Page 167 of A Beautiful Crime

I allow myself to glance over the dresses once more. My fingers brush along the material of each one. The lace, chiffon and silk pass over my fingers. All stunning gowns. All beautifully different. And yet I come to a pause on the gown at the very end. The one that doesn’t quite fit in with the rest.

It’s exquisite. Absolutely breathtaking.

Perfection.

“I had hoped this one in particular would catch your eye.”

I stare misty eyed at the off the shoulder mermaid style gown with a classic silhouette. How the black bodice blends in softly with the white skirt of the dress. The black embroidered lace is placed delicately and precisely where the black and white satin meet. Creating an overlay to dispel the harshness of two colliding colors. The train of the dress mirrors the bodice. With black lace embroidery creeping up the dress. The movement of the black embroidery is almost sinister. And yet how the darkness envelops the dress, how it gathers around the white, makes it incredibly beautiful.

It’s poetic.

My eyes remain on the dress, my wedding dress, in complete awe as I respond, “It has done more than catch my eye. It has captured my heart.”

He spins me by the hips once more and pinches my chin between his fingers. “The most beautiful woman deserves the most beautiful dress.” His lips meet mine in a soft kiss. One to melt my own heart and leave me like putty in his hands.

As our lips part I feel his linger. I run the pad of my thumb over my lip, memorizing the feel of him. For it is never too soon to feel his lips on mine once more.

His eyes darken at the action and I see how ravenous they are.

We truly are wild animals for one another.

Not being able to resist me he places his hands on my hips and pulls me flush against him. “For ten years I have been waiting to marry you and in just three days you’ll be mine.”

“I’m already yours, Constantine.”

“I need you bound to me in every way humanly possible. I need the world to know you’re mine in every sense of the word.”

I frame his face tenderly in my hands. The follicles of hair from his trim beard prickle my palms. “You have me. I’m yours.” Forcing his head downwards I rise on the ball of my feet to meet him the rest of the way to kiss him softly.

As our lips part he gazes at me with a somber expression. And I immediately can’t stand it. I raise a cool brow and it prompts him to ask, “Have you decided if your papa is to attend?”

I avert my eyes but he has none of it. He pinches my chin and forces me to look in his eyes. As much as I want to hide the turmoil of emotions I simply can’t. It’s times like this where I wish I was still unfeeling. Because this agony mixed with betrayal and heartbreak I could certainly do without.

It should feel foreign in my mind to associate the man who tended to our family as my papa, but it doesn’t.

Giuseppe has always been tender towards me. Affectionate. Soft. Comforting. All things a daughter would find in a father.

In my mind he’s my papa, but in my heart, the frayed strings and aching vessel he’s still a traitor.

And I don’t know how long it will be until I comprehend that Giuseppe was only a victim. Just like me.

Emotions. They’re such a finicky thing that complicates everything.

For once I find myself envious of Rico.

My voice comes out wounded. “He betrayed me.”

Constantine agrees easily. “Si, he did. And yet he also cares for you, amore mia.”

My brows pitch together as I ask him dubiously, “Are you defending him?”

“I’m giving you truths, Carina. And while they may not be what you want to hear I believe they need to be heard nonetheless.”

The resistance of the fight leaves my body in a single breath. “I need time to forgive him,” I say softly.

“And time you will have. But he is not your enemy.”

“I know,” I respond sadly. “I know.”

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