Page 42 of Hate Mates

Stolen Vows by Addison Tate

ONE

Dominic

Who the fuck decides to hold an engagement party on the hottest day of the year?My brother, that’s who. The sun blazes in the clear blue sky, hot enough that I can feel the sweat trickling down my spine under the expensive suit I’ve been forced to wear to this farce: the engagement of my older—and only—brother, Salvatore, to a woman half his age.

The Marchetti family’s facade has never felt more suffocating than it does today. This engagement isn't about love or even a mutual attraction. This is a marriage born of duty. The merging of two families. A chess move to strengthen our empires. And my role? To play my part with a smile on my face, no matter how much I hate it.

My attention lands on Salvatore and a coil of frustration winds its way into my gut. When my father was still alive, he didn’t care much about what I did or who I did it with. But ever since Salvatore stepped up, he’s tried to paint us as the perfect family, who has it all. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. With all that being said, Caterina De Luca doesn’t deserve the Marchetti name—or to stand by my brother’s side. She’s a doe-eyed femme fatale, her every move calculated and polished, but I’ve seen the cracks in that mask she wears.

I sip my drink, barely tasting the amber liquid. From my position, leaning against a pillar on the balcony, I watch Salvatore as he charms his guests. He’s a natural, a born leader, moving around the garden with a dominance that he wears like a second skin.

Caterina crosses the garden, her long brown hair falling in waves down her back, stark against the cream of her dress. It glistens under the sun as she slots into position beside my brother as if she belongs there.

Their smiles are as fake as the promises they will make to each other in a few weeks’ time. When Salvatore rests his hand on her waist, I rip my gaze away as my stomach twists. Disgust, I tell myself. Disgust at the way that every move they make is so calculated and yet they do it with ease. But mostly my disgust is forherand the way she’s so effortlessly slotted into the role of the dutiful bride-to-be, like she was born for it.

My focus drifts back to Caterina. She's everything my family would have expected from Salvatore’s wife—poised, utterly serene, and compliant to whatever is demanded of her. She’s a mirror of everything I despise about this family.

Her eyes meet mine briefly, unreadable from this distance, before she turns away, dismissing me like I’m nothing. I grind my molars, wishing more than anything that I could cross this garden and show her exactly why I’m the outcast in my family.

“Careful, Dominic.” My sister’s voice cuts through my thoughts, a teasing note hidden in the depths. Her champagne glass catches the light when she tilts it toward me. “People might get the wrong idea, little brother. Or worse yet, think that you actually care about this family.”

I shove a hand into my pocket and turn to face Isabella, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. “And why would they think that, Izzy?”

She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “Because of the scowl etched into your face any time you look at them. It’s either because you’re jealous or, and this is the one I’d actually put my money on,” she pauses, tilting her head to the side and narrowing her eyes as she studies me, “because you hate everything about this family and would quite happily burn it to the ground.” She lifts her glass to me. “Marchetti family be damned.”

I shrug, turning back to face the party. “I think hate is a bit of a strong word. Besides, whatever Salvatore wants he gets, right? That’s why we’re all here, after all.”

“You’re right, but he only wants what’s best for the family.”

“Then why have me here?” There isn’t an ounce of emotion in my voice, yet Izzy still rests her hand on my arm and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

“Because you’re family, Dom. No matter how much you might wish it wasn’t true, it is.” I smile, but I can tell it doesn’t reach my eyes by the way her chin drops to her chest. “You should at least give Caterina a chance.” Her voice softens, but I can still hear the hint of worry, pleading with me not to mess this up. “She’s going to be our family soon too, no matter how much you might dislike it.”

Setting my drink down on the banister in front of me, I give her a sideways glance, ignoring the familiar weight of her gaze. Izzy has always been the voice of reason and a mediator between myself and Salvatore. It’s why I find myself moving toward the steps and crossing the garden.

Every step I take feels like I’m betraying a part of myself. But then again, betrayal is all this family knows. We dress it up as duty and fake smiles to mask the knives we aim at others' backs. It’s how we got to where we are, after all.

Salvatore catches my eye before I reach the ‘happy’ couple. There’s a flicker of annoyance in his dark brown gaze before he blinks it away. Even on a day like this, the tension is there, wearing thinner with every interaction we’re forced to share. Salvatore doesn’t like me and I’d wager everything I own on him having always felt that way.

I push away the tightness in my chest as I come to a stop in front of Caterina. As she finishes her conversation, I take the opportunity to study her. I take in the flawlessness of her skin, her high cheekbones, and the softness of her jawline that makes her look younger than she is. Up close, I can see the amber flecks in her brown eyes.

Her gaze locks on mine, intense and steady, like she can see the cracks beneath the surface. I hate that she looks at me like she knows the darkness I keep buried deep inside of me.And she’s not afraid. It makes me want to tear her apart and expose her for whoI knowshe is. Worse, it makes me want to touch her and see if she melts for me.

“Dominic,” she says, her voice as demure as usual. But what catches me off guard is how her tongue caresses my name, at the same time as it coats it in disdain and sends a bolt of lust to my groin. Shaking off whatever spell she’s cast over me, I grin, slotting my hand into hers and ignoring the spark of warmth that shoots up my arm. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

Something searing flashes in her eyes, a flicker of pain or anger, but it’s so fast I can’t be sure. Her mask is back in place, serene and unaffected when she replies, “Thank you.”

I lean in, keeping my voice low. “You’ve landed quite the setup. The fairy tale wedding, I’m sure you’ve been planning since you were old enough to talk. And a ready-made empire to rule over. It must be nice to dream so big and have everything fall into your lap without even trying.”

She leans back, her eyes flicking to mine. I see the question, the shock, and then the shutters come down. Her lips pull back into a smile so sweet it could cause cavities. “Fairy tales?” Her laugh is sharp yet quiet. “I’d have expected you of all people to know better, Dominic. Everybody has a role to play here. The difference is, I’m not ashamed of mine.” She pulls her hand from mine and takes a step back, the sense of loss oddly consuming.

“I hope you enjoy the party.” The expression on her face is polite but her voice is sweet venom. “Though I’m not exactly sure why you’re here, given your contempt for everything your family stands for.”

My brows pull together at the anger in her words. It feels out of place given her usual facade. I brush it off as I watch her walk away. Heat coils in my chest, acute and consuming, until the desire to ruin this charade blazes through me. It’s a familiar and comforting feeling; the desire to watch it all crumble.

And Caterina? I’ll make sure she is the first piece to fall.

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