Page 29 of Bound to a Monster

The wedding’s basically ruined after that.

As if it weren’t already terrible. I refuse to do anything else: no cake cutting, no father-daughter dance, no speeches. My father speaks anyway, even though I tell him not to. It’s expected, after all, and I’m left alone at my table fuming and feeling like a complete outcast.

At least Luca’s there with me. Daniel’s off making nice with the Russians, but Luca knows something went down between me and Lev during the dance. When he asks, I just tell him it’s nothing and refuse to elaborate.

The night’s hell. Dinner’s okay though. Lev disappears again and doesn’t show his face, though I catch sight of him a few times talking to various people and looking like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“I’m ready to go home,” I tell Luca the first moment it becomes even remotely appropriate.

He looks awkwardly at Daniel. The pair of them are drinking whiskey at the bar together. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he says and clears his throat.

“What do you mean? Half the guests are gone. Valentin Zeitsev left an hour ago. Adriano disappeared. Let’s just get out of here.”

Daniel looks at me. His face is stern as he sits up straight. “This is awkward, so I’m just going to say it straight. You’re not coming back with us to Dad’s place anymore.”

I laugh because that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. The plan was always for them to get me back to Dad’s after the wedding. “Where else would I go?”

“Lev talked to Dad.” Daniel glances at Luca like he’s searching for help, but Luca doesn’t say a damn thing, only glares at his drink. “Apparently, he wants you to come back with him tonight.”

“Are you serious?” I look between my brothers. “I was supposed to have at least one more night. I’m not packed. I’m not?—”

I’m not ready.

“I know this sucks,” Luca says, sounding pissed. “I told him that wasn’t the plan, but he insisted. What can we do? You’re married now.”

“It’s not real.” Desperation rises in my guts. “I mean, come on. We’re not actually?—”

“Yes, Carmie, you are.” Luca stares at me. His expression hardens and I take a step away from him, feeling my face drain. “Look, this is the worst, but we can’t pretend, right? You married the guy and that’s the end of it. No more living at Dad’s place.No more coming back there. You just gotta go with your husband and make it work, okay?”

I don’t know what to say. I expected something like that from Daniel—he’s always been tougher and harder—but never from Luca.

All of a sudden, I feel more alone than I ever have. My brothers are abandoning me. The life I knew is essentially over. And yeah, it’s only one night, but this little fiasco only hammers home what I’ve been trying to mentally avoid this whole time:

I’m Lev’s wife now.

I turn and walk away. Luca calls after me, but neither of my brothers follow as I storm over toward the street. The valet looks at me but doesn’t say anything as I stand alone in the darkness finally letting those tears I’ve been fighting back flow down my face.

I’m not sobbing for Lev. That asshole didn’t do this to me. I’m crying because it’s finally clear just how screwed I am and how nothing is ever going to be the same.

“I take it you’re ready to leave.”

I turn around, wiping my face. Lev’s standing nearby, watching me carefully. That handsome smile is gone.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you making me go home with you?”

“Because you’re my wife.”

“Since when did you give a shit about that?”

He comes closer. There are no other people around. Even the valet makes himself scarce. Fifty feet away, a massive fountainburbles and the echoes of laughter and music drift from the venue. None of that touches me as Lev stops close enough to touch, but he doesn’t reach out.

“When did you find out?” he asks, and I know we’re not talking about our marriage anymore.

I tilt my chin up. “Yesterday.”

“Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier?”

“You blew me off. I didn’t plan on giving you the news in front of everyone, but here we are.”

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