Page 106 of Vow

Lucian smiled softly. “On that, you are most wrong. Things always appear one way to those who are on the outside looking in on our life, and for that, we can’t apologize. But I assure you that when Andino says you are what he wants, then you are what we will give him.”

“Has he?”

“What?”

“Said that. Has he?”

Lucian flicked that cigarette down the steps, and climbed the last few stairs to come stand at Haven’s side. He offered his arm, and she only stared down at it. “Go ahead and take it. You and I will sit in the back together, and watch just how my nephew decides to tell the world—and the rest of them who haven’t figured it out yet—exactly what kind of man he is willing to be, and all the things he wants, Haven.”

She still hesitated. “I don’t understand.”

“I was told you didn’t give him the chance to explain. Might that be why you don’t know?”

It definitely was.

She was regretting that now.

Haven took Lucian’s arm even knowing that it might mean more pain. She took his offer to find out the things she hadn’t bothered to ask. Even knowing that it would mean she was likely going to miss her flight, and all over again, upset her entire life and world.

She took his arm because what did she have to lose now?

She’d already lost it all.

Haven just wanted to get it back.

• • •

Sitting in the pew with Lucian beside her, Haven was momentarily distracted by the size of the church. Sure, the place had looked big from the outside, but not this big. The vaulted ceilings seemed to go on forever. There were at least a hundred rows of pews. Maybe that was being a bit dramatic, but there was a lot. She could see the altar from her position, but just barely.

Lucian smiled over at her. “I remember that feeling.”

“Pardon?”

“The first time I walked into this church as a boy, I was overwhelmed. I was so small, and it was so big. Large spaces bothered me as a child for reasons that don’t matter right now. And even though the place scared me because of its size, it also … well, it comforted me. I have found the greatest comfort behind these walls. I may not seem like a God-fearing man, but we all are. Every Marcello has their own unique relationship with God, but especially this church.”

Haven glanced upward again. “It’s your family’s church?”

“It is.”

Oh.

“I don’t really do church,” Haven admitted. “At least, not since I was a girl.”

Lucian chuckled. “No worries. You’ll get used to it pretty quickly.”

Her brow furrowed at his statement, but he was no longer looking at her. He was glancing down the aisle at something else as though he was entirely unaware that his simple words had made her heart clench in her chest like someone’s fist wrapped around it with no warning.

You’ll get used to it.

Like it was to happen.

No question.

“What do you mean by—”

“Showtime,” Lucian interjected with a smooth smile.

A door opened at the back of the church. Haven’s gaze swung in that direction as Lucian stood from the pew, and everyone else around them followed suit just as fast. Given Haven had already noticed the fact that the altar was empty but for the waiting priest, she knew who would be coming through those doors.