Page 2 of The Viper

“Eliza.” I advance toward her, attempting to plead with her to see reason.

“Please?” she repeats and lifts her brows. “I’m ready now.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I beg. “You’re not happy; I can see it. It’s so damned obvious,” the tension in my voice is laced with frustration. “I don’t want you marrying a man you don’t love.”

Eliza lifts her chin and arches a brow. “I love him,” she says in an even tone. “I love Adrian very much.”

No, she doesn’t. But, what can I do? My shoulders slump forward as I shake my head. “Eliza,” I plead for one last time.

“Please let Adrian know I’m ready.”

The pain in my chest tells me I need to stop this wedding. But if I do, I’m afraid Eliza will hate me forever, and I can’t live a life without my sister. We’ve already suffered enough at the murder-suicide of our parents, I don’t want us to have to go through life without each other. The lump in my throat makes it hard to genuinely smile. “Sure,” I say as I head toward the door.

I stand for a moment, watching Eliza, hoping she changes her mind. But, instead, she stares out of the window and refuses to look at me. I don’t want this for her, but it’s her choice.

I walk out and head toward the front of the church, where I expect Adrian to be. But I find Adrian, and two other men standing outside. Two are smoking, but the older one isn’t.

One of the men sees me first and instantly stamps out his cigarette. He stands taller and smiles. “You must be Rose. You look beautiful,” he says as he advances toward me. He instantly causes my breath to hitch. His eyes bore into me, making my pulse quicken. “I’m Dominic, Adrian’s younger brother.” Fuck, he’s Adrian’s brother? He’s probably one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen, with his dark tousled hair, square jawline and intense auburn eyes.

Up until recently, I’d never met Adrian. But I’d heard rumors about the Sacco family and how notoriously dangerous they are. I take a step backward, stopping his advance. I can’t allow his presence to overtake my sanity. “Thank you,” I say through a clenched jaw. I look toward Adrian and cast my gaze once over his body. “She’s ready.” My tone is short and clipped.

The older of the three walks around the two brothers. His bodyguards all form a protective barrier behind him. “Rose, you truly are breathtaking.” I straighten as he gives me two small kisses on the cheeks.

“Who are you?”

The men all laugh. “My apologies. I’m Ruben, Adrian and Dominic’s uncle.” I thought that was him. “You’re quite striking.” I should be grossed out.

His face is hard, almost suspicious though his actions and words are a complete contradiction. I flick a look at Adrian from over Ruben’s shoulder and sneer. “Thank you.” I’m no fool, I’d known the names, but now I can put faces to the names. Ruben Sacco is high up in the underworld and his nephews ? the Sacco brothers ? work for him. What their exact roles are, I have no idea. In truth, I don’t want to know either. I just wish my sister had never become involved with Adrian, although their relationship was very fast.

One day she was studying to work in childcare, and the next she came home telling me she’d met a man she could see herself marrying. Fast forward a month, and here we are. Ridiculously fast.

Ruben turns and gestures for Adrian and Dominic to follow. Dominic steps forward, and as he passes me he whispers, “You’re stunning.”

“Thank you,” I reply curtly. I haven’t really given Dominic a chance, because I figure he and Adrian are cut from the same cloth. I mean, aren’t they all? I look to Adrian and let out a murmured groan. “I’ll see you in there,” I say.

“You know,” Adrian starts, stopping me from entering the church. I look at him from over my shoulder and see he’s quickly caught up to me. “You and I will be related in a few short minutes.”

“Only by marriage,” I reply flatly while I try to turn back into the church. His hand lands on my ass, and I turn to look at him while moving my body away from him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

He winks at me and slowly licks his lips while scanning my figure-hugging dress. “Don’t I get a two for one deal?”

“Fuck off,” I say and quickly move away.

“My dick will be in your pussy, Rose. The only question is, do we fuck in front of your sister, or behind her back? The choice is yours.”

I turn and poke my finger into his shoulder. “You’re a fucking pig. Don’t ever touch me again.” He smirks and sweeps his tongue over his lip. There’s a curdling deep in my gut.

“I bet you taste better than your sister.” He clicks his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

I back away from him while shaking my head. “You’re marrying my sister, and hitting on me. Are you for real?”

Adrian grabs onto his crotch and squeezes it once. “Come feel, and you’ll see how serious I am.”

“Fucking pig,” I repeat as I back away from him. I make my way down the hallway toward my sister. I have to tell her what he did. She has to call this wedding off. I burst into the room to find Eliza back in front of the mirror. She’s staring at herself with the saddest look in her eyes. “Eliza.”

“Is he ready?”

I slam the door shut and point out the front. “He grabbed my ass.”

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