Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Ciara
“This is pointless,” Cormac grumbles to me as I look at wedding dresses.
Normally, it’s customary to bring women with you when you try on wedding dresses but it’s just me, my brother, and my dad.
No women in my life. But right now, with Cormac breathing down my neck, I wish I still had my mom around.
“What is?” I murmur, pulling out a frilly dress before putting it back on the rack.
“You. Picking out a wedding dress. I’ll kill Marco before you can marry him.” He glances at our dad who’s across the room, speaking with the sale’s woman. “You don’t need to go through this.”
“What if you can’t?” I snap, making Cormac take a step back from me. “What if you can’t kill Marco before I have to marry him? I’ll need a wedding dress then.”
He looks at me for a long moment before speaking. “Do you want to marry him?”
“No,” I scoff but my fingers run along the scar on my arm.
I had the stitches removed a week ago but the scar will remain for a long time.
And in that time, I haven’t been able to stop thinking of how Marco saved me from that man.
We haven’t spoken since but I want to and I’m not sure if that’s a problem or not.
“I just… I’m being practical. You haven’t succeeded in killing him yet and the wedding is coming up really soon. So…”
“I will kill him. I just have to find the right time. After you got hurt…”
I look at him sharply. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… I don’t want to risk you getting hurt.”
“But I thought you said those men who came after Marco were not from you.”
“They weren’t,” he says, looking me right in the eye. “I’m just saying I don’t want you to get hurt again. I have to be smart about this. That’s all.”
Slowly, I nod before turning back to the dresses, though something in my gut doesn’t quite believe Cormac. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if he sent those men after Marco and is just lying about it. But why? It was an accident I was there. I wouldn’t blame Cormac for that.
“And I have to be smart about my future. There’s a good chance I’ll end up married to Marco and I would like to pick out my own wedding dress, thank you very much. If I have to marry him, I want to make some choices in the wedding. I need that. Since I don’t get a say in who my husband will be.”
But will it be so bad to marry Marco? I mean, he is handsome and he did save my life. Those are not bad attributes. Yes, he’s an Italian but that doesn’t really bother me the way it does Cormac.
“You shouldn’t choose that dress,” Cormac mutters, nodding at the dress in my hands. It’s slinky and silky. “You should wear something more modest.”
“I can wear what I want. You’re not Dad.”
“No but I will take over when Dad’s gone one day.”
“Are you saying you’ll control my life then?” I shake my head, walking away from him. “I want to wear a dress I choose. You don’t get a say.”
“I am your brother,” he says, following right behind.
“So? That doesn’t mean you get a say in my wedding dress. I didn’t even invite you to come along. You just decided to come with when I announced I was going to choose a dress.” I pick up my pace and enter one of the changing rooms. That finally gets Cormac to leave me alone.
The dress is sexy on me. A tight bodice with a slight flare silky skirt that shows off the outline of my body well. The off-shoulder straps add an elegant element to the dress. It’s definitely a risqué wedding dress but nothing inappropriate. I love it. It’s completely me.
I leave the changing room to show my dad and brother. They both take one look at the dress and instantly shake their heads.
“No,” Cormac says.
“I agree,” Dad adds.
“No?” I scoff. “Why not? I look great in it.”
“Because you’re not a prostitute, Ciara,” Dad explains like I’m five. “I want my daughter wearing something respectable on her wedding day.”
“I don’t look like a prostitute, Dad. You’re being dramatic. I look good in this dress. It’s classy and sexy at the same time. I’m fully covered. No cleavage showing. No leg showing. What’s the problem?”
“You should wear something more like… this.” Dad grabs a princess-like dress off the rack and holds it up.
“Ugh.” I shudder. “No. You may treat me like I’m a princess but that’s not my style. Never has been. You’re making me marry Marco. I don’t have a say. So I will get a say in what dress I wear. Now, I am choosing this one. Deal with it.”
Dad sighs, slowly nodding his head. “You make a good point.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” He was always easy to manipulate whenever I wanted something.
“You’re just going to agree with her wearing that?” Cormac asks our Dad.
“Your sister deserves to choose her own wedding dress. If she wants to wear that one then…” Dad makes an uncomfortable face. “Then so be it.”
“What will Marco think?” Cormac asks me. “Since you seem to care what he thinks of you.”
I go still. “Why would you say that?”
“Ever since you got hurt, you’re opinion has changed on the man. You seem to… like him now.” I’ve never heard the word ‘like’ sound so dirty before.
“I don’t like Marco,” I say on instinct.
“He saved my life is all. That… means something. And I think he’ll like this.
” Actually, I’m sure he’ll hate this. Marco seems a little old-fashioned.
Doesn’t help that he’s twenty years older than me.
But he has no say either. He can’t stop me from walking down the aisle in this dress.
Cormac huffs. “Ciara, you’re acting crazy if you think you’re going to wear that dress.”
I storm over to him and it forces him to take a step back. “I am going to wear this. I love this dress. I will go along with this wedding if it means I get to choose my own dress. Dad is in agreement. So it doesn’t matter what you think.”
“I’m next in line after Dad is.”
“But Dad is still here. So you’re not in charge. I am wearing this dress.” I nod at the sale’s woman. “I’m buying this one.”
Dad looks uncertain but agrees to it while Cormac is fuming. Fine. I don’t care what my brother thinks of me. He was unable to kill Marco when he had the chance and now I have to marry him.
Besides, I’m not even sure I want Marco dead anymore.
All I know is that if I’m going to be controlled in my life, I’m going to make some decisions of my own.
The wedding day comes faster than I realized it would and in that time, Cormac failed at killing Marco.
My brother doesn’t say a word to me on the drive to the church. He still doesn’t approve of my dress and he definitely doesn’t approve of my marriage to Marco. But I have to do this. Dad won’t give me another choice.
My fingers skim along my scar on my forearm and once again, I think of Marco saving my life. I can’t get it out of my head. My scar is a constant reminder.
Dad takes my arm and leads me into the church while Cormac sulks behind us.
“You go on ahead,” Dad tells Cormac.
With a nod and a cold look in my direction, Cormac walks into the main church. I get a glimpse of the people waiting in the pews. Mostly my father’s people. Hardly any of Marco’s.
“Dad, are you sure about this?” I ask. “Marrying me to Marco?”
“He and I can achieve a lot together. I believe it. And he’s already showed I can trust him by saving your life. I know this will work out. Trust me.”
“I just wish I had gotten a say in who I could marry.”
“I know, my darling. But thank you for doing this and being more mature about it than your brother.”
“Cormac is stubborn.”
“I know he doesn’t approve but he’ll come around. I believe it. Now, it’s time for you to get married.”
The church doors open and the music swells and I step into the aisle. All of our guests rise to their feet. Marco stands at the end of the aisle, looking handsome in his navy suit. Granted, he always looks handsome. He’s just one of those men who has aged better the older he’s gotten.
I keep my head held high. The last thing I want is to show I’m afraid and nervous. Marco will not get that from me.
We reach the end of the aisle and my dad places my hand in Marco’s.
The moment Marco’s hand envelopes mine, I feel a tingle of electricity.
With a gasp, I look up and meet his eyes.
There’s a darkness to them but there’s also…
a sensuality there. Marco wants me. I can tell.
I remember the boys I tried to date in high school who wanted me.
The way they looked. Marco’s expression is similar but unlike those boys, Marco is a man. A dangerous man.
I swallow hard.
Once I’m standing before Marco, Dad sits down beside Cormac, who’s scowling. The priest starts the ceremony, going on and on about love and respect and honor. This is it. No getting out of this now. Marco will be my husband.
“Do you, Marco Amato, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Marco says without a hint of hesitation.
“And do you, Ciara Sullivan, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
My eyes flick to my brother and father. Dad gives me a nod of encouragement while Cormac’s face is filled with fury.
I turn back to Marco. “I do,” I answer, knowing I have no other choice.
And that’s when I hear my brother shout, “No!” All eyes turn to him as he jumps to his feet and storms over to Marco. He shoves me out of the way and pulls out a knife, trying to stab my new husband. Marco stumbles back, narrowly avoiding getting hit.
“Cormac!” Dad’s thunderous voice booms across the room. “Stop this at once!”
But Cormac isn’t listening. He keeps running at Marco with his knife.
Marco manages to punch Cormac in the face, sending my brother stumbling back.
“I will not let you marry my sister,” Cormac hisses. He raises his knife high.
Dad’s hand wraps around Cormac’s wrist and forces him to drop the knife. “Stop this right now, son. Right now.”
Cormac stares at our dad in disbelief. “You’re really going to make your own daughter marry this man?”
“It’s for the best for our family. You will do well to remember that. Now, go sit down. We have to finish the ceremony.”
“Fuck that,” Cormac hisses before storming down the aisle and walking out of the church.
Dad lets out an awkward chuckle, running his hands down his jacket. “Sorry about that. Ciara, Marco… let’s finish this.”
“You just expect us to carry on like nothing happened?” I ask.
“Yes.” Dad’s tone speaks to no disagreements. “This marriage is happening. Now, everyone, let’s return to normal. Finish the ceremony.”
After a beat, the priest continues speaking. Marco looks rattled as he stands before me. The guests all look scared out of their minds and I can’t blame them.
And when the priest says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” I know my life is forever changed. I am married to an Italian man my brother hates.
Something tells me things are only going to get harder from now on.