Page 83 of Brutal Vows

Murmurs arise from the Italian side of the aisle. People are starting to whisper, rustling in their finery as they crane theirnecks and gawk at the bride passing by who they can obviously tell is the wrong one.

Everybody on the Irish side has confused looks, trying to figure out what’s happening.

“Spider? You want to tell me how we’re going to handle this?”

I’d answer Declan’s question, but I’m unable to speak. I’m blank with shock. My brain’s in a jumble, my ears are ringing, and my central nervous system can’t decide if it’s about to shut down altogether or burn through a lifetime of adrenaline reserves in the next ten seconds.

The only thing that’s working—big surprise—is my dick.

Watching Reyna walk toward me down the aisle in a wedding gown has me sprung so hard and so fast, it’s got to be some kind of goddamn erection record.

She gracefully passes the first row of pews, walks up onto the altar steps, and faces me. Behind the veil, she’s tense, unsmiling, and very beautiful.

The only thing that manages to make it past my lips is a hoarse “What the fuck?”

She says quietly, “You wanted a wife, Quinn. You got one.”

The murmurs from the guests grow louder. I sense things are about to get even more banjaxed than they already are.

So I turn to Declan and say, “Don’t let anyone move. I’ll be back in two minutes.”

I grab Reyna by the arm and pull her away.

She allows it without fighting me or saying a word. I stalk past the startled priest and across the chancel, headed toward the sacristy at the back. I yank open the door, pull Reyna through it, and slam the door shut behind me.

She backs up several steps until she hits the wall and can’t go any farther.

Surrounded by racks of priest’s vestments in the small, office-like room, we stare at each other in blistering silence.

I growl, “Start talking, viper. And whatever comes out of that mouth of yours better be the bloody truth.”

She licks her lips nervously. She inhales and briefly closes her eyes. Then she opens her eyes and looks straight into mine.

“Lili’s in love with a boy named Juan Pablo. He came here to stop the wedding. Gianni found them together in the dressing room and was going to kill them both.”

I try to unfuck my brain long enough to piece a sentence together. “How does that end up with you in a wedding dress?”

She knits her brows. “Because of the deal you made with Gianni. What other Caruso female did you think would take Lili’s place? My mother?”

When I don’t say anything, she begs softly, “Please, Quinn. Please don’t hurt them. They’re good kids. They’re just in love.”

I huff out a laugh that’s part surprise and part anger. “Why the fuck do you think I’d hurt her for being in love?”

Caught off guard by that, she blinks.

Now I’mreallyinsulted.

I demand, “Do you really think so bloody little of me?”

“I… I didn’t know what to think. Everything happened so fast. All I knew was that Gianni was about to start firing his gun, so I proposed an alternative.”

We’re staring at each other again. Both of us are breathing hard. She’s got anxiety written all over her, I’m about to choke in my bloody bow tie, and my dick is painfully straining the zipper of my trousers, throbbing with need just from looking at her.

Looking at her and thinkingFuck me, how bad I want to be balls-deep in that.

I lick my lips and step closer.

“So you thought I’d just accept this little switch of yours? You thought I’d have no problem substituting you for Lili?”