Page 27 of Deceit
My brown hair was styled in an elaborate bun, held together with a diamanteclaspthatmy veil was attached to, and a few curled tendrils were left hanging down to frame my face.
I ripped my gaze away from the mirror. I looked like a princess, but it wasthe last thing I felt.
Sensing my despair, Rafe came to stand next to me, turning me to facehim, and delicately lifting my chin with his fingers. He was wearing a black suit, the same suit everyone in the wedding party would be wearing, with a white carnation tucked into the breast pocket.
“I hate this is happening to you,”he said, his voice low in case any of thestylists packing their makeup and equipment up overheard.“If there was any way I could stop this from happening, I would. In a fucking heartbeat.”
I took his hand, needing comfort from the only person on this planet whocould give me it.“I know you would,”I replied, trying not to let tears form and ruin the makeup the stylist had spent hours doing.
Rafe stepped closer, his mouth to my ear as he whispered,“I’m going to getyou out of this, Sofe. But I need you to be strong while I figure it out.Justhold on for me, and I promise I’ll find a way to end this sham of a marriage.”
Failing to hold the tears back, a droplet slid down my cheek unbidden.“Youand I both know there is no way out. Papa would never let me divorce Miles. It’ll bring shame to the family.”
“There are other ways,”Rafe replied, a darkness to his voice I’d never heardfrom him before.
“Meaning?”Shock coated my voice. Surely he wasn’t implying what Ithought he was, right?
Before he could answer, a knock rapped at the door. I brushed my tearaway as Rafe took a step back, telling whoever was outside to come in.Expecting it to be Papa, both Rafe and I wore equally confused expressions when the last person I thought it would be stepped inside.
“I’m sorry for interrupting,”Kai said, his customary scowl set on his facewhenever he saw my brother. There was no love lost between the two.“I’d like a moment with Sofia. Alone.”
His tone brokered no room for argument, yet Rafe puffed his chest up beforetaking a step to stand protectively in front of me.“Not a fucking chance.”
Kai’s lips twitched into a smirk, his assessing gaze taking in Rafe’s stance.“Let me rephrasethat. Get your ass out of here so I can talk to your sister without you sticking your fucking nose in where it’s not wanted.”
“It amuses methatyou think you have any power to order me around in myown damn house, Wolfe.”
Placing my hand on my brother’s arm, I gave him a placating squeeze. The lastthing I needed was for these two to start arguing. Besides, I was curious about what Kai wanted; we’d neverreallyspoken much before.“It’s okay, Rafe. You can go.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with this maniac,”Rafe sneered, refusing to pullhis glare away from Kai.
“What do you think I’m going to do to her? I’m not going to hurt her. She’sabout to become my family.”
Rafe’s features twisted into sheer outrage. “She willneverbe your family.”
Not giving a damnthathe was antagonizing my brother, Kai’s smirkwidened.“The ring soon to be on her finger says otherwise.”
A deep growl erupted from Rafe’s chest. He went to take a step towardKai, but I quickly yanked his arm, tugging him to look at me.“Rafe, please,justgo. Papa will be here any minute to walk me down the aisle. Let me talk to Mr. Wolfe.”
Betrayal flashed across Rafe’s face, and he opened his mouth to argue, butseeing the silent plea in my eyes, the tension drained from his body, and his shoulders slumped.
“Fine. But I’m waiting outside,”he said, leaning down to give me a lightkiss on the cheek. Turning, he nudged Kai’s shoulder as he barged past him, hissing out a warning.“Don’t fucking make her cry, Wolfe. She’s distraught enough with having to marry your cousin.”
The door slammed behind him, and it was onlythenthatI realized thestylists had at some point vacated the room, leaving me alone with Kai, whose jaw was clenched as he stared over his shoulder at the now closed door.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Wolfe?”I asked nervously, fiddling with thematerial of my dress.
Kai Wolfe was perhaps one of the most intimidating men I’d ever met,andthatsaid a lot, seeing as I’d spent my life surrounded by brutal men who worked for my papa.
His eyes found mine, and his features relaxed. The scowl he’d worn whilespeaking to Rafe disappeared, replaced with a kind smile which didnothingto settle the nerves in my belly.“I meant what I said. You’re about to become my family. I think you can drop the formalities.”
I lowered my gaze. When Kai wasn’t being a mean, scary bastard, he wasquite attractive. No wonder Riley couldn’t keep her hands off him.“What can I do for you, Kai?”
“I wanted to ask you a favor.”
My head whipped up. “A…a favor?”
Kai ran a thumb over his lips, almost like he was debating his next words.When his dark eyes, similar to Miles’, landed on the couch tucked in the corner of my room, he waved a hand.“Can we sit?”
