Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Hi, Declan.”
“Hi,” he says, not really looking at me.
“What kind of stuff are you into?” I ask, praying it's something in my wheelhouse.
“Like what?”
“TV shows, movies, books?”
“Star Wars and Marvel.” Thank God!
“Oh, me too. Do you like Dungeons and Dragons?”
“Yeah! But no one will play with me. These guys don’t get it.”
“Well. I’m going to be looking for a new game since I’ll be living here. It won’t make sense to keep going to New York every Friday for my old one.” I’ve been playing with that band of adventurers since ninth grade, but change can be good.
“Can we start one?” he asks., smiling for the first time.
“Heck yeah. Do you have some friends that play? You could totally be the Dungeon Master.”
“You think?” he asks.
“Oh, for sure. You’d be good at it.”
“Wow. Cool. You’re going to be a cool sister-in-law, aren’t you?”
“Um… yeah. The coolest.” He laughs, and we spend the rest of the ride to the church talking about potential scenarios to roleplay.
If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it well. I won’t hide from his family because they will be my family too. I already know that my bonding with his younger sisters will include a trip to the All-American Girl store. I just met them; that was the first thing they told me. I laughed and promised we’d go there soon. I’ll be setting Derry up with my sister, Theresa. She’s a bit brusque, but if anyone can tame her, it’s Derry. I think they are perfect for each other. Even his mom and stepmom are nice to me. I think they are a couple, but I won’t out them. It doesn’t seem like anyone knows about them. It’s just him that drives me fucking crazy. He’s such an asshole. Am I protesting too much? I still want to throat-punch him, though.
We reach the church, which is old and beautiful. Dorian holds my hand from the curb all the way down the aisle. It’s warm and strong. Stop it, Matty. Don’t think about him like that. He’s the monster who is forcing you to marry him. Forcing you to sleep with him. That does the trick. My heart hardens a little bit. Not fully, because Cash is pretty cool, and Derry isn’t so bad, either. It’s Dorian that’s awful. How am I going to do this? Can I really let him into my body?
“You were great with Declan in the car.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s a nice kid.”
“I can’t get him to talk to me in complete sentences. What you did was a miracle. Thank you. He hasn’t said much since my dad died. He never really knew his mother. I tried with him, but he wasn’t really having it.” That reminds me of what Cash said about him, and I don’t want to think about his good qualities. He’s an asshole who kidnapped me and is forcing me to do things I don’t want to do. Who am I kidding? I’m going to let this man fuck me within an inch of my life… I don’t have to like it…
Instead of thinking further about him and my whirlwind of emotions, I look around the church. It really is beautiful. I’m in awe of the stained-glass scene of Mary holding baby Jesus behind the altar. Two smaller windows on opposite sides depict other times in Jesus’ life. I’m introduced to Father Flannagan. He’s a young priest but friendly and knowledgeable. Apparently, this is the church we will go to every Sunday. This is my life now.
“I’d like to speak to the bride privately before the ceremony,” the priest says.
“That’s not necessary,” Dorian says, gripping my elbow.
“Then I’m not marrying you. Father Ryan will be back in two weeks,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. I smother a smile.
“Why do you need to do that?” I ask, trying to defuse the situation. Dorian isn’t happy about the request.
“You aren’t a member of this parish, Ms. Vitali. I just need to ascertain that this is what you want.” Dorian’s grip on my elbow tightens. The fear radiating off of him is palpable. He has no idea what I’m going to say to this man and to be honest, neither do I.
“We’ll be right back, Dorian. I promise,” I tell him, laying my hand on his.
“Alright,” he says, realizing he doesn’t really have a choice in the matter, not if he wants to marry me today. “I’ll meet you at the altar.”
“You will,” I confirm. Come hell or high water, I will do what he wants me to, but only to save my family.
I follow the priest to a small office through a small hallway behind the altar.
“Ms. Vitali, are you certain this is what you want? I’ve known Dorian since we were boys playing stickball in the street. I know how he is. If you don’t want this, I’ll help you leave now. I have a car waiting.”