Page 115 of Goldrage
“I need to tell you something,” she says. “After the ceremony. There are… fuck, there are things I’ve kept from you. Big things. Things that might change how you see me. And I think it’s finally time you know, now that life is more settled.”
My heart thumps unsteady, but I don’t let go of her hand. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”
“You don’t get it?—”
“No,youdon’t get it.” I pull her into a hug as a lump forms in my throat. What is it about wedding days that gets everyone so damn emotional? “We survived the Consortium. We survived Julian’s obsession and Lady Harrow’s torture. We survived betrayal and bullets and every nightmare they threw at us. Whatever secrets you’re carrying, they can’t be worse than what we’ve already faced together.”
A tear escapes, flowing down her cheek. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because you’re my sister. Not by birth, but by choice. By fire. By every moment you stood beside me when you could have run. I don’t care what you’ve done or what you’ve hidden. You’re mine, Eleanora. My family. And soon, that’ll be official. You’re marrying my cousin, remember?”
She laughs, wet and broken. “Maybe. I’m still undecided about that. I mean, I don’t even like the guy.”
Liar.
“Well, you’ve helped save my life more times than I can count. So I’m so thankful for you.”
“I feel the same,” she whispers, pulling me into a fierce embrace. Her arms shake around me. “About you. About… all of it. You’re my family too. The only real family I’ve ever had.”
We stay like that, holding each other while my baby kicks between us. Finally, Eleanora decides she’s done with feelings and her amused smirk returns. “Anyway. Your makeup’s going to run, so stop it.”
I laugh. “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be a mess at the altar.”
As Eleanora carefully dabs at my eyes, her walls rebuild themselves brick by brick. But I’ve seen behind them now. Whatever she’s hiding, whatever weight she carries, we’ll face it. After everything, what’s one more secret between sisters?
“There.” She steps back. “Perfect. Now go get your man.”
The door opens before I can respond. Lorenzoappears, looking devastating in his tuxedo. Roby is bouncing beside him like a mini doppelganger. My cousin’s eyes soften when he sees me.
“Dio mio,” he breathes. “Adrian’s going to lose his mind.”
“Cugina!” Roby launches himself at me, stopping just short when Lorenzo catches his shoulder.
“Careful, piccolo. Your cousin is carrying precious cargo.”
Roby’s eyes go wide as saucers. “Can I feel the baby again?”
I take his small hand, pressing it to where the baby kicks. The wonder on Roby’s face makes my throat tight. “Soon you’ll have someone new to play with.”
“I’ll teach her everything!” He bounces on his toes. “Football and lots of stuff!”
Lorenzo’s gaze shifts to Eleanora, something soft and private passing between them. My breath catches at the naked adoration there. Whatever my friend fears about their future, she hasn’t woken up to how this man looks at her.
“Ready?” Lorenzo offers me his arm.
I take it, letting him steady me. We make our way through the villa, my family’s ancestral home. Sunlight turns ancient stone walls golden. Voices drift from the garden, a mix of Italian and English.
“He’s nervous,” Lorenzo says as we pause at the garden doors. “Keeps adjusting his tie. Someone had to confiscate his phone before he wore out the screen checking the time.”
My Adrian. Nervous? It’s so hard to imagine.
The doors open. A string quartet starts playing something sweet and timeless. Three hundred roses line the aisle, their perfume mixing with orange blossoms. But I don’t see any of it.
I only see Adrian.
He stands at the altar in a black tuxedo. He’s so devilishly handsome that I swoon a little. Then Adrian turns. Our eyes meet.
He drops to his knees.
