Quinn #2
“Daithí,” Da grounds out and I pull in a sharp breath. I know that tone. That’s the one he uses when he’s beyond angry and usually it ends up with me getting beaten. “You were out of line and you went too far, if you—”
“No Da, you all have gone too far. I have watched the way Quinn has been treated, and I have sat back for too long. Mam and Daire have used her as an emotional punching bag for years, and you,” he snarls, his voice lowering and becoming menacing.
This is a side to Daithí that I very rarely see.
“You have used her as a physical one. It all fucking stops.’
Da’s lips pull into a snarl. “Or what?”
Daithi grins. “I have enough men behind me to topple you. You know this already and mark my words. You carry on the mistreatment of Quinn and I’ll ensure that your time as the head of this family ends.”
The fury in Da’s eyes is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen him angry, but this is different. This is unlike anything I've ever seen. “You shit,” he says through clenched teeth. “You wouldn’t be where you are if it weren’t for me and you want to take it from me?”
Daithi shakes his head. “No, Da. I don’t, but you’ll leave me with no choice if you continue with the shit you’ve been pulling.
What the hell do you think is going to happen if the Mariano’s find out how you’ve treated Quinn?
Hmm? Are you forgetting what Caesar did to Vittoria’s father for doing the same thing you’ve done to Quinn? ”
Da rises to his feet, his cheeks heating as he stares at us. “No one is going to find out because none of you are going to open your mouths. Do I make myself clear?”
Silence spreads around us as we wait to see what happens next. No one ever goes against our da, not like this. But Daithi isn’t backing down and I’m not sure what the hell Da’s going to do in retaliation.
“No one will say anything as long as you don’t touch her or treat her the way you have been. She is your daughter, Da, it’s about time that you remember that,” Daithi tells him, that anger he has is still simmering.
I hate that he’s putting himself in our da’s firing line. He should have just left it alone. I’m leaving today, nothing good will come from this. I didn’t want him to do this but I’m so very grateful that he’s got my back, that all three of my brothers do.
Da glares at Daithi as he leaves the kitchen and I take a steadying breath before I turn to my oldest brother. “You—”
Daithi shakes his head. “Don’t say it, Quinn, I should have fucking done it sooner. It needs to be done otherwise he’ll continue his bullshit and I’m not standing back and watching it happen any longer.”
I turn to Conn and see him watching me with so much sorrow. “What changed?” I whisper, I need to know why he’s suddenly on my side.
“A lot,” he says simply. “None of which needs to be discussed today. We have to leave soon, but I promise that we’ll talk soon.”
That sounds ominous, but I have to admit that I’m looking forward to it.
Having someone else I can turn to when things get tough will be a welcome surprise.
I have hated that Conn was distant when he needed to be close to his family after losing Orla, but because he thought it was my fault he distanced himself when he went away for college to learn the business side of the family organization. I’m glad he’s here now.
“Welcome home,” I say with a small smile, one that he matches and I feel the weight on my chest start to lighten a little.
We’re in the little room in the church, my heart racing as I wait for the moment that tells me it’s time to walk down the aisle. I’m not ready for it, but I’m here and there’s nothing I can do but go ahead with the ceremony.
Things have been tense since breakfast this morning, not to mention hectic.
The moment I finished breakfast my brothers ushered me out the door to the hotel where everyone will be staying this evening.
The reception will be held there after the church part of the day.
I have been pampered beyond recognition.
The stylists who came were efficient and made me look and feel beautiful.
Fiona came herself to help me put on my dress.
Something she told me quietly was her honor as she felt a maternal instinct toward me and wanted to see me before I got married.
I couldn’t believe it and was honestly blown away by her kindness.
She helped me into the dress, made sure everything was perfect before she pressed a kiss to my cheek and promised me she'd see me again.
Today has been a weird day. I've never felt so much love and devotion in my life and I’m not really sure how to deal with it.
Now I’m waiting for Da to come into this tiny room that feels like a box and get me to walk down the aisle.
My throat feels as though it’s closing. I feel as though I can’t breathe as the enormity of today hits me.
I’m getting married to a man who believes that I’m evil and capable of hurting someone so deeply it caused them to harm themselves.
I’m about to be tied to a ruthless man who hates me and I’m stuck.
There’s no escape for me. This is my only option unless I seek death.
I stand in front of the full-length mirror and look at myself.
The beautiful ivory dress looks stunning against my pale skin, but I don’t feel like I did in the store when I tried it on.
I don’t feel perfect. Instead, that dread I felt this morning has intensified and it’s taking everything in me to try to beat it down to a dullness inside of me.
The door opens and I watch as Da walks in.
He doesn’t even look at my dress, his gaze is fixed on my face.
He's in his tailored suit. He looks so put together, there’s nothing out of place, but the anger from this morning is still whirling in his eyes, it’s like looking at a storm waiting to break out.
"You look well," he says thickly, still not moving his gaze from my face.
"Thank you, Da," I reply softly. I know this man. I know the tells to look out for and right now, I’m on edge. He’s close to lashing out and I know that it’s going to hurt when he does. Daithi infuriated him this morning and he hasn’t released that anger at all.
I just pray that I’m wrong and he’ll leave me be.
"Today matters," he says as he steps toward me so that he’s standing behind me in the mirror.
I nod and swallow. "I know."
"The alliance matters, what we're building matters. Do you understand what your role is?"
I turn to face him, watching the anger flare up once again in his eyes. "I do," I respond, straightening my shoulders.
"You will smile, say your vows, and do your duty." His voice is cold. "Whatever has been going on in this house—"
"Da—"
"I haven't finished." He glares down at me. "The chaos that Daire has caused, the instability, everything she has done, falls on this family. On me and today is how we begin to address it. Do you understand?"
I look at him steadily. "You're blaming me for what Daire did?" I ask incredulously. It’s one thing for Mam to choose Daire openly, but to have Da do it too? That’s heartbreaking.
"I'm not blaming anyone." His jaw tightens. "I'm telling you what today requires."
"And if I'm not a willing enough participant, what then?
" The words come out before I can stop them.
Years of pent up anger tumble out of me.
"Because I've been as willing as anyone could be, Da.
I stepped in when Daire left this family in chaos.
I agreed to the arrangement. I've done everything required. "
"Watch your tone."
"I'm just asking a question."
"Quinn." His voice drops. "Don't push me, not today."
"I'm not pushing. I'm standing here wanting to know why it’s always me? Why am I always the one who has to pay the price for Daire’s actions?"
He pulls on my arm, his fingers digging into the underside of it. I know that it’s going to leave bruises. Hopefully, they won’t show up today or if they do, it will be later when it’s darker, and no one can see them.
"You will not embarrass this family today," he sneers at me, his breath hot against my cheek.
"You will not make a scene, you will not say a word out of turn.
You will walk into that ceremony, you will marry Lorenzo Mariano and you will do it in a way that shows this family has class and dignity, do you understand me? "
"Yes," I say, trying not to cry as his fingers dig deeper into my flesh. "I understand."
“You will not disgrace this family,” he snaps as he pushes me away from him, hard.
My heels slip beneath me, and I topple backwards, unable to stop myself from falling.
I slam into the mirror I had not long ago been looking at.
My head smacks against the corner of it, and I cry out, my knees hitting the floor as pain flashes white behind my eyes.
"Da." I hear Daithí's voice from the door. I don’t look up. The pain in my head is too much and I’m trying my hardest not to let the tears fall.
I feel hands on me and I know by the gentleness of them that they don’t belong to Da.
"I'm fine," I say, as I look up and see Caden’s concerned gaze staring back at me.
"You're not fine—" he says thickly.
"Caden." I whisper as the pain in my head grows stronger. "I need today to go smoothly. I don’t want anyone to see me as a target." I hold his gaze. "Please."
I hope that he catches the deeper meaning of my words. I don’t want anyone, especially those in the Mariano household to see me as vulnerable, as a target. I don’t want this to happen there too.
He looks at me for a long moment, I can see the anger in him searching for somewhere to go and he doesn't have anywhere to put it. His eyes are bright with pain and fury.
"Quinn—" he starts.
"I know," I say quietly. "I know."