She flinched when he reached for her.
Her silence speaks volumes, and with sudden clarity I realize the answer has been in front of me this entire time.
I feel my monster clawing his way out, and this time I have no intention of pushing him away.
August is hurting the love of my life. Physically, and likely threatening her in some way. Vincenza is a strong woman. She wouldn’t agree to marry him—especially if he’s putting his hands on her—unless there is something monumental being held against her.
I canfeelit. Hear it in the words she doesn’t speak aloud.
But I have no proof. Not yet, anyway.
As the monster within me claws closer to the surface, I know what must be done. A plan begins to form in my mind and I know exactly how I can guarantee Vinnie’s safety for the rest of our lives.
Leaving was the worst thing I could have done for us, and it’s time to start making up for lost time.
The first thing I need to do is get her far, far away from August.
Then I’ll ensure he never sees the light of day again.
Chapter 11
Vinnie
“You seem off, sister,” Luciano tells me as we take a corner table at the small cafe down the street from my office. It’s rare our lunch breaks align, but I moved an appointment to take Luce up on his invitation.
I busy myself by placing a napkin in my lap. When I look back up at my brother, he’s watching me closely.
Shrugging, I say, “Pre-wedding jitters.”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Why don’t you stop lying through your teeth and tell me what’s going on with you? Your wedding is tomorrow. You look like one of my clients, not a woman who’s getting married in less than twenty-four hours.”
Luciano is one of the most prominent divorce attorneys in Manhattan and recently gave all the wives on the Upper East and West Side something to talk about when he decided to do the exact opposite of his partner, Simon Gamble, and align himself with only female clients whose husbands were ready to run them through the financial wringer.
My brother has a knack for sniffing out lies like a bloodhound.
“Do you want the truth?” I ask, then bite my tongue as the waitress comes over with our quiche and cappuccinos on a tray. I smile at her as she sets them down. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Enjoy,” she tells us both with minimal eye contact before she walks away.
“Obviously,” my brother quips in a bored tone. He still hasn’t stopped scrutinizing me and I shift uncomfortably under his gaze.
“The wedding is a farce,” I tell him, tilting my chin upward to push my strength forward. All I want to do is cry. “I’m not marrying August because I love him. I don’t even like the man. Hate him, in fact. I’m marrying August because I have to.”
Luciano rolls his eyes and shakes his head again. “Baby sister, do you think I’m dense? Anyone with eyes can see that you despise August. The question is,whyare you marrying him? What does he have on you?”
Anger suddenly overtakes me, my temper rising so quickly I have to force myself to keep my voice low. “Why do you think he has something on me?”
“Surely you aren’t agreeing to this just to make Mother and Father happy.”
“I—” My stomach roils, and I look down at my hands situated in my lap. How do I tell him that the life of the man I love is on the line? “It’s not as cut and dry as you’re making it out to be.”
“Everything can be simplified, Vinnie. So I’m going to ask you again. Why are you marrying a man you have no feelings for?”
Sly’s face flashes through my mind as I decide how much I want to tell my brother. He’s never been one to conform to the feud between our two families—he’s always been more of the black sheep—but he grew up in the same toxicity I did and with that, the seed was planted from a young age.
Still, I long to confide in someone other than Cecilia, and my brother has always been there for me. Growing up, he was my protector, and though we’ve drifted apart over the years, I feel like confiding in him may just bridge the gap between us.
Picking up my cappuccino, I take a sip and gather my thoughts.
