Page 138 of Deathless & Divided

“Well, I wanted to hear you say it.”

“I’ll wear it,” Lily told him.

“I’ll meet you at the end.”

Not five seconds after Lily couldn’t hear Damian’s footsteps retreating down the hallway, Abriella cooed, “Awe.”

“Shut up, Ella.”

“That man loves you, Lily.”

Lily smiled. “Yeah. He does.”

Lily linked her arm with Dino’s as they waited behind the small progression of the wedding party. Only Abriella, Cara, and a young girl from Damian’s extended family acted as the party for Lily. Tommas would stand as Damian’s best man while Theo filled in for an usher. For such a large guest list, they chose a small party.

Dino patted Lily’s hand softly. It was the first time all morning she had seen her brother and he barely spoke a word to her.

“Are you happy?” Lily asked Dino.

Dino raised a brow at the question. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“I think you already know, Dino.”

“Well, I hoped. I’m glad it worked out.”

Lily decided not to mention a thing about what she knew regarding the shootings, his involvement, or anything even relating to the subject to Dino. Doing so could put Damian in danger from Dino or worse, someone else. Lily wouldn’t do that. Not to Damian.

The doors opened to the church and Cara Rossi gave Lily a small smile before starting her walk down the aisle.

Almost time …

“I’m proud of you, Lily,” Dino said quietly.

Lily hadn’t been expecting that. “Why?”

“Sometimes I look at you and all I see is this little girl who you used to be. I often forget you’re not a child anymore and you’ve seen nearly as much as I have in life. I always thought Theo and I would forever be watching after you and minding you in some way, but you proved us wrong. You don’t need us at all, do you?”

“Why would you ask that, Dino?”

Dino shrugged. “It feels that way today. Instead of handing you off, I’m actually just giving you away. Dad should have been able to do this for you. I don’t think I’m a worthy enough man to stand in his place and do it for him. I need to know you’re going to be okay, Lily.”

“You know I’ll visit you,” Lily said.

No matter what, when they talked about Dino’s upcoming trial or his sentencing possibility, they never discussed it outright. Usually the topic was danced around or vaguely hinted at. Even being as mad and hurt by her brother’s choices as she was, Lily didn’t want to say goodbye to Dino for twenty years.

She didn’t want to say goodbye at all.

Lily watched as the doors opened for Abriella to make her way down the white silk aisle, too.

“You won’t visit,” Dino said, sounding like he was sure of it. “Because I don’t want you to. It’s not the kind of place for someone like you.”

“Fine, then I’ll call.”

Dino sighed, chuckling low. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.”

“I can’t imagine where I learned that from, Dino.”

“The best, of course.”