Page 36 of Devious Vows

I should have expected something like this to happen.

The Famiglia always does what’s best for the Famiglia after all.

And now, whatever is happening between us or was happening,simply can’t.

“You’ve always wanted what you can’t have.” It feels cruel and wrong to say, hurts more than I could ever imagine it would, lodging a lump in my throat and an ache beneath my ribs. I pinch my lips together at the tic of Remy’s jaw, feeling his fingers pinch into my skin.

He grips my face in his palms, our noses just brushing. “Make no mistake,cuore mio.You are mine. You are my first thought of the day and the last at night. You are my only passion and my most beloved treasure. You aremy heart.” Our lips are a fraction of a breath apart as he leans down, so each word that leaves his mouth brushes along mine. “I’ve tasted your lips, worshiped every inch of your body, experienced your sleepy side, happy side, sad side,every side. I’ve stood under the light of your beaming smile, and I’ve burned under your wrath. No matter who you’re with, where you are, what you’re doing, your thoughts will always be of me just as mine are of you. Because you aremine.”

I must be holding my breath because I suddenly feel the burn in my lungs, hear the pounding of my heart in my ears. I release it in a slow, shaky exhale. Remy’s words wind their way into the leaking cracks of my heart, wrap around my exposed throat in a tightening grip, ring in my ears like the bang of a gunshot.

My bottom lip starts trembling with held back tears, my vision beginning to blur once again. His words are laced with a truth that singes my soul. “Maybe you’re right, Remy, maybe I am yours. But you arenotmine.” He lets me slip from his grip, and I angrily wipe the tears from my face. His eyes track me as I slowly walk backward and away from him. “You are the Famiglia’s. And you are now Viva’s.” My hand waves toward the dining room, a humorless laugh rising. “You have never been and will never bemine.”

He hums with annoyance, the sound pausing my descent for a fraction of a second as it tries to run along my spine, but I ignore it, turning to avoid having to see Remy’s face even a moment longer. He doesn’t follow after me or say another word, and even though I didn’t expect him to, something about it still bothers me. I tell myself I don’t care, even as more tears cling to my cheeks, wiping them away with annoyance.

Remy Luciano is the man I love to hate, and nothing more.

Because he has to be.

Chapter Fifteen

My throat burns and I take a sip of my tea before it’s cooled, using it as a distraction from having to speak as my mother adjusts the napkin in her lap for the fifth time in a row.

“Thank you two for meeting with me today,” Francesca says around a forced smile, the tension strung between the three of us almost palpable. After a beat she adds, “I know that yesterday wasn’t what either of us were expecting and I do hope we can move past it.”

At my mother’s gruff snort Francesca looks away, swallowing hard before lifting her own teacup. Setting my cup down, I take a deep breath. “May I ask why you’ve invited us here, Mrs. Luciano? Surely it wasn’t for tea and good company.”

Holding her cup between her fingers, she attempts another smile. “Yes, it seems a little too soon to expect you to want to be friends again—” She eyes my mother before continuing, “But I actually wanted to request that you join the wedding party as one of Viva’s bridesmaids.”

My mouth gapes. “Excuse me?”

She hurries to set her cup down, leaning forward with a hand out to stop me when I start to stand. “No, wait. Please just hear me out.”

A look from my mother has me slowly settling back in my seat, stomach rolling.

She smiles at my mother who doesn’t return it before looking at me. “The Espositos and Lucianos have always been close, even way before your mother and I came along.” I eye her as she continues, failing to see where this going, “This whole wedding bit has really put a rift between us.” She catches my mother’s gaze. “More so, between my husband and yours. Now, I’m hoping that if Beverly is a part of the wedding, it will show the men of the family that there are no hard feelings and it’ll provoke them to make amends. My husband needs his consigliere at this side.”

I’m already shaking my head, not in the slightest considering this. “I’m sorry, but I’m no—”

“Beverly will do it,” my mother injects, shooting me a look to keep me quiet.

Francesca smiles, a loud sigh of relief blowing from her lips. “Ah, good.” She looks at me.“Sono così felice.” I’m so happy.

My mother returns her smile this time, sipping at her tea. “What are your plans for the wedding now? With such short notice?”

I gape at her.She can’t be serious.“Do I have no say in this?” I interrupt their now chipper conversation.

Neither of them say anything, giving me my answer.

Standing, I throw my napkin onto the table. “I’m leaving. I’ve lost my appetite.”

Turning, Francesca stops me, “Wait!” Stopping, I eye her over my shoulder. “Happy birthday, Beverly.”

Scoffing, I walk away, doing my best to keep the little I did eat in my stomach.

Happy fucking birthday to me.

I hear my phone beep and I stare at the screen until it goes dark again. I haven’t had the energy today to answer any calls or texts. I haven’t even checked them. All the energy I had was wasted this morning at breakfast with Francesca and my mother. My stomach drops just thinking about it. My phone beeps again and I sigh, finally giving in. Just as my fingers graze my phone, there’s a loud pounding at my door, drawing my attention away.

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