Page 110 of Bitter Poetry

“More of a partnership with a common goal.”

Not only are those currents hidden, but they’re fast-moving.

“You’re young,” he says. “And, through necessity, have been incredibly strong. I wish you hadn’t needed to be. Wish I’d come back sooner… Now, don’t give the bitch any satisfaction. Helena’s motivations in marrying Dante are largely about his bank balance. She might also be laboring under a false delusion that her bedroom skills will seduce my cousin into giving a fuck. He doesn’t. Dante would sooner dip his dick in acid than her. So let her gloat. Later tonight, just about the time she anticipates consummating her marriage, I’m going to be sitting her down and explaining how it’s going to be. If she’s sensible, she will have a comfortable life in a nice house and get a credit card with a generous limit. If she’s not sensible, she will regret it.” He winks. “Don’t look so worried. I have enough dirt on her to make a hardened case worker weep. I’m confident Don Ettore would quietly strangle her himself if he knew half of it. She will play ball or find herself pushing up daisies.”

I bite my lower lip, caught somewhere between incredulity and laughter.

“You’ve got this, sister of my heart.”

DANTE

She’s wearing my necklace again. It gets me through the service, which is short and to the point. Then there are photos where I risk cracking a tooth in order to maintain a smile. Carmela is always close, but whether with Leon, who I can tolerate, or Ettore, who I definitely can’t, she is a temptation I don’t allow my eyes to linger on at the risk of doing the ‘something stupid’ I warned Leon about. There are only a few dozen guests, and the subsequent celebratory meal is held in the long dining room. I have Christian and Leon for me, and the rest of the guests are down to Helena… Helena, who is glowing with a mile-wide smile, and snips at Carmela or orders her around every chance she gets.

Meanwhile, Carmela is the ice queen, taking everything graciously in her stride.

It’s fucking hot.

She looks fucking hot, too, in her knee-length white silk dress. It should be a simpler, more understated version of Helena’s. Yet Carmela comes out classy, and Helena trashy.

My wife is oblivious to everything but herself.

Wife.

Fuck, I just want to pour bleach over every part of me that has had to touch her for appearance’s sake.

“Carmela,” Helena calls, going so far as to snap her fingers. “Would you see to Peony while I dance with my husband?”

I wince.

Carmela’s smile is benevolent.

“My wife is not your servant, Helena.” Ettore steps and glares at his sister. “You have a nanny. I suggest you ask her.”

Helena’s laughter is high and forced before she calls her long-suffering nanny over to see to her brat. At some point when this freak show is over, I intend to ensure Lillete gets the bonus of her life and an opportunity to escape.

I dance with Helena. It’s our wedding and it's expected of me. No avoiding it. But on my periphery, I can see Carmela standing with Leon and Christian. She’s laughing about something, and her eyes are on Christian. I feel something compress in my chest before cold, then hot sweeps down my spine. I haven’t seen them together in over a year—the coffee shop doesn’t count when he was a room-length away.

“We should start trying for children straight away,” Helena says, distracting me.

What the fuck?“What?” I drag my gaze back to hers.

“Children.” She smiles, stroking her fingers down my lapels. “A little brother or sister for Peony. I stopped taking the pill as soon as our wedding was announced.”

Thanks for letting me know someone else was dipping in your hole three weeks ago.“That’s a wonderful idea.”If you were the last woman on earth, human extinction would be inevitable. “I have always wanted a large family. Six is a nice round number.”

Her laugh is a little nervous. “Peony can be a challenge. I was thinking one or two more.”

My eyes lift of their own accord, orientating on Carmela. Only a body is in the way. One I can’t see around. I blink a few times before I realize it’s Leon, and he’s staring straight at me with a look that says he’s going to kick my ass.

Christian puts his hand on Leon’s shoulder and leans in to say something. Leon smirks. Christian steps past him and heads straight toward me.

Helena is still talking. I should have been paying attention, but I blanked it all out.

The music changes. Christian steps neatly up beside us and smiles at Helena. “Mind if I cut in and dance with your wife, brother?”

Helena beams at him. “Christian, you’re looking handsome today.”

“Now you’re just trying to make me blush.” He smiles at her, claps me on the shoulder, and leans in. “She’s just gone up to their bedroom. I’ll warn you if Ettore leaves the room, yeah? Second on the left at the top of the stairs.” Then louder. “Later, Dante. Just going to show Helena she picked the wrong brother.”