Page 75 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

Exhaling a heavy breath, I internally order myself to calm down; my hysterics won’t bring anything good. “I’ll marry him. I appreciate the offer, though.” I send a smile Briseis’s way, even though she backpedaled really quick.

And what are these rules anyway?

If Remi thinks I’ll be following their warped rules, he has another think coming.

The minute Amalia gets married, I’m calling the cops on all these psychos.

I still glare at Jimena. “A little compassion wouldn’t kill you.”

She shrugs. “I’m a Cortez. We aren’t known for being compassionate.”

My brows furrow at how proudly she utters this statement, and I open my mouth to comment, when the distinct sound of a phone ringing echoes in the space.

Briseis fishes out her phone from her coat pocket and says, “It’s Santiago.” With this, she walks from the room, closing the door behind her softly.

Silence falls over us, and I smooth the nonexistent lines on my dress when Jimena asks me, “What’s your name?”

I still at this. “Amalia.” Remi didn’t even bother telling them the name of his fiancée.

She gets up, picking up a tissue and wiping her hands. “I’ve met Amalia a few times through the years. You can fool my sister-in-law, who is still new to our circle, but not me.” I gasp in surprise at this, and she steps closer to me, crossing her arms. “So I’m going to ask again. Cuál es tu nombre?”

Panic washes over me as my mind hectically searches for suitable words to cover up the lie and not get myself into more trouble. If Briseis is this loyal to them despite being forced to marry Santiago, his sister for sure will run to Remi to tell him the truth. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Jimena cocks her head to the side, studying me for several seconds. “Your eyes. They are different. Hers are cold, and quite frankly, your sister is one vicious bitch to those around her.” I blink at this, wanting to defend my twin, but at the same time, I agree with her. “Yours are warm and soft.”

Tearing my gaze away from her, I spin around to face the mirror and play with my hair, wanting to ignore her all together, when our gazes meet in the reflection.

“I know about the invitation my mother got you, Penelope.”

I almost cry in desperation, because she already knows the truth; she just wants my admission.

The internal battle goes on for just a second before my resolve breaks and my headache intensifies. “Please don’t tell them,” I whisper, not being able to lie anymore under her drilling stare. “He won’t leave her alone, and I need to fix this.”

A pin slips from my hair and falls to the side, dangling on a lock, and with trembling hands, I try to adjust it but fail.

Jimena gently pulls at my elbow until we are standing in front of each other. She puts her fingers on the pin, detaching it easily. “They’ve been best friends forever.” She tugs on the end before stepping closer to me and sliding it in my hair. “I grew up with them all. In fact, Remi is as much my brother as Santiago.” Although love seeps from her words, I feel no jealousy toward the bond she clearly shares with Remi. She readjusts the pin and then taps me on the nose. “Men like them do not wait years to claim the women they want, and they don’t let them get engaged to someone else.” Butterflies erupt in my stomach at this admission, giving hope to the scared parts inside me, which, despite all the secrets, crave to know Remi wants me and not my twin.

Foolish, foolish girl.

And yet wearing this wedding dress, about to marry the vigilante, I long to believe it has to do with me.

Jimena is not done, though. “But most importantly, nothing and no one can stop them from staking their claim once they set their sights on their women.” Although she says these words to me, it almost feels as if she has repeated them enough in her life to fully believe them, and for some reason, pain flashes in her eyes before she covers it up with a smile.

Why would this hurt her?

She rubs her belly, leaving no doubt she’s pregnant, and clears her throat, grinning again, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

The baby daddy must be an asshole.

She doesn’t let me dwell on it, though. “According to rumors, Remi wanted Amalia for years. And yet it took him less than twenty-four hours to claim you and declare war.”

I hold her stare for a moment before I study my reflection in the mirror once again. The gorgeous dress and every thoughtful detail on it speak about the groom’s desire for it to be perfect.

Is there really a chance that he fell for me and not my twin? And there might be some secrets hidden behind his so-called obsession with my twin?

Does it change anything, though?

He is still a monster who kills people; his justifications for the crimes doesn’t erase them or pardon him.

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