Page 45 of Something Blue

“Did yousell me to the mafia for money?” She asks, tears springing to her eyes. I can’t see her face, but I can hear them in her voice. Her throat is tight, and her words are coming out jagged and distorted.

“Neve, it’s the only way we can get out of this mess. If we don’t do this, we lose everything. Literally everything. We will be living on the streets in a month. You’ve already lost your apartment and had to move back in here - how do you think this is going to get any better? You said you wanted to help. You said you would do whatever you could to help?—”

I would never have let that happen. Perhaps her brother would have been living on the streets - but not her. She would have been living with me. I didn’t know the situation was that bad though. It seems I was going to win either way.

“This isn’t what Imeant, Luke. Notthis. I didn’t want—” she can’t speak anymore. She turns and flops down into the sofa next to her brother and puts her hands over her face, hiding the heavy flow of tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Neve, I assure you, you will be happy.” I say.

“I will be happy?” she laughs. “Happy?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “You don’t even know what makes me happy. You don’t have a clue what I want for my life. What I dream of and what I hope for. You don’t know anything about me.” She shouts.

I stand up and walk over to her, crouching in front of her I place my hand beneath her chin. “I know a lot more about you than you think. And what I don’t know I will learn.”

I stand up again.

It’s best that I give her space to process this now. She can come to terms with it in her own time, but the wedding is happening. It’s agreed. Nothing is going to stop it now.

Turning towards Luke I say, “I’ll cover everything for the wedding as well. You won’t need to do athing. Just make sure your sister shows up. As soon as the wedding is over, I will ensure you have everything you need.”

“Well, best we get things moving quickly then.” He says, standing up to see me out.

“Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.”

He nods, unsure what to do with himself. I think he is scared to be alone with his sister after betraying her so deeply. She might be furious now, but this is the best thing that could happen. Soon she will see how incredible we are together. That we were always meant to be.

“I’ll see you soon.” I say to Neve, smiling, my eyes tracing over my future wife. She stares at me in bitter silence. Salty tears staining her skin.

Tilting my head to say goodbye I turn to leave them in their shock and anger.

I have things to do. Things to arrange. I have a wedding to plan.

The lights on my car flash as I unlock it. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my life. Everything I have ever wanted - and it’s about to come true.

Neve will have the most beautiful wedding in the world. I will make sure of it. It will be perfect.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Neve

Iwatch Celso walk out of the living room and head towards the front door.

My heart is beating so loudly it sounds like a thousand wild horses, their hooves hammering against the dirt in a thunderous roar.

My brother sold me.

He sold my life as though I was something to use, a tool to trade with. As though I was nothing.

He gave me away and didn’t even care to ask me.

My heart is shattering. Splintering and breaking apart. The pain is too much to bare.

“Neve.” Luke says, quiet and timid.

“Shut up.” I blurt out, my voice still tight from crying. “I don’t want to hear it. I hate you. I hate you for what you’ve done.”

“But - you’ll go through with it right? You’ll marry him to save our family?”

It’s still all he’s focused on. He doesn’t care if I’m ok. He doesn’t care about me at all.

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