Page 62 of Vengeful Lies

“Do we have a wedding date set?” Honey asks.

All eyes turn to us, and I look up at Eli as he squeezes my hand.

“Well, we were thinking of eloping,” he answers. I can tell from his parents’ expressions that that is not an option. “Jewel doesn’t like crowds,” he adds, and I’m certain he’s purposefully antagonizing them.

“We could make it small and intimate, just us and your family,” Rya suggests. Eli is stroking his thumb over my hand as I take a mouthful of champagne.

“I don’t have any family,” I reply, and everyone falls silent.

“Oh, apologies.” I can see the sadness enter Rya’s gaze. I don’t want anyone to feel sad for me. I’ve had a great life, and apart from this little hiccup of marrying a mafia boss’s son, I will continue to have a great life. Once I have my guns, that is.

Surprisingly, Dawson interrupts. “That’s okay. Neither did I. It’s a joy being able to make your own family.” He presses a kiss to Honey’s knuckles and looks at his children. A somber mood takes over the table.

“With that said, we’ve decided to marry within the month,” Eli announces.

My throat constricts as I inhale sharply, immediately feeling suffocated. His mother’s eyes widen in excitement. He said everything would happen quickly, but it still doesn’t prepare me for the intense feeling of being sent to the gallows.

“That’s so soon! We have to start planning immediately.” Rya and Honey start discussing catering. I want a hole to open in thefloor and swallow me down so I never have to be in this situation again.

Eli shifts my hand to his cock beneath the table, and I immediately whip my head in his direction, stunned.

The others begin to talk amongst themselves as he smirks and leans toward me. “Breathe,” he says quietly. “You look like you’re about to kill someone.”

“I am. Specifically you,” I whisper-shout back.

“This isn’t like a shotgun wedding, is it?” Billie asks excitedly.

“What?” My head snaps in her direction.

“No, Jewel is not pregnant. But not from lack of trying,” Eli clarifies. I hit him in the shoulder, and he chuckles.

“That’s so soon,” Crue pipes in, and it draws everyone’s attention to the head of the table.

Eli levels his father with a stare. “Well, Jewel knows how important our family business is. And I know without any doubt in my mind that Jewel is the perfect fit for my empire. It doesn’t make sense to wait.”

I feel the noose slowly tighten around my neck again. I notice the way Ford and Dutton look elsewhere. Hawke gives us two thumbs up. Those three are the only ones at this table who are aware of our lies, and I’m certain that after the wedding and Eli gets everything that he wants, it’ll cause a rift between his family. Whether he wants to acknowledge it or not. Won’t they feel betrayed when they discover this is all fake? Or is this simply how things are done in the mafia world? Marry, discard, and move on to the next.

A month doesn’t give me long to get out of this situation and find my guns.

Fuck. Am I really trapped?

What happens when the order to finally take out Eli comes? I glance around the table as they offer congratulations, wonderingwhat will happen when they find out I killed their son after they welcomed me into their home.

I can’t breathe.

Fuck.

Crue stands with his whiskey in hand. Everyone falls quiet as he holds his glass up to make make a toast.

“You’ve been the bane of my existence since the moment you were born,” Crue starts.

“Crue!” Rya reprimands. Oh, is this his father making a joke? It seems everyone else is just as unsure about his humor as well. Now I know who Eli gets it from.

Crue continues. “But you’ve proved your ambition and ability to take over the business time and time again. I couldn’t be any prouder. So I guess congratulations are in order for you both. And I’m looking forward to my retirement.”

I shouldn’t be a part of this.

I have no right to be sitting by his side, nor do I want to be. This is a place for arealdoting fiancée. Not one who has every intention of stabbing him in the back once I get the all-clear to do so.

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