

Luca scoffs. “Besmirched? You mean they had sex? How do you even know? They’re fully dressed.”

Cassidy’s expression grows darker still. “It reeks of sex in here.”

“Oh, come on—”

Angel holds up a restraining hand, silencing Luca. “Go on.”

“She was an innocent. He had no right to touch her.”

Evie’s voice is soft. “Cassidy…I know this is difficult, but Rowan is a young woman now—”

He doesn’t acknowledge her. “I insist he marry her. Immediately.”

My stunned gasp is lost in the collective murmur that filters through the room. “No!”

“Cassidy!” Evie takes a step into the room and grabs Cassidy’s arm, pushing a man out of the way to do so. “That is a ridiculous—”

His expression, when he looks away from Angel Valachi and down at Evie, is cold and distant. “It’s not for you to decide.” He returns his attention to Angel. “Her honor has been tarnished, and our family’s honor has been gravely insulted. I demand reparation.”

Angel nods slowly and looks at Sal Fiorelli. Fiorelli lifts his chin. “I’m inclined to agree.” He thumps a gold-handled cane on the floor, the sound ringing through the quiet room. “Make the arrangements.”

Half of the crowd begins to disperse, leaving me with Evie, Cassidy, Enzo, and Angel Valachi.

Evie pushes a finger into Cassidy’s chest. “This is not right,” she hisses. “And you’ll have me to deal with later for it.” She holds out a hand to me. “Come, Rowan.”

I step forward, placing my hand in hers. “I don’t…what…I don’t want to marry him!” I swipe angrily at the tears that suddenly want to track down my cheeks.

Cassidy places a hand on my shoulder, pushing me none-too-gently toward Evie. “You liked him well enough a few minutes ago. You’ll be fine. Go with Evie.”

As Evie leads me from the room, I cast one last glance back. The men’s faces are blank and stoic, giving me no indication of their feelings. Enzo’s eyes, however, are hot with something fierce and banked.

The next hour passes in a blur. Evie takes me to a nearby room and straightens my hair and dress. My red dress. I look at it in the mirror and swallow a sob. It’s not the poofy white princess dress of my dreams.

And Clem… “Where is Clem?” I ask. “Clem has to be my ring bearer.” A terrible thought strikes me. “Do we even have rings?”

Evie mutters beneath her breath. “A better question is if you have a license.” Seeing my face, she sighs and grips my hands. “It’s okay, Rowan. Everything will be okay. The men are working on getting an expedited license right now, and someone is getting rings. Let me see if I can get Clem here for you…”

She steps outside the room, and I sink onto the padded blue velvet chair in the corner, trying desperately not to cry. So it wasn’t the wedding of my dreams. Big deal. I had bigger things to worry about…like being married, period. And to Enzo Scarpetta.

I knew nothing about him. Everything I thought I knew about him was a lie. Did he even want to marry me? If so…why?

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