Page 140 of Fix You

Although I wanted to tear the room apart in a rage, I honored Maeve by keeping my emotions in check. Instead, I just sat there, clinging desperately to the last strands of my sanity.

While I knew what I had to do, there was a part of me that wanted to call Gianni and have him start hunting for her. But I knew that would come with a cost. Caruso had proven that he wasn’t going to back down. After arson and murdering a pet, his next step would be loss of life.

Once again, I had to honor my love for Maeve by doing what she wished.

With dread in my heart, I picked up my phone. When Caruso answered on the second ring, I said only two words before I hung up.

“You win.”

Chapter Twenty-Thirty: Raphael

With my head buried in my hands, I sat outfitted in a form fitting designer tux in one of the preparation rooms of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. It was the church that generations of Carusos had held their wedding ceremonies in. Dirty money had changed hands to ensure that today’s date was available for the ceremony many were calling the Wedding of the Year.

While today might’ve been my wedding day, it felt more like my funeral.

Considering how dead inside I felt, it might as well have been my funeral. It had been three weeks since I’d heard anything from Maeve. Although I’d promised not to hunt her to bring herback, I couldn’t stand not knowing where she was. Her phone number was no longer working. She’d disappeared from both the states and Ireland. Only Kellan knew where she’d gone, and he wouldn’t even tell his brothers, least of all me, where she had gone.

At the feel of a hand at my back, I pulled my hands away from my face. Peering up at Leandro, he gave me a reassuring smile. “Just say the word, and we’ll get the hell out of here.”

Gianni snorted. “And face the wrath of the Carusosagain?” He smacked a hand on my back. “Sorry bro, but it’s too fucking late to run now.”

“It’s never too late say fuck it all and go after Maeve,” Leo protested.

“Since when are you a romantic?” Gianni challenged.

With a shrug, Leo replied, “I’m not. I just hate seeing him like this.”

I shook my head. “No, G’s right. It’s too late.”

Grimacing, Leonardo replied, “It’s a damn shame that you and Drea have to be so fucking miserable.”

At the mention of my bride to be, I cocked my brows in surprise at him. “You saw her this morning?”

An odd look flickered in Leo’s eyes before he replied, “No. I meant last night at the rehearsal dinner.”

Leandro was right. Drea had appeared pale and withdrawn. She’d barely eaten anything before excusing herself. Guilt ate at me that I was the one who was bringing her such misery. We were both thoroughly fucked and not in the good way.

One of the many people working with the wedding coordinator poked their head inside the room. “It’s time for the groom and groomsmen to take their places at the altar,” the man said.

At the roll of my stomach, Gianni replied, “We’re coming.”

Reluctantly, I rose out of my chair. With each step I took, the ache in my chest twisted tighter and tighter. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine this was Maeve’s and my wedding day. That I was heading to the altar where I would be joined with her.

But fate was a cruel motherfucker.

Leo and Gianni fell in step beside me. I drew on the strength radiating from them. Despite my despair, I was doing the right thing. In the end, I was saving the lives of the people I loved by joining with the Carusos.

Once we took our place at the top of the altar, the Bridal March started up, sending the crowd to their feet. With the sound of the organ booming through me, my throat tightened, and I fought to breathe.

The double doors opened to reveal Drea. She appeared in an elegant dress with her veil held in place by a glittering tiara. She looked every bit the mafia princess she was.

Edoardo walked her up the aisle with a satisfied smirk. His evident gloating irritated me to no end. More than anything, I hated how his cowardly actions had forced me into a corner.

When Edoardo and Drea reached the altar, I held out my hand. Drea remained frozen, staring past me over my shoulder as if she was searching for an exit to make a run for.

“Andrea!” Edoardo hissed.

His words shook her out of the stupor, and her gaze snapped to me. Tears shone in her eyes as she slipped her trembling hand into mine. Of all the scenarios I’d painted in my mind of my wedding day, a reluctant, scared out of her mind bride wasn’t one of them.

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