And by the way Alejandro’s brows immediately pull together in discontentment, he heard it too.
“Unfortunately, I’ve stayed longer than I should have. You forget I have my own wedding to attend to when I arrive back home,” he explains, making my teeth pull at my bottom lip at the somber reminder.
Somewhere out there is another girl in the same predicament I find myself in, anxious and afraid of what her future holds, alongside a man who, for her entire life, was dubbed to be her greatest foe. My selfishness in wanting my brother to stay for the entirety of my wedding reception suddenly dissipates, knowing that he too must make the same sacrifice as I have in the name of peace.
Although, I don’t need to nitpick much to know that our circumstances are far from being the same. Nothing is really going to change in my brother’s life, aside from the fact that he will now be tied down to a total stranger. Unlike me, Alejandro will still be able to live in the same house we grew up in. He will be able to enjoy Javier and Francesco’s company every day if he so wishes. He will walk down the familiar halls of our home or wander around in our garden, feeling the warm Mexican sun on his face. And at night, my brother will be able to sleep in his own bed, the only difference when he opens his eyes in the morning, will be the enemy lying asleep beside him.
The six daughters of the notorious crime families that came up with the treaty cannot boast the same, as we will be forever changed. Ripped from the bosom of our families, our homes, and everything we’ve ever known–all of us will be shipped out and delivered to live in cities we had been cautioned since birth never to enter. We will be expected to converse and live out our days with total strangers, and warm the beds of men that at one point would have rather wrapped their hands around our throats and extinguished the light from our eyes.
Even when men in our world are subjected to some form of sacrifice, it’s never as cruel or harsh as what a woman faces.
“I’m sad I won’t be there to see you get married, hermano,” I say at last with a tender smile. “I wish you all the happiness in the world. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be able to meet her.”
“That might be sooner than you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up, but your husband insinuated to me last night that he might not be averse to visiting Mexico should you wish to see your family.”
“He did?” My eyes widen in astonishment, searching the large crowded reception hall for the man in question and not finding him amongst the many guests. “Do you believe him?” I ask hopefully.
“Men like us are born liars, Rosa, but there are some things we still hold sacred. When we give our word, then that is as binding as the wedding ring on your finger,” he states evenly, eyeing my wedding band that feels like a noose tightening around my neck every time I look at it.
“Then I guess I have something to look forward to,” I offer him another small smile, praying he doesn’t see how truly miserable I am. “Go, hermano. I don’t want my future sister-in-law to be cross with me because you showed up late to your wedding.”
My brother’s expression remains as stoic as ever, but by the way his jaw ticks, I know that he’s reluctant to leave me here alone with the Kellys.
“Five years, sweet sister. They fly by faster than you think.”
My throat tightens with the tears of sorrow that threaten to drown me, but like the well-groomed cartel princess that I am, I flash him a comforting smile, hoping that it will dim his anxiety at abandoning me here in this vipers’ nest.
“Safe travels, brother. Please tell everyone back home I’m thinking of them.”
He nods, grabbing my hands to give them a tender squeeze, knowing full well that if he hugged me right now, I’d break into a thousand pieces.
After I watch him leave, I go back to my seat at the large table at the head of the room, shrugging off the curious stares that follow my every move. I should get accustomed to them since I’m sure they will be my companions for the duration of my marriage, or at least until the shine of the novelty wears off.
But as the hours pass and the alcohol flows, the Kelly’s guests begin to show their true colors where I’m concerned. I squirm in my seat as the men throw out lewd remarks about my impending wedding night, while they cheer for their king’s good health and sexual prowess. A king who hasn’t said more than two words to me aside from the threat he uttered in the limo on the way here.
He called me a liar.
We haven’t even had a full conversation with one another, and already I’ve displeased him.
Not that the incident has dulled his sudden celebratory mood any. In the limo he acted as if our wedding was a mournful occasion, yet the minute we stepped into the reception hall, his disposition did a complete one-eighty. I’ve sat on the sidelines and watched Tiernan dance with every pretty girl here and drink from every cup handed to him. Since he’s made no attempt to include me in the festivities, I’m not na?ve enough to think his gregarious nature has anything to do with being thrilled at our union. It almost looks like this wedding reception is more of an excuse to have one last hurrah with his men, than it is to commemorate the vows we took earlier today.
Not wanting to stare at my husband having a merry time of it, I take in his guests to see if there are any sympathetic faces to my plight. Anyone that can become a friend in this land filled with foes.
My gaze first lands on the less than obvious choice, my in-laws—Niall and Saoirse Kelly.