Page 289 of Hate Mates

Because I don't break my promises. My mom always said a man's worth is measured by the weight of his words. My word is an unmovable force.

How will Soledad feel if I have to kill Ludovico?

I undoubtedly will have to if he declares war.

We walk down the hallway, passing some of my men who nod at us. Is she aware of how her hand is tightening around mine? I nod at my father, but Soledad is ramrod straight and doesn't acknowledge him. We continue into the conservatory where the priest waits for us.

Nearby stands Luisa, with a smile as big as she is. She's wearing the dress she got when I took her shopping for her birthday. It's simple and not designer, but it made her day. She's the only thing close to a mother I've had in the last 25 years. I lean to kiss her cheek.

"Mi niño, estoy feliz," she says, and I smile because she's got to be the only one happy today.

Then she takes Soledad's hands in hers. But doesn't get to say a word. My bride lifts and kisses each of Luisa's hands as they interlace with hers in gesture reserved for mothers in our world.

Luisa's eyes widen, her gaze flying to mine and back to Soledad. "I'm not?—"

Soledad smiles at her. "You are."

My chest tightens, and I can only stare at them.

The priest clears his throat, and it's our cue to move on. I take her hand and lead Soledad to the spot in the middle where the dying light of day still shines over us. When I face her, I get caught up on her smooth skin, the angles that compose her face, those honey brown eyes that are so warm at times and artic the next.

Who the fuck is she?

Is she the conceited señorita, princess of the Marte family?

Is she the crazed woman that sprang from the box and attacked me?

Maybe she's the woman with the haunted eyes who made me swear I wouldn't hurt or rape her.

Is she the bride that bestowed the highest form of respect to someone people would consider to be only a maid or a nanny?

What if she's all of those?

The ceremony is a blur as the priest goes on and on. In what feels like a blink, Gustavo is passing me the rings. I place the gold band on her finger, and she places a matching but much bigger one on my finger.

She doesn't avert her eyes from me. She never has. Soledad looked me in the eyes and pelted me with her disdain. Every. Single. Time.

"Do you take this woman to be your bride, Dario?"

I blink a couple of times, and the small smile on Sole's face tells me the priest had to repeat himself.

"I do," I say.

The smile evaporates when the priest turns to her, and she answers her own question with, "I do."

And for the first time, there's something clear, almost solemn about her. It's like she realizes, like I did, that our world has completely changed. We have chained ourselves to each other in the eyes of God and my family. The priest's words weigh in my heart like an anchor.

Now Sole comes before me. She's my wife and that vow is sacred. I hate her, but I will die to keep her safe.

My heartbeat echoes on my chest like it's in a tunnel; the sound reverberating in my ears. I place my hands on the back of her neck and her eyes go round, like she didn't know this part of the ceremony had to happen. I almost chuckle. The woman who talked about hate fucking just trembled under my touch. The priest and the world fades as I lean in and touch my lips to her much softer ones. Sweeter too.

Fuck me.

Chapter Six

Luisa walks me back to the bedroom I occupy. Her much older hands, wrapped around mine, surround me with warmth.

We walk in silence through the long hallways. Dario stayed behind to talk to his father. We posed for several photos. There was cake, champagne, a kiss, and well wishes. As much as I told myself I did what I needed to do, this has become real too quickly.

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