Page 8 of Forbidden Sins

“Your brother?” Marilee raises an eyebrow, reaching for her plate again. “Is he handsome?” She gives me a mischievous grin, and I manage a smile back—as suddenly that gulf between us opens up again.

“He is,” I manage, unsure of what else to say.He’s handsome and charming and would probably sweep you off your feet—but it would never be more than a fling, because one day he’s going to marry someone my father picks out for him?That wouldn’t make any sense to Marilee, and rightfully so, because who does that anymore? It’s not as if I can tell her that my family is mafia, either.

To an outsider, we just look like ridiculously rich members of New York high society. There’s nothing to hint at the darker side of our family’s wealth and influence, all of it carefully gilded over. Marilee certainly doesn’t suspect anything. She swipes a cocktail shrimp through a puddle of sauce, glancing over at me as she nibbles at it.

“I can’t imagine having a birthday party like this,” she says, and my stomach twists a little. “I think Cora, Rachel, and I aregoing out bowling for mine? With their boyfriends. You could come,” she adds, frowning a little. “I’m sure I texted you about it.”

She didn’t. I bite my lip, quickly taking a bite of a cracker with goat cheese and duck prosciutto on it, a dollop of macerated blueberry on top. I want to avoid answering as long as I can, because the truth is that while I can think of nothing I’d like more than to go to Marilee’s party and see my college friends, I wouldn’t be allowed to go without Sebastian. And how on earth would I explain mybodyguardto these friends? In college, he always managed to stay out of sight. But he'd hardly be able to do so completely at a bowling alley.

Or maybe not. I glance at Marilee, who has a hopeful expression on her face as she waits for my answer. Maybe Sebastiancouldblend into the background, like he always does, and everything would be fine.

“I’ll try to make it,” I tell her impulsively, reaching for a cocktail shrimp too. “You came to my birthday, how could I not?”

“Oh, perfect!” Marilee exclaims. “I seriously can’t wait, ‘Stel. It’s going to be so much fun.”

I press my lips together, nodding. I’ve never been bowling, but I’m sure I can figure it out. And itdoessound like fun.

It sounds normal. Like the kind of thing I should be doing for my twenty-first birthday.

“We’re going to getsodrunk,” Marilee adds with a laugh. “And you’ll be able to drink too, now! This place has specials on Fridays, so we were thinking that’s the perfect night…we can get a bucket of beer, and?—”

I nod along, unsure of whether she means a bucket of beers or a bucketfullof beer, which sounds disgusting. Either way, I’ve never had a beer, and my stomach twists again as I wonder just how out of place I’ll be at this party.

Too out of place,my logical brain says.You shouldn’t go.But if I don’t, will I lose Marilee as a friend permanently? She won’t understand why I wouldn’t come, unless I lie and say I’m sick—which makes me feel awful just considering it. She’ll either think I’m too stuck-up for her bowling party, or that I just don’t want to be her friend any longer…neither of which is true.

“Miss Gallo?” A voice at my elbow interrupts me, and I turn my head sharply, seeing a handsome blond man who looks a little older than me hovering there, his voice faintly accented.Russian, I think. I don’t recognize him, but then again, I haven’t committed very many of my father’s associates to memory, let alone their children, which this man certainly is. “Would you dance with me?”

I nod, knowing that will make my father happy, and that it will give me an excuse to get away from Marilee and my churning thoughts for a moment. “I’ll be back,” I tell her, and she laughs, waving her hand.

“Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ve seensomany handsome guys since I got here. I’m going to go ask one of them to dance.” She grins and darts off as I let the man who asked me to dance take my hand.

The next few hours are a whirlwind, with very little time for me to breathe. I’m constantly being asked to dance by one man or another, all of whose names slip through my head like sand. I’m too busy looking for Luis, and trying to take a few minutes to grab a glass of water or a few more sips of champagne—before someone else wants my attention. I see Marilee again once, before she disappears, and I feel sure she went off with some man. I’m not surprised—there are plenty of guys here who I’m sure would be interested in a one-night stand with her.

Good for her,I think, making my way toward the buffet table to grab a few bites of appetizers and another quick gulp of champagne. I’ve only just managed to eat a bite of a chickenpesto sandwich quarter when I’m asked to dance again. I try to politely say no—just in time to be interrupted by my father’s booming voice and several staff members bringing out my birthday cake.

He really went all out.I glance around for Luis, but he’s still nowhere to be seen, and my stomach drops. I wanted him here for this. I wanted him here for all of it. But I don’t see him anywhere, and I don’t see Sebastian, either. I bite my lip, trying to contain my disappointment as the four-tier confection of pink frosting and sugar pearls comes to a stop in the middle of the room, and my father begins a toast.

It’s all very sweet—about his darling daughter and how proud he is of me and how beautiful I am, but I barely hear it. I’m too busy looking for anyone else that I care about in the room. Marilee is still gone. Sebastian has vanished. And Luis?—

I look toward the ballroom doors, hoping they’ll fling open and he’ll hurry in, but as the crowd begins to sing “Happy Birthday,” he’s still not there. I swallow hard, grabbing another passing glass of champagne and ignoring the slight buzz in my head as I take a sip, fighting back tears.

Where could he be?

The guests are all clapping, and I realize that the staff have lit the twenty-one candles covering the surface of the cake. I’m supposed to blow them out now. I walk carefully toward the towering confection, drawing in a deep breath as I lean in and think of what I want to wish for.

I wish that my brother won’t miss my entire birthday.

I let out a long, rushing breath, the candle flames dancing as they extinguished in a burst. All except one, at the very top—swaying in the breeze coming in from the open doors to the garden.

My stomach clenches, but I try to ignore it. It’s just a silly superstition, anyway. But all the same, I feel a flutter of dread as I lean up on my tiptoes and blow out the final candle.

The cake is cut, and delicate china plates with slivers of cake—almond with raspberry filling—are handed out to all of the guests. Marilee appears a moment later, just in time to snag one, coming to stand next to me as she brushes a wayward piece of hair out of her face with her free hand. I can’t help but notice that there are a few pieces of hair coming out of her updo, and I glance at her with a wry smile.

“Where’d you go off to?” I ask, taking a bite of my cake. It’s delicious—soft and spongy—and I take a sip of champagne to wash it down. The dryness of the champagne pairs perfectly with the delicate sweetness of the cake, and I let out a soft sigh of pleasure. This, at least, is perfect.

“I, um—” Marilee bites her lip. “Well, this man—Adam, I think he said his name was?—asked me to go walk through the gardens with him. You have alovelyplace, ‘Stel, really, it’s all so gorgeous?—”

I give her a wry smile. “What did you do in the gardens?”

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