Page 11 of Come to Head

Kazi came up from behind and handed the priest a single piece of paper to sign. Kazi shifted uneasily from foot to foot, his charcoal eyes flashing around in anxiety, his hands clenching and unclenching.

Emilio and I had made it to the altar now too.

“Son, this isn’t right.” The priest cast me a cursory glance, scribbling on the form, nonetheless.

I could just make out what the top of the paper said before Kazi wrenched it away.

NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT.

It looked eerily close to the documents Emilio had me sign in the car.

What the actual fuck is going on?

“Neither are your ties to that abuser.Stephen. Or is it Steve now? You were given grace in our family, but you chose to go against our wishes. This is your salvation,” Emilio snarled the words out, pushing the priest off the altar. “You have until this wedding is over to leave this town.Go!”

The priest’s face turned ashen, and he didn’t hesitate a moment longer before running for the door. I watched over Emilio’s shoulder as the priest made it outside.

I was able to see two men in black suits grab him by the arms as the doors closed shut.

“Emilio, what are you doing?” My anxiety was hammering against my chest painfully. My unease weaved synchronously with my curiosity.

Emilio finally lowered me gently to the ground, keeping his much larger hand wrapped around my bicep. He turned to face me. His caramel eyes met mine. At that moment it wasn’t as if time had stopped, but it was as if nothing else mattered.

We were transported back to when we first met.

When he saved me.

When we spent the summer together.

When I fell in love with him.

My resolve softened.

His free hand came up to cup my cheek, the pad of his thumb finding my lips. He pressed against them, forcing me to kiss it.

Emilio bent down until his lips were centimeters away from mine and spoke in his soft and comforting tone that he used to use exclusively with me. “Bella Isa, I love you. I have loved you since the moment I saw you all those years ago. There are a million things I could tell you, a thousand pretty lies, but here is the truth of the matter: I will spend every last breath showing you what it means to be enough. I will make you my priority in all that I do. I will ensure there is nothing left for you to fear in this world. I will keep you by my side through it all, I won’t let you go again. All I need from you is to take a leap, to trust me. Can you do that?”

“I can, but—” Oliver and Maddox’s faces slid into my mind. I couldn’t do this to them. They were a part of my heart, too.

Correctly guessing where my mind had gone, Emilio’s lips flattened, his voice turned guttural.Harsh. “I was almost too late, but you aren’t with them. And if having those two in your life is what you need for your happiness? I won’t keep you from them. But if they hurt you? If they lie to you? I make no promises.”

My eyelids fluttered shut, and I squeezed them tight.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Was I really going to do this? Was I going to make this leap with Emilio? A man I hadn’t seen in 10 years? Did I even truly have a choice?

“I do.”Have a choice.

Just like I did all those years ago.

I could recognize that Emilio had planned all of this. From the burgundy moths to the rainbow lights. He clearly wanted to give a delicate side to this moment solely for my sake...

I didn’t open my eyes as he sealed the promise with a kiss.

Now that I knew it was his lips pressing against mine–thefamiliarity, thecomfortability–I couldn’t help but think how stupid I was for not realizing it before. For not knowing he was the one that Yara sent to my hotel room.

That it was Emilio. It had always been and would always be him. I had always loved him, I had buried it, stamped it down, but it was there. A steady thread that pulsated along my nerves.

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