Page 27 of Reckless Promises

This room is no exception, with a ceiling that might as well reach the stars and a space that’s endless.

A room filled with people face me. But I’m wearing a long veil and still in the shadows, so they can’t fully see me yet. Most of them I don’t recognize. And others areonly familiar because I’ve seen them at my father’s business meetings.

Glancing around the room, there are more roses. A bouquet decorates the end of each row and petals draw a path down the aisle. Half of them are green, like my bouquet, and the other half are black. Beauty that doesn’t feel allowed in a moment like this.

“Odette.”

I think I’m imagining my sister’s voice until she pops up beside me.

“Gen?” Tears spring to my eyes as she pulls me in for a hug, not caring that it wrinkles my veil between us.

“You look beautiful.”

“What are you doing here?” I hug her tighter.

She shakes in my arms with a quiet sob. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

“I’m fine.” I pull back, holding her shoulders and drawing on all my strength for my sister. “Look at me. I’m fine, okay?”

She bites her lower lip and nods, brushing a tear from her cheek.

“How are you here right now?”And am I dreaming?

I wasn’t sure I’d see my sister again, especially not at my wedding.

“Cillian invited the whole family.” Her nose scrunches and another tear streams down her cheek.

“Mom’s here?” I glance around but don’t see her.

“And Dad.” Gen nods. “I’d say it’s nice of him but—”

“He’s putting on a show.” I finish her sentence.

Cillian isn’t nice. He’s calculated. He’s smart. He’s won his prize, and now he wants to make sure everyone knows it, including my father.

“On the upside, I’m walking you down the aisle.” Gen slips her arm under my veil to wrap it through mine.

“You are?”

She nods, smiling at me. And as much as I hate Cillian, I’m thankful he’s giving me this when he doesn’t have to.

“But we’re leaving right after the ceremony.” Gen frowns, and it draws out the dark circles under her eyes.

I’m not sure how much sleep she’s been getting since I’ve been gone, but it looks like it’s not much more than I have.

“At least we get this.” I exhale, knowing I should be thankful for what I have.

The music starts, and Gen tightens her hold on my arm.

This is it. I’m floating. Like the moment before I took the stage at the auction and the ground slipped out from under me. Soon, everything is going to change.

I take a deep breath as everyone in front of us stands. And out from the shadows at the end of the aisle, Cillian steps forward.

He’s wearing a pitch-black suit that fits him perfectly, showing off the sculpture that is the man beneath. Rock solid muscle I shouldn’t be thinking about as his gunmetal eyes blaze down the aisle at me. His shoulders are pulled back and his hands are clasped in front of him, but he’s tense. And I’m not sure how much a man like him relaxes.

“At least he’s hot,” Gen says, leaning in as we take our first step forward.

“He’s a killer,” I whisper back.

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