Page 36 of Birthright (Sinners of New Orleans #4)

THIRTY-FIVE

Olivia

" G et dressed." It's early Saturday afternoon when Sam interrupts my reading in the courtyard.

"You have got to stop doing that." I place a bookmark between the pages. "You can just waltz in, demanding I get dressed."

A smirk lifts his lips. "We have a wedding to go to."

I sit up straighter. "First a funeral and now a wedding?"

"We need some happier times." Sam shrugs. "Come, we're leaving soon."

I stare at Sam, bewildered. "Well, whose wedding?"

"John and Zoe." He runs his hand through his hair, a gesture I've come to recognize when he's trying to appear casual about something important. "My cousin and his fiancée."

"And you want me to go with you?" I ask, closing my book completely. "As what, exactly? Your hostage plus-one?"

Sam's expression darkens slightly. "As my date, Olivia."

My heart does a traitorous little flip. I hate how my body reacts to him, how easily I forget that I'm here against my will when he looks at me like that.

"I don't have anything to wear to a wedding," I say, trying to sound practical rather than flustered.

"Already taken care of." He checks his watch. "Ana laid out some options in your room. We leave in an hour."

Upstairs, I find three stunning dresses laid across my bed — one emerald green, one midnight blue, and one in a soft blush pink. Each looks more expensive than anything I've ever owned. I run my fingers over the silky fabric of the green one, imagining how it would feel against my skin.

As I try them on, I catch my reflection in the mirror and barely recognize myself.

The emerald dress hugs my curves perfectly, making my eyes look brighter, my skin more luminous.

For a moment, I allow myself to pretend this is normal, that I'm just getting ready for a date with a handsome man, not preparing to attend a wedding with the mob boss who's keeping me captive.

Even if we have already blurred the lines between captor and captive…

When I descend the stairs, Sam is waiting in the foyer. His eyes darken as they travel from my face down to my shoes and back up again, lingering in places that make heat bloom across my skin.

"You look beautiful," he says, his voice low.

"Thank you." I smooth my hands over the emerald dress, suddenly nervous. "So, this wedding... Am I supposed to know anything? Or anyone?"

"Just stay close to me." He offers his arm. "You'll be fine."

As we walk to the car, I wonder what I'm getting myself into. A mob wedding. Another glimpse into Sam's world, a world I should want nothing to do with but find myself increasingly curious about.

"Olivia!" I'm relieved to see friendly faces when we arrive at the restaurant. Madi tugs me free from Sam's grip and pulls me into a warm hug. Next to her, Lana waits her turn before embracing me as well.

"How are you doing?" Lana asks, her eyes searching mine with genuine concern.

"I'm fine," I say automatically, then catch myself. "I mean, it's complicated."

Madi loops her arm through mine. "We need girl talk. Now." She glances at Sam. "We're stealing her."

Sam's jaw tightens, but he nods once. "Don't be long. The ceremony starts soon."

Madi leads me to a quiet corner of the venue's garden, with Lana following close behind. The moment we're out of earshot, they both turn to me.

"Spill," Madi demands. "Are you okay? Really okay?"

I take a deep breath. "I don't know what I am anymore."

"Mads, you’re scaring her," Lana cuts in.

“Well, excuse me for trying to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m okay. I don’t think Sam would ever hurt me.” No, he just brings me more pleasure than I’ve ever had…

Madi and Lana share a knowing look and red coats my cheeks.

“So it’s good then?” Madi asks with a smile.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” I drag a hand through my curled locks. "It's just...one minute, I hate him for keeping me prisoner, and the next..."

Lana squeezes my hand. "You're not the first woman to fall for a dangerous man."

"I haven't fallen for him," I protest, but the words sound hollow, even to me.

Lana's smile is knowing. "The way he looks at you…I've never seen Sam like this."

Before I can respond, a bell chimes, signaling guests to take their seats.

"Saved by the bell." Madi winks. "But this conversation isn't over."

We hurry back to the ceremony space, where rows of white chairs face an elegant floral arch. Sam stands waiting, his eyes tracking me as I approach. He leads me to a white chair in the front row.

"Everything okay?" he murmurs as I sit.

"Fine," I whisper back, smoothing my emerald dress.

Music begins to play, and the guests fall silent. I watch as John takes his place at the altar, his face a mixture of nerves and joy.

A woman with dark brown and steel-gray eyes appears at the end of the aisle. She's wearing a simple white dress that falls to her mid-thigh and she’s holding a bouquet of pink roses. She's stunning.

I flick my gaze back to Sam's cousin at the front of the aisle, watching the way his eyes stare at his soon-to-be wife. Every time I've seen him in Sam's house, he's looked cold and closed off, but now, I can see flickers of emotion as his bride slowly descends the aisle.

Sam's hand finds mine beneath the folds of my dress. I should pull away. Instead, I let our fingers intertwine as the ceremony begins.

It's a short ceremony with a small crowd of people seated. When it's over, we're ushered into another room with round tables and a small dance floor and fed the most delicious dinner.

I sip champagne as I watch John and Zoe sway together on the dance floor, lost in each other's eyes. The reception is intimate but lively, nothing like the awkward family gatherings I remember from my childhood.

"They look happy," I say when Sam returns with fresh drinks for us.

"John deserves it. He's been through hell." Sam's eyes soften as he watches his cousin. "We all have."

The band transitions to a slow, sultry melody. Sam sets down our glasses and extends his hand to me.

"Dance with me?"

I hesitate only briefly before placing my hand in his. He leads me to the dance floor, one hand resting on the small of my back as he pulls me close. His touch sends warmth spreading through my body.

"You look beautiful tonight," he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear.

"You clean up pretty well yourself." I allow myself to relax against him, inhaling his cologne.

"Just pretty well?" His eyes crinkle with amusement.

"I wouldn't want your ego getting too big."

He laughs, a genuine sound that makes my chest flutter. "Too late for that."

We move together in perfect rhythm, his body guiding mine effortlessly. Around us, other couples dance, but I barely notice them. In this moment, it's just us.

"Your family isn't what I expected," I admit.

"What did you expect?"

"I don't know. Cold-blooded killers, I guess."

Sam's hand tightens slightly on my waist. "We protect our own. Sometimes that means making hard choices."

I think about Lana's father, about the pain he caused her. About how Sam stepped in to help.

"I think I understand that now," I say softly.

He studies my face, curiosity evident in his eyes when they lock onto mine. "You're full of surprises, Olivia Marchese."

"So are you, Sam Costello."

Something has shifted inside me. The man holding me isn't just my captor anymore. He's complex, caring deeply for his family, willing to do anything to protect them. And somehow, I've begun to care for him too.

It terrifies me how easy it is to forget what brought us together in the first place. How natural it feels to be in his arms. But as we continue to dance, the past drifts away and I feel content in this moment, just us.