Chapter 56
Fifty-Six
Daphne
Champagne flutes, makeup, and curling irons covered nearly every surface of my bedroom in the castle. The morning sunshine spilled into the room while birds chirped on my balcony.
I’d offered Blair my room to get ready for her wedding.
When she’d first told me she and Enzo were eloping in Calira, I’d laughed, convinced she was messing with me. No way would the Marchettis not hold some huge, elaborate wedding, and no way would Enzo come here after what I’d done.
But Blair wanted it, and unless it placed her in harm’s way, Enzo gave Blair whatever she wanted.
She and Enzo had arrived last night, along with Cristian and half the Mafia. Blair and I had stayed up talking until sunrise, deciding sleep was less important than cramming two months of friendship into one night.
My grandfather had arranged to close a portion of the beach for the ceremony. Instead of a cathedral packed with hundreds of guests, they’d gone with something intimate.
I’d overheard my mom and grandfather saying that Monster Marchetti had donated over two million dollars to different charities here in exchange for great Caliran hospitality and privacy.
Gemma, Alessia, and Seraphina joined us this morning.
It had been awkward at first. Conversations kept stalling when I joined them. They knew the truth about me now. But after a few hours, the weirdness had melted away, replaced by inside jokes and laughter.
I missed this so damn much.
Elodie had taken it upon herself to help us with our dresses.
Blair didn’t have a dress code for the bridesmaids or me, the maid of honor. She simply told us to wear whatever we felt comfortable in. As much as I wanted to wear pink, I was in Calira, which meant my strapless gown was green.
A knock on the door cut my champagne sip short.
The door cracked open, and Adelina poked her head inside.
For a split second, it felt like old times. Back when she’d barged into my room at Saint Vale without knocking.
I grinned and waved her inside.
She opened the door but hesitated before stepping inside.
I wanted to run across the room and wrap her in the biggest hug of my life, but I stayed where I was.
Blair had warned me Adelina was coming, but hadn’t said much else or if Adelina would even speak to me. The fact that she’d come here was the best sign I could’ve hoped for.
She said her hellos and hugged the other girls. I tried not to notice I was the only one she didn’t touch.
“Can we go somewhere private and talk?” she asked me.
“Of course,” I replied, surprised by how steady I kept my voice. “Is the balcony okay?”
She glanced toward the open doors before nodding.
The others pretended they weren’t watching as Adelina and I slipped out onto the balcony.
Neither of us spoke while we settled into the wrought iron chairs overlooking the sea. Waves crashed, filling the silence between us.
“I wanted to see you before the ceremony,” she said quietly. “So things wouldn’t feel strange at the wedding.”
This isn’t forgiveness. It’s damage control for Blair’s wedding.
No one likes drama at nuptials. Especially a Mafia wedding.
Tears fell down my cheeks, and I didn’t care they were messing up my makeup. “Adelina …” My voice broke. “I’m so sorry.”
Adelina stared at the water instead of me. “Why didn’t you tell me, Daphne?” A tear slipped free, and she swiped it away almost angrily. “Why didn’t you trust me?”
“I did,” I whispered. “I just … I didn’t want you to hate me.”
When she finally faced me, her lower lip trembled. “My mom told me everything.”
I didn’t say a word, afraid to assume what everything meant.
“About the affair. Your mom. Her losing her baby. I can’t even begin to imagine your pain or where your head was.
” She reached over and wrapped her hand around mine.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m not still hurt, and I can’t promise that everything will go back to normal overnight. But I love you too much to lose you.”
A small, shaky smile finally broke through. “It’ll take time … maybe a lot of time, but I don’t want a future where we’re not friends.”
I matched her smile. “I don’t want that either.”
We were both crying, sniffling messes.
I had no idea if Brooks was coming, nor did I have the guts to ask anyone.
No one had mentioned him all day, so I convinced myself he wasn’t coming.
Gentle waves rolled onto the shore as we waited for the ceremony to start.
Rows of wooden chairs were arranged neatly in the sand, nearly all filled with guests—most of them looking absolutely murderous, like the Mafia men they were.
The wedding wasn’t until sunset, so I was a bit … no, a lot tipsy. Pretty sure everyone in the bridal party shared the same champagne buzz, including the bride.
Enzo had snuck into my room earlier.
It didn’t surprise me he didn’t care about the tradition of not seeing his bride before the wedding.
He took one look at Blair, grinned, then kissed her.
Cristian was Enzo’s best man, and he’d just walked down the aisle with his wife. That left me with no partner.
Every few minutes, I looked down the beach, searching for a familiar blond head that never appeared.
Each time I didn’t see him, I hated myself a little more for checking.
I was up next, right in front of Seraphina, to walk down the aisle.
Nico wandered over, one hand shoved into his pocket, like walking me down the aisle was the equivalent of the death penalty.
I couldn’t blame him. I’d betrayed the Sons. I was surprised any of them were willing to breathe the same air as me, let alone offer me their arm.
Brooks isn’t here.
Nico had barely reached me when another voice cut through the air.
“No.”
I knew that voice.
Nico stopped.
Brooks stepped between us.
He didn’t spare me a glance. Only kept staring at Nico. “Move.”