Page 72 of Twisted Prince
A gasp of breath rushes from my lungs, and my heart tightens painfully to know Gleb came looking for me—that he found me here, and that I was so close to having an entirely different encounter with him tonight.
“D-Did he say what he came by for?” I ask, unable to keep my voice steady as my emotions wreak havoc on my vocal cords.
“Just that he was an old friend and hoped to catch you before work. He said he would try another time, but…”
Suddenly, Kieri’s expression turns troubled, and as the teapot releases a shrill whistle, we both jump.
“Sheesh,” she gasps, pushing off the table to collect two mugs from the cabinet and prepare our peppermint tea. She returns a moment later, setting a mug before me as she settles back into her chair.
“But what, kupuna?” I ask, scarcely daring to breathe.
Kieri shakes her head, her lips curling at the Hawaiian title I would only dole out to my most respected elders. “I’m sorry, Melody, but Gabby slipped past me while I was trying to turn him away, and she did something I’ve never seen her do with anybody but you.”
My breath catches as I wait for her to explain.
“You know how you touch foreheads and noses?” Kieri gestures with her hands.
“Honi,” I say, my heart beating faster by the second.
“Yeah. She did that. Without prompting. I was trying to catch her and bring her back inside. But she kind of… held her arms out, asking him to pick her up. And when he did, she gave him a honi.” Kieri shook her head.
“Then what happened?” I ask, my heart breaking at the thought of my baby meeting her father and somehow just… knowing.
Kieri shrugs. “He handed her back to me and thanked me for my time. I was so terrified that he might kidnap her at first and then so baffled by her behavior… I don’t think I handled the situation appropriately at all. I’m sorry if it caused you trouble at Pearl’s.”
“No—” I choke on unshed tears and swallow painfully at the story. “No, not at all. It’s just…” I shake my head, unable to manage the well of emotion rising inside of me. “I agreed to marry Mr. Kelly’s cousin tonight. Vincent Kelly.”
“You… what?” Kieri frowns, her hands wrapping around her tea mug as I take a sip of the scalding liquid.
I should tell her about Gleb. I should talk about everything he said to me. How desperately I wanted to say yes and follow him back to New York.
Especially after hearing what happened between him and Gabby, it tears me apart to know that they share some inexplicable bond, something like the intangible one that draws me to him so undeniably.
But I can’t.
Because tonight I broke it. That same bond that brought him back to me years after I ran away. I could feel it snap like an overstrained piano wire.
He’s going back to New York. And I’ll never see him again.
“I don’t love him,” I state, choking on the words. “Vinny. But I know it was the right choice to make.”
“You’re marrying Vincent Kelly, but you don’t love him?” Kieri asks, her eyes widening. “Why?”
Tipping my chin up defiantly, I push aside all the doubt and anxiety that churn inside me. “It was the right decision for me. He offered me comfort and luxury—anything I need. Besides, it’s not a big deal. He’ll probably tire of me eventually and toss me aside once he’s done with me. Then, I can regain my freedom and have all the money I need to support Gabby.”
“Melody,” Kieri chastises, her grave gaze motherly. “The Kellys are serious Catholics. They take marriage as a binding contract made before the eyes of God. It’s no small thing if you’ve agreed to marry Vinny. You’ll be bound for life.”
My lungs seize, trapping the air inside as she hits me with a truth I was not at all prepared for. Does that mean there’s no way out? I’ve promised myself to a madman who can promise me misery for the rest of my agonizing days on this earth.
Kieri grips my hand affectionately, her face riddled with concern. “Vincent Kelly might tire of you eventually, but that won’t let you out of your contract. Death is the only thing that might.”
My heart pounds at her confession, the words slowly sinking in. So if Vinny gets tired of me, he’ll just kill me? What would happen to sweet little Gabby? Fear strangles my chest, and I try to swallow. Lifting my mug of tea, I gulp down scaling peppermint tea. And I set the mug down with a gasp.
I’m still glad if I managed to save Gleb’s life—after all, I owe my life to him many times over.
But for the first time, I’m starting to wonder if I made a terrible mistake by not agreeing to leave with Gleb when he asked me in the first place.
My doubt made me hesitate.
