Page 3 of Devious Vows

“You know what, Remy?” I wait until his eyes are back on my face before straightening my spine to spit my words at him in the cruelest tone I can muster. “Freak you.”

The smile on Remy’s face has started to turn dark, a glint of angry annoyance making his grin look like wolf’s teeth. “I’m sure I misheard you, baby Bev. Want to try again?”

My hard swallow just about gets stuck in my throat, my fingers pinching the fabric of my dress at my sides. I know I’m letting this get too far, especially here at this party, but I can’t back down now. Not without looking like a coward, and that’s just not something I’m willing to do. “I meant what I said.” Another hard swallow. “Freak. You. Remy.”

His smile turns on Julian, tongue running over his teeth before his eyes fall back onto me, feeling heavy like a weighted blanket. He steps even closer, our chests lightly brushing as his large palm snaps out to grab onto my upper arm. His nose nearly brushes mine. “If you’re going to curse, at least do it right.”

My heart drums in my ears as I wait for him to speak again, sensing he’s not done as his breath hits my parted lips.

“Say, ‘fuck you, future husband.’”

I blink, the reminder that this is my future causing my stomach to turn. Instead of doing as he instructs, I try to distract him. “Don’t you have better things to do than bother me? Why don’t you go bother someone else, like Stephanie. I’m sure she’d love that.”

His eyes flick between mine, narrowing at the edges. “She probably would, baby Bev. Believe it or not, most girls like it when I talk to them.” He ignores my quiet scoff, talking over me as he shoves back from me, the movement almost making me stumble in the grass. “But I think I will. If anything, she's not a child like you.”

The comment smacks me right in the chest but I do my best to ignore the feeling, watching as he smirks at Julian.

“No offense, Julian.”

Julian chuckles at his joke, waving Remy off as he starts to back away. “None taken.”

Remy’s eyes find mine once more. “I’ll find you before the meal starts. My father wants us at his table.”

He spins away without an answer from me, and I suck in a breath realizing I hadn’t taken a full one since he showed up. My pulse races below my skin, watching him disappear into the crowd. “Why don’t you ever stand up for me?” I ask Julian, continuing to stare into the crowd. His eyes are on my face when I finally turn to look at him. “You’re my twin. Shouldn’t it bother you when he’s mean to me like that? Shouldn’t you feel mad when I’m mad or something?”

Julian shrugs, a small smile parting his lips. “Do you feel mad when I’m mad? Because no. No, I don’t.” I purse my lips at his attempt to turn the situation into a joke as he continues, “And it’s none of my business what happens in your relationship.”

“Shut up.” I let out a big breath, tugging at the skirt of the dress I’m wearing. “We aren’t in a relationship. We willneverbe a couple.”

“You’re literally arranged to be married, Bev.” I shake my head in defiance and he sighs, changing the subject, “How about we go get some drinks.”

I nod, wordlessly following after him as he moves into the crowd toward the beverage station. I watch his back, biting my lip when he waves at some of the other kids we pass. Unlike me, Julian actually gets along quite well with the other Mafioso kids. He’s more outgoing than I am which I guess makes him more likable. Where he effortlessly fits into the mold my parents have created for him, I find myself struggling. I’m sure Remy’s constant picking has something to do with it, though. Everyone around here worships him, Julian included, and Remy has turned me into a pariah among them.

I’m the wallflower who prefers fiction over real life and the only girl thekinghimself handpicked to torture.Why?I couldn’t tell you. He’s always gotten along fine with my brother.

“Beverly.” My heart jumps into my throat when my mother grabs onto my arm as I pass, startling me from my thoughts, her voice stopping Julian who turns back toward us. “Francesca was just telling me about how well you and her son get along.” My mother’s eyes leave me and drift back to Capo Famiglia’s wife as she finishes with, “I didn’t know the two of you were so close, but I’m so happy to hear it.”

“We’re not,” I say against my better judgment and my mother squeezes my arm in warning, her face still beaming at the other woman. I frown at the side of her head before turning my attention to Francesca. She’s already smiling at me when our eyes meet, perfectly white teeth almost glittering from the lights hanging above the tables.

She spends more time getting ready for the day than she does caring about either of her children. I highly doubt Remy has ever said anything about me to her. I think I’ve seen her spend a total of five minutes with either of her children, and that’s saying something considering I’m always around them.

“Sei molto carina stasera, Beverly.” You are very pretty tonight, Beverly.Her perfectly unwrinkled face doesn’t match the softness of her voice.

Lightly tugging my arm from my mother’s grip I step to the side and out of reach, smiling politely in response, my fingers picking at the smooth material of my skirt. “Thank you, Francesca.” My gaze flicks quickly between her and my mother. “If you’d please excuse me, Julian and I were going to get a drink.”

Francesca’s long fingers wave me off, “Go, go. We’ll chat during dinner, no?”

My stomach drops, remembering I’ll have to sit with Remy for the meal, but I smile through the feeling. “Of course.”

Grabbing Julian’s shirt sleeve, I tug him away from the table, dropping his sleeve once we’ve slipped far enough through the crowd that both my mother and Remy’s are out of sight. “I can’t stand that woman.”

“Mom or Francesca?”

I glance back at Julian’s smirk with one of my own. “Sometimes both, but right now? Francesca.”

He laughs and I sit on the edge of a giant plant as we pretend to listen to whatever speech is being yelled out over the crowd. Julian keeps talking, but I stare toward the speaker, not bothering to listen. We never got drinks and my throat is dry, nearly raw from my emotions earlier.

He nudges my arm, drawing my attention. “Did you hear me?”

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