7. Devina
My mind is still reeling from the encounter with Ryder. How odd for him to pay me a visit. He didn’t mention anything about his brother. Perhaps he was sent in to catch a glimpse of me and report back to Philippe and Luca. I shouldn’t be surprised that his oldest brother didn’t make the long trip back to the States for our wedding.
A knock at the door snaps me back to reality. “Vi, can I come in?” Declan opens the door before I answer.
“Well, what do you think?”
His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, but he tells me how beautiful I look. I know this is a somber day for us both.
“You don’t have to do this. You don’t know for sure . . .” In a building full of opposition, it’s not unusual for him to not want to say the rest of his thoughts out loud.
“Look, we all need this, right? This makes everyone happy. You get your alliance and one lucky Totaro man gets a spicy redhead.” I quip and he shakes his head refusing to find the humor in this horrific situation.
He produces a black box from his pocket. “Scarlet would have been much better at this than I am, but I thought you should have this. You know, a piece of her.”
Inside, her silver Claddagh ring sits cushioned on a satin pillow. Declan had taken it after the fire for safekeeping. The only tangible thing we have of hers.
“You kept it all this time. Are you sure?”
“You are important to me. I know I don’t always make that known. But I need you to keep it. Wear it always.” Placing the ring on my right hand, I make that promise.
Music begins and I can hear the ushers requesting our guests to be seated.
“Well, looks like we better get this show on the road,” I say as he hands me a bouquet of satin flowers and I take one final look in the mirror.
* * *
The sound of the piano reverberates through the building as we exit my suite and make our way toward the grand hall.
With each step I take, my heart beats louder. For a moment I wonder how bad the consequences would be if I turned left instead of right and made a run for it.
They say when you die, your life flashes in front of your eyes. My death is approaching quickly, but it’s at this moment that my life flashes before my eyes. The only memory I have of my mother, chasing the three of us around the garden – before Declan turned into a shell of a person driven by money and power. The image of Scarlet and I jumping on my bed with feather boas and heart-shaped sunglasses, giving my stuffed animals a concert. But they quickly turn dark as I remember the blood that stained her sheets and the vacant look her lifeless body gave me before I was forcefully pulled away from her. The heat of the flames that melted my skin to muscle.
I know I can’t turn away. This is the only chance I have to deliver justice. We turn right and pause in front of two large cherry wood doors. This is it.
“Please stand for the bride,” The announcement is made and the door swings open.
I haven’t been able to choose many things in my life. Each decision from school to friends to where I live and what I do has been chosen for me. Mostly by the men in my life. But not this.
This is my choice.
I choose this.
My eyes are closed. Inhale. One, two, three, four. Declan pulls me to begin my walk. Exhale. One, two, three, four. I open my eyes.
Staring down the aisle, I’m met with the blackest eyes that look like they want to devour me. My breath is caught in my throat and my mind tries to catch up to me.
We march down the aisle, although I feel like I am floating. If Declan weren’t holding my arm, I’m certain I would drift away. My mind finally understands what is happening when we reach the base of the steps leading up to the priest. His strong hand accepts mine from Declan and he pulls me close.
“You?” I whisper as if we are conspiring against everyone in the room.
“Me.” Ryder flashes me a sinful smirk and brings the back of my fingers to his lips.
I break our gaze and look past Ryder to his brothers who are serving as groomsmen. Seeing them in the news is nothing compared to real life. I recognize Luca immediately and hide my embarrassment when I see Phillipe, only to look back at a grinning Ryder. Turning to take in the massive room full of people, I can feel my chest begin to tighten and I feel flush.
“Eyes on me, sparrow,” he demands with a squeeze of my hand and I immediately obey.
It is a relatively short service with a more modern agenda. When it is time for rings, I panic, having no one to hand my bouquet to. He gently takes the satin flowers and hands them to one of the men behind him, who accepts without hesitation.
My face relaxes as we each take our gold bands from the priest and begin our vows. I say each word with intention and promise, but there is a darkness surrounding us. I walked into this eyes wide open, but for some reason, I feel like I’m selling my soul to the devil.
We speak the remaining vows in unison, somehow entranced by this experience. I’m sure we are not speaking much louder than a whisper as if our oath is meant to be heard only by our souls.
“…Until death do us part,” we each conclude.
“You may now kiss your bride,” the priest elatedly announces to my husband.
If he can sense my fear, he doesn’t show me. He steps toward me, bringing me in close before brushing a loose curl from my cheek. His eyes seem dangerous and owning as he brings his lips to mine. I’ve traded one sentence for another. The joy and anguish are not lost in the moment, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve been struck by a lightning bolt and the warm sensation pulls deep into my belly as his lips take mine.
He pulls away without a smile. Concern maybe? Could he feel what I was hiding? His expression was a curious one.
Clapping erupts around us and our attention is demanded by the crowd.
“Good girl, little sparrow,” he says, his lips touching the shell of my ear. I have to look away as his words slap me right in my core.
Ryder leads us back down the aisle and to the dressing room as music plays.
I don’t know if I’m mad or completely relieved. He is the most handsome of the brothers, but now I felt like the fucking punchline of a joke. I had every intention of getting through today by focusing on the prize. Not a husband, but the sweet taste of revenge as I plant my blade into the neck of the man who took everything from me before making him melt in the same flames he used against us. Now, the most handsome man I’ve ever seen is holding my hand and dragging me back to a room where we’ll be alone. Part of me wonders if I should just start a kill list and add his name to it. The other is telling me to let this man do outrageously dirty things once the door is shut.
“I’m sure you have questions,” he begins after shutting the door.