Page 19 of Wedlocked

“He’s not like that, Salvatore,” I protested weakly. But what could I possibly say that would alleviate my brother’s fears? Anyone who knew of Ethan or any of the Agostino family knew better.

“Isn’t he?” Salvatore asked bitterly. “Even if he loved you he wouldn’t have any other choice but to—”

“Don’t,” I said quietly, but with an inherent strength I could barely fathom myself. “You don’t know what might happen in the future, none of us do.”

My brother rubbed his thumb and index finger against his brow, his ruby red bowtie a startling contrast to his dark navy Brioni suit. “You’re not stupid, Sabrina, so don’t suddenly act that way. You’re marrying a monster, someone who’ll do anything needed to bring more power into his family, someone even more hard-nosed than our father.”

“You’re talking as though you won’t be just as coldblooded and inflexible when you take over as don,” I said quietly.

He sighed and looked out the side-window, watching the townhouses that flashed past and no doubt wishing we’d been brought up in one of those very same places and not had a mobster upbringing. “If I found the right woman nothing would stop me from protecting her.”

I reached for his hand, my smile tremulous. “Then I hope you find her.”

He glanced back at me with hard eyes. “You should hope that I don’t,” he said quietly, but with such absolute conviction, it took everything I had not to snatch my hand away from his.

“Why would I hope that?”

“Because no woman deserves to live with a mobster—including you.” He ran a hand over his face. “And my energy needs to stay focused on saving you from this farce of a marriage.”

“I don’t need saving.”

When he frowned, it was my turn to look away. How could I tell him that a part of me wanted this marriage? That I wanted to be with Ethan despite the fact our families were at war, and despite the fact my life might well be…short-lived.

And how totally fucked up was that?

I burned to live a full and happy life about as much as I burned to be with Ethan for every minute of the day I had left.

“At least tell me something out of this whole clusterfuck has been worth risking your life for?” he asked in a scathing voice.

I turned back to him. “I did learn he’s now don of the Agostinos.”

Salvatore’s nostrils flared. “And you didn’t think we’d learn that a minute after the news was announced?”

“I had no idea what information I might acquire, that was the whole point of me going to the party.” I sighed softly. “It’s irrelevant now. I was caught and this,” I ran a hand down my wedding dress, “is my punishment.”

“At least you won’t be marrying the Accardi scumbag,” he conceded grimly. “I just wish you’d never run off in the first place. That you used a wig to make it look like you were sleeping in was a serious betrayal. You deliberately lied, went against our family’s code of honor.”

“Yet killing people outside our family is acceptable?”

He didn’t bother defending what we did, not when our limousine slowed as it followed another limousine out front, which carried my matron of honor, Ethan’s sister, Isabella. I peered at the old stone cathedral the vehicles stopped in front of. The building might be ancient, but it was huge, intimidating, and I imagined there would be hundreds of guests filling its pews inside.

“I thought this was supposed to be a small wedding,” I said through stiff lips.

Salvatore snorted. “Ethan doesn’t do anything by half-measures. Prepare yourself for a whole lot of strangers as wedding guests.”

My stomach fluttered and suddenly I felt a little nauseous as I noted four of Ethan’s soldiers standing guard either side of the double doors, their holsters that were worn on their hips and chests barely concealed behind their suit jackets. I looked back at my brother, my smile tremulous. “I’m just glad I have you to cling onto as we walk down the aisle.”

He nodded stiffly, all too clearly against my marriage, my…sacrifice. But was it a sacrifice? I didn’t even know myself anymore.

Our driver climbed out and opened my passenger door. Dizziness suddenly assailed me, my heart beating too fast in my chest as I alighted while Isabella hurried over to help me straighten my gown and ensure my train was stretched out behind me.

She looked up at me, probably noting my pale face and clammy skin when she said gently, “You know, it’s not too late to back out.”

My body tensed. We both knew leaving Ethan wasn’t a possibility. Doing so would be akin to signing my death warrant. I wouldn’t have weeks or months to languish about waiting for my death; I’d have minutes, maybe hours. Still, it was a nice gesture and I managed to smile at her. “I’m good, it’s just wedding jitters.”

Salvatore climbed out after me, his silver-gray stare drinking in Isabella even as he said, “That’s the best advice I’ve heard anyone give my sister since I arrived.”

Isabella whirled around, her hand pressing to her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at my brother. He was rather intimidating. I might have shared his coloring, but I hadn’t shared his height and menacing presence. Touching the white flowers in her dark, upswept hair, Isabella said with a nervous laugh, “Oh my, aren’t you a scary one.”

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