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Stop thinking this way, I told myself.
Guilt followed this train of thought and my misery doubled.
My gaze fell on the photo frames standing on a small round table. Picking up the skirt of my gown, I moved toward them. Most of them were photographs from the time when Dad was healthy and standing on his two legs.
I gazed at the carefree smile on my face. Back then, I felt like a princess in this house. Dad doted on me and gave me the freedom to stay back in the school dorms, although I was coming home on most days to see John, Rafael, and Danny. I had friends and was free to do whatever I liked.
Walking toward a bedside cabinet, I opened the last drawer and took out an old journal. Flicking to the last page, I gazed at an old polaroid photo of me and my three best friends.
A shy but happy smile lit up my face. John and his brothers surrounded me and were grinning broadly. The sun shone down on us. We could’ve never imagined the horror we’d face in the future.
An ache went through me. They died because of me. Callum might’ve spared their lives if he hadn’t seen me kissing them.
But how could I have known that my kiss would turn into a curse?
The sound of hard leather soles slapping against the floor reached my ears. I put the photograph back inside the pages of the journal and kicked the drawer shut.
Callum entered the room next second.
His dark eyes lit up as soon as he saw me. He strode toward me and stopped a few feet away, taking me in from head to foot.
“You’re beautiful, Lucia,” he breathed.
The women from the salon gathered in the corner to watch our exchange. A few of them were even wiping away tears.
I wanted to tell them not to waste their tears and emotions on us. My relationship with Callum was sick and dirty. If they knew what he truly thought of me, they’d all be staring at us in horror.
Callum stepped closer and leaned in. “You look like an angel, Luce,” he whispered in my ear. “I can’t wait to tear that dress off you with my teeth.”
“You’re sick, brother,” I said in a soft whisper so no one would hear us.
Callum straightened, silently fuming at my rejection.
“No matter how you feel, we belong together,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “I’ll make you see the truth of it tonight.”
His words sent a cold shiver through me. I watched him stomp out of the room while the salon ladies stared after him with confused looks.
Within a few hours, I’d forever be locked in a sham marriage. My brother would come to steal the last bits of my soul. My heart would continue to beat but I’ll be dead inside.
I gazed out of the window. The fall sky was a clear blue and the leaves were a shade of gold and coral. It was so beautiful outside.
I wanted to tear off this heavy, beautiful gown off me, jump out of the window and keep running without looking back.
Could I ever escape my brother’s twisted fantasies about me? Was no one coming to save me?
8
Lucia
The wedding ceremony and reception were being held at the grandest hotel in Ashville. Callum booked the entire La Opala for the guests.
I was driven to the venue by the guards Callum appointed for monitoring me. They formed a wall all around me as I slowly walked out of the car and made my way toward the gilded doors of the hotel.
Valets and other hotel staff stared at my entourage. I doubt they’d ever seen a bride walking into their reception area with such tight security.
Looking around the front lobby, I could see preparations were happening at full force.
The place was beautifully decorated with thick garlands and bouquets of white and lavender flowers. A subtle floral scent mingled with the air but every breath of the sweet fragrance choked me.
