Page 141 of Fix You

“You may be seated,” the priest instructed.

After the crowd sat down, the priest smiled at Drea and me. A low whine began in my ear, drowning out his words. I watched as his mouth moved, but I didn’t hear anything. I just felt coldand adrift. Like I was on a sinking ship looking out at the vast ocean just waiting to drown me in its choppy waves.

No, I couldn’t fucking do this.

I had to save myself. I’d managed somehow to help Maeve fix herself, but all along, she wasn’t the only one who needed saving. I had to fix myself, and the only way I could do that was with Maeve by my side.

The safety of those I loved was always an issue as long as we stayed in the underworld. The same could be said for our businesses–they would always be a target. As much as I wanted to save my family and my livelihood, I couldn’t do that if I was bound in a miserable marriage and depressed out of my fucking mind.

When Drea squeezed my hand, I shook my head. “I’m sorry. What?”

The priest gave me a funny look. “I said repeat after me. I, Raphael Alessio Neretti, take you, Andrea Cecilia Caruso, to be my wife. I promise to–”

“No.”

As gasps and murmurs rang through the crowd, the priest’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

I squeezed Andrea’s hands. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t marry you.”

Relief flashed on her face. “It’s okay.”

A growl erupted behind us. “It’s certainlynotokay!” Edoardo shouted.

As Andrea and I whirled around to face him, Edoardo sprang from his seat. With a menacing expression, he demanded, “Did I not make myself clear before what would happen if you backed out of this wedding, or would you like to have every single Neretti business go up in smoke?”

“Yes, you did. But I can’t do this. It’s not fair to Andrea or myself.”

“Youvigliacco bastardo!”

I held my hands up. “I’ll find a way to make this insult up to you.”

“You’ve made a fool out of me in front of my family and friends. There isnoway to make up this insult except through a marital alliance.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “I won’t do it.”

“I didn’t want it to have to be this way, but you’ve forced my hand.”

At that moment, Edoardo reached into his suit pocket. After jerking out a gun, he pointed it at me. Shrieks and screams erupted around us. Guests started emptying the pews and sprinting to the exits.

Leo rushed past me to jerk Andrea behind him. “You’re no man of honor if you came carrying to a wedding,” I spat.

It was an unwritten rule that weapons of any kind were forbidden at weddings and funerals. Not even bodyguards were to carry anything. It was a means to show mutual trust between families.

With a glare, Edoardo countered, “Deep down I knew you were going to try to weasel your way out of this.”

“Are you going to force me at gunpoint to marry your daughter?”

Edoardo gave me a maniacal grin. “You catch on fast.”

“Father, no,” Drea pleaded.

“I won’t marry her. Not when I love someone else.” My gaze sought out Callum’s who was shielding Caterina. “There’s no one else in the world for me but Maeve.”

“Dammit, Rafe, not this bullshit again,” Callum growled.

“I mean it with all my heart and soul. She is the sun in my dark world. I can’t imagine a life where she isn’t by my side.”

Tears welled in Caterina’s eyes while Callum remained stony-faced. “Will you give me consent to ask for her hand?” I asked.

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