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But the floor-length veil ties it all together into the most stunning bridal picture I’ve ever seen.
It steals my breath away. And tears sting my eyes to think that, if I hadn’t so royally screwed things up with Gleb three years ago, I might have had the chance to wear a real wedding dress like this for him.
Still, I would take my wedding with Gleb—rushed and patched together as it was—over this one to Vinny any day.
That thought’s a dangerous one, and I shove it deep down inside me, crushing it before it can destroy me.
Vinny’s phone rings, snapping me from my pity party, and I glance over my shoulder at him as he answers.
“Keoghan, perfect timing. I found?—”
He falls silent, and I imagine Mr. Kelly brushing Vinny’s words aside to talk over him.
“Oh, well, I—Yeah, sure. No problem. I can bring her.” He casts me a sidelong look, his eyes approving as he admires my dress once again. “She’s almost ready anyway.” Hanging up a moment later, he combs his fingers through his blond locks. “Alright, Carrie. Finish up. Boss is calling me in.”
“But I… I haven’t finished hemming it,” she objects, looking at it with concern.
“It’s fine. I’ll be taking it off her shortly anyway,” he says, his eyes glinting as he crosses the room to grip my wrist.
And as he pulls me from the platform, the lewd suggestion sends bile racing up my throat.
“Thanks,” I murmur over my shoulder to the seamstress as he pulls me out the door.
“It couldn’t be better timing, honestly,” Vinny says as he waves me into the car.
Gathering the layers of beautiful fabric, trying not to tear my dress as I climb into the middle seat.
And Vinny keeps talking like he thinks I care. “I’m sure Keoghan’s will be more than happy to bless our union now that all the arrangements have been made. This’ll just save us the trouble of getting him to come to the church.”
Why does it feel like the universe is against me?
Every step of the way, it seems like the stars are aligning for this union. And my last breaths of freedom are vanishing far too quickly. Dread fills me as the car pulls into traffic, taking us to meet Mr. Kelly once again.
I have so many regrets in life—mainly that I never told Gleb I love him and I won’t get to see Gabby grow up. Closing my eyes, I lean back against the headrest, trying to keep my heart from splintering into a million pieces.
The two people I care about most in this world, and I’ll never get to see them again.
I feel the walls closing in around me, like they always do.
And this time, I have nowhere to run, no way to stop the overwhelming sense of claustrophobia that consumes my soul.
“Come on, love. Nap time’s over.” Vinny pops open his door as soon as the Lincoln pulls up to the curb.
I open my eyes to find we’re parked in front of Pearl’s once more. It feels as if the floor has dropped out from under my feet. The red carpet that guides me up the front steps mocks me. As if this is some grand affair. Something to commemorate.
Like some kind of prince charming, Vinny offers me his hand as we climb the stairs. My skin crawls as I take it. And with my other hand, I gather the long layers of my dress so I won’t trip.
Unlike this morning, several of Pearl’s employees are here now, moving about the space. My former manager, Kitty, stops halfway down the steps from the stage when her eyes land on me. And from her look of shock, I know I’m the last person she expected to see. Or maybe it’s the bridal outfit I’m wearing.
Maybe both.
Heat radiates through my cheeks, and I drop my eyes, unable to meet her gaze.
Vinny takes us back toward the wall of mirrors. Toward Keoghan’s office—and the dead traitor in his pool of blood.
My feet grow heavy as we draw nearer, my heart hammering. And I get the terrible sense that I don’t want to know what’s waiting for me behind those doors.
Despite that, Leon and Mishka give us a double-door entrance.
