Chapter 26
Elena
Three weeks fly by in a whirlwind of wedding plans, avoiding Maximo as much as possible now that I know how unhinged he is, and desperately messaging Mrs. Rizzo.
My non-wedding is in two days and I’m freaking out. Holed up in my room, I scroll through the text exchange.
Elena:
You promised to get me out. The wedding is next week!
Rizzo:
I’ll have details for you soon.
Elena:
If you sent the details, I didn’t get them.
Rizzo:
You must be patient.
Elena:
The wedding is this week. I held up my end of the bargain, now it’s your turn. Get me out of here.
Rizzo:
I will, just not yet.
Elena:
But what about the wedding? Will you get me out before then? I can’t marry him, you know this.
Rizzo:
I’m sorry but the timing isn’t going to work. You’re going to have to go through with the wedding. Afterwards I will get you everything you need to disappear.
Elena:
Are you kidding?!
Elena:
Please. I’m begging you. Get me out right now.
Rizzo:
I can’t. Not yet. Be patient. Your time will come.
I was so furious after that last exchange that I had to set the burner phone down and walk away. If she told me to be patient one more time, I was going to explode.
Now I mull over her lack of responsiveness and follow through on our bargain. I spied on Maximo, sent her everything I could find, and she leaves me high and dry.
What a deceptive bitch.
She played me for a fool, didn’t she? She never had any intention of helping me escape, and soon I’ll be legally tied to Maximo. It’s not like I can complain to him about this either.
Guilt slithers like serpents in my stomach as I think about all the information I passed along to Mrs. Rizzo. I spied on him for weeks and he has no idea how I’ve betrayed him. He’ll kill me if he ever finds out, I’m sure of it.
Now, because of her, I’m stuck here for the rest of my life. I’ll never be free.
I let that potential, terrifying reality sink in.
Stupid. I’m so stupid. I thought I could handle this situation on my own, without the help of my family, and I was so very wrong.
It’s too late to run to my sister and cousins for help now.
Maximo will know exactly where to go looking for me.
Besides, I refuse to bring my troubles to their front doors. None of this is their fault.
Steeling myself, I inhale a deep, fortifying breath and consider my limited options. I’ve gotten myself into quite the mess. Once again, I looked to someone else to rescue me, instead of doing it myself. I should have known Mrs. Rizzo wouldn’t come through with her promise.
The mafia world is dog-eat-dog. If I keep being this na?ve, I’m going to keep getting eaten, taken advantage of by everyone around me who has an agenda. They’ll get what they want at my expense.
Even Maximo doesn’t really want me, he wants my family connection to solidify his position.
What about that tattoo?
It’s things like that, that have haunted me every day for the past month. Does Maximo want me to be his wife for political reasons, or is he actually in love with me as he claims? Does it make a difference?
No, it doesn’t. I don’t love him. I’ll never love a man like him.
I have to find my own way out of this disaster.
Istand in front of the full-length mirror in this stunning wedding gown as horror grips my insides like a vice. Today’s the day, and I’m no closer to escaping this marriage. I’ve failed to get myself out. Now I have to face the consequences—this brutal reality that there is no escape.
I’m a pawn. One that’s lost, so I’m no longer even on the chessboard.
A shaky sigh pushes past my lips. I’m not sure I can go through with this ceremony. I’m supposed to walk, of my own free will, down that aisle and tie myself to a mafia don before hundreds of witnesses and God.
Where did my life go so wrong?
Maximo says it’s only for political reasons. Then he claims to love me.
My face is permanently etched into his skin.
He stole everything from me to trap me into marriage.
I groan. Can he be any more confusing?
My own jumbled feelings rattle inside my chest. When I’m with him, I feel protected and strangely cherished. Yet he’s the man I should need protection from, isn’t he? How is it that my guardian turned into my captor? I don’t have any answers.
Would it be so bad to marry him? Yes.
Do I have any other choice? No.
So, that’s that. My heart sinks.
Save yourself now, Elena, because that was a genius idea from the start. I roll my eyes at myself.
The door to the bridal suite opens and Ravenna peeks her head inside. “Are you alone?”
“I am.” Turning away from the mirror, I face her as she enters.
Hands resting on her swollen stomach, she eases herself into a chair. “You can’t do this, Elle.”
My brow furrows. “What are you talking about?”
“This wedding.” She keeps her voice low. “You can’t go through with it.”
“I don’t—”
“You do have a choice.” She sighs. “I’ve been trying to figure out why you won’t accept any help, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s guilt that drives you.
Why are you playing the martyr? Is it because of how I always took the brunt of Papa’s punishments?
Or that you were unaware of how bad it was for so long? Or what our brother did to me?”
I glance down, unable to meet her gaze. At first, I want to deny everything she’s said, but now that I think about it, she may be right.
Maybe I am punishing myself. Perhaps I don’t think I deserve happiness, or freedom, or to escape what my sister never could.
She endured so much. While I got off easy.
I was the favorite daughter, everyone knew it, but I didn’t realize how much Ravenna suffered because of it.
“I just don’t want to trouble you with—”
“With what? With caring about what happens to you?” She tosses up her hands.
“You’re my sister. My twin! I love you and I won’t let you hurt yourself.
I’m this close to dragging you out of here.
You’ll come stay with me and Cian. I’ll have my husband start a war with Maximo if that’s what it takes to keep you safe. ”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Don’t. I can’t stomach any more bloodshed caused by me. I’ll be fine. I promise. Maximo isn’t that bad.”
She scoffs, shaking her head in disappointment. “You’re just as bull-headed as I am.”
Standing, she grabs a folded wad of hundred dollar bills and shoves it down the back of my dress, letting the tight bodice hold it in place.
“Just in case you decide to run.” Her grey eyes drill into mine. “I’ll miss you, but you need to do what’s best for yourself.”
Then she’s gone. Leaving me to drown in my thoughts as each second ticks closer to noon. I have to make a decision. Stay and face my life as Maximo’s wife? Or run, chasing the freedom I’ve always wanted? California didn’t pan out, but maybe Italy will feel like home.