Page 19 of Bones

We walk out a back door that leads out to the massive grassy property. There’s a red carpet for the aisle, with white chairs on either side of it. At the front of it, there’s a priest, and flowers on top of large white pillars on each side of him. Glancing around quickly, I spot an older man in a seat with a woman beside him, and three men that look like they could be Bones’ brothers. They are all around the same height and stature, although two of them have darker hair than Bones. On the other side are two younger women, and one is Penelope, his sister.

Suddenly, the nausea hits me as he asks, “Ready to do this?”

“Bones, please don’t make me do this.”

He turns to me and cups my cheek. “Butterfly, I have plans for you tonight that do not involve the cage. However, if you force my hand, I will do what I need to. Would you like to get married, or go back to the basement?”

“Get married,” I breathe. That was mistake number one for me, letting him know how I felt about the cage, because now it’ll always be his biggest threat. He said he wouldn’t put me in there again, but I know he will if it gets him what he wants. This is what manipulative assholes do. I told him before I’d never forgive him for this, and I meant it. The sad truth is, I know he doesn’t care. He doesn’t give a shit about me, or how I feel.

Bones wraps his arm around mine, and we begin walking down the aisle in front of the strangers.

“Isn’t the music beautiful?” He asks, but I don’t respond, because I can’t hear anything over the ringing in my ears. Am I going to pass out? I hope not, because I’m sure I’ll wake up in the cage.

Leaning down as we walk down the aisle, he whispers in my ear, “Breathe, Butterfly.”

We reach the priest and he’s talking, I can see his mouth moving, but I can’t hear a single word. Bones reaches forward and strokes his fingers down my cheek, and I hate that it snaps me out of my panic. I hate that it provides any level of comfort for me.

“You need to say your vows, Athena.”

“Repeat after me,” the priest says.

Exhaling a deep breath, I do as he says.

“I take you, Luca Bonetti, to be my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I will love and honor you for all the days of my life.”

Bones takes my hand and places two rings on my finger. “Athena, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

“In so much as Luca and Athena have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

I nearly choke on my saliva hearing him say we have consented to this marriage. Bones pulls me over to his family.

This is the part I haven’t even thought about. If I hesitate, he does not. Bones pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine. Taking my face in his hands, he tilts my head and slides his tongue into my mouth. His kiss is passionate and possessive. The small crowd cheers as he slides his hand down my back and tips me back, making a show for his family. When he lifts me up and breaks our kiss, I’m slightly dazed.

“Athena, this is my mother, Lucia.”

With a smile, I extend my hand to shake hers, and she raises an eyebrow. “Family does not shake hands. We are family now.”

She envelops me into a warm hug, and I’m taken aback as Bones chuckles. Pulling back, she holds my hands and smiles at me affectionately. His mother has dark hair pinned into an updo, and is wearing a classy dark blue dress that falls below the knee. It’s her smile that is the most striking to me; it’s warm. Penelope looks morelike their mother, but Bones favors his father. She lets go of my hands as the man with her clears his throat.

Bones chuckles. “This is my father, Lorenzo.”

He’s far less friendly than his wife, and shakes my hand with a brisk demeanor, and a nod. I guess this is where the asshole comes from. Although I guess this is what you can expect from the man that leads a mafia family.

Bones places his arm around my waist. “Butterfly, these are my brothers; Kage, Reaper, and Psycho.”

I gasp at his words, because those names sound terrifying. If Bones got his nickname from his excitement of breaking bones, why did the others get theirs? Do I even want to know? He chuckles softly as he whispers in my ear, “Yes, wife, it’s exactly what you think, but you’re safe with me.”

Safe with him. Sure, until I piss him off and end up in the cage again.

“And this is Penelope.”

I shake her hand, pretending we’ve never met before, and she does the same.

Bones says, “I’m going to take a moment with my wife. Eat, drink, enjoy yourselves.”

He pulls me to the other side of the massive yard and stares at me. “Are you planning to behave yourself, wife?”

I nod. “Yes. I’ll be the perfect wife tonight. I’ll make you a drink, get you food, whatever you need.”

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