Page 12 of Welcome to the Sins of Blackstone
The SUV stops in front of the church, and as I step out the scent of burning candles hits me.
The priest greets us, his hands clasped in front of him. “Mr. Messina, what brings you and the family here today?”
My father being the man he is, isn’t wasting time of the priests or his own. “We’ve come to discuss Maria.”
I thought he would react to the situation, but nothing. Did he know we would be here? Did Maria talk to him?
My mother smiles softly, playing her role. “She is a lovely girl,” she says. “The perfect match for my son.”
And there it is: the flicker in his expression.
I step forward slightly, my voice smooth but firm. “I’d like to take Maria as my bride.” Fuck, I’d marry her right now if allowed. Never in all my years have I thought about marrying anyone, yet one look at her, and I’d give the whole fucking world to make her my wife.
I watch him for a moment, because the word which should escape him is yes, but nothing. Not one word. The priest lets out a slow heavy breath, and I can feel something is wrong.
He lifts his gaze to my father, then to me. “I appreciate the honor,” he says carefully. “But I’m afraid Maria is already promised to someone.”
Silence. Cold. Nothing hits me.
I feel Camilla shift beside me, yet all I can hear is the sound of my own breathing. Because this is impossible, because she’s mine.
“Who?” I demand.
Father Dominic breaks eye contact from us for a moment. The silence is starting to make me angry, and I’m not sure who her hand is given to, but it’s not happening.
“Father?” My voice is harsh, but it gets his attention.
“Liam O'Brien.” The name is a whisper, but I heard it. Rage, that’s the only thing running through me. Fucking rage.
I feel my father watching me, waiting to see how I will react to the news. Everything is always a test with him, and this is one now. Will I react like a boy, reckless? Or will I react like a Messina?
I take a step closer to him and smile. “You will fix this.”
“But she is already?—”
“Change it,” I demand.
My father takes a step next to me, with a gentle tone, his serene smile hides his contempt, he speaks. “This is a matter of power, Father. And we both know who holds more.”
He glances between myself and my father, he knows we hold the power no matter how hard the Irish try.
He still doesn’t say anything, so I lean in closer and give him the warning. “She belongs to me, one way or another.” I didn’t want to come to church and give him a threat, my mother is going to kill me for it, but he has left me no choice. I straighten and turn to my father. “We’ll give him time to reconsider.”
A final chance.
My father nods, turning to the priest once more. “We’ll expect an answer soon.” And with that, we walk out of the church.
As I step outside, my mother places a hand on my arm, forcing me to stop. Her gaze is unreadable as she studies my face. “Don’t be reckless, Massimo.”
I say nothing, because I think we already know it’s too late, I fucking sinned in church.
If she says yes to him, I'll burn the whole thing down.
Maria’s been avoidingme but that’s not happening. Not today.
I’ve spent the whole night thinking about her. Thinking about how I know she doesn’t want to marry Liam fucking O’Brien. I saw the ring on her finger, but I thought it was a promise ring, not a fucking engagement ring.
I stalk through the hallways, ignoring the stares. She’s not at her locker, so where the fuck is she?
