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SEAN

I could drive off the bridge and plunge into the river below right now.

There would be at least an hour before anyone came looking for me. Dad wouldn’t notice I was missing until I was due to stand at an altar and wait for my bride.

My grip on the wheel tightens as I glance at the side of the bridge.

It would be too easy to jerk the wheel right now. The window is rolled down and the drop isn’t far. I’d be able to swim out and do my best to get lost.

I wouldn’t be trapped with Ellie Lynde for the rest of my life.

Dad made it clear that divorce will never be an option. Not as long as we want the alliance to be upheld.

Groaning, I press my foot down on the accelerator, heading for the church.

In less than two hours, I’m going to have to kiss Ellie. I’ll have to promise to be by her side forever, even though tossing her over the side of the bridge is a much more appealing idea.

This is all a mistake. A horrible dream.

Though my life has been nothing but somebody’s horrible dream. I’ve spent years living beneath my father’s thumb, killing whom he said and staining my hands in blood more times than I can count.

And it’s a life I love, even if it comes with the hell that is Ellie.

“This is going to be hell.” I weave through traffic, cars honking and people shouting.

I pull up outside of the pale-gray church, the stone walls rising high and coming to a sharp point at the very top. Stained glass windows frame the door, the sunlight glinting off them.

Dad stands in front of the church, his arms crossed and his black suit pulling tight. His mouth is set in a firm line and Aiden stands beside him, looking like he’s attending a funeral and not a wedding.

That makes two of us.

No sooner am I out of the car than someone is taking the keys from my hand and driving it away.

A white carpet lines the long stone steps. I climb them, coming to a stop in front of Dad.

He reaches for my tie, fixing it as Aiden nods to me and heads inside. I stand stiff, not wanting to breathe the wrong way and risk this becoming worse.

“You’re going to stand at the front of the church and not cause any trouble for us, you hear me?” He tightens my tie a little too tight, eyes boring into mine. “I won’t have you ruining this alliance for our family.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I know my duty to the family, and I’ll marry Ellie. I make no promises about her behavior, though. She’s been known to be feral.”

Dad loosens the tie, smirking. “Aiden has assured me that she’s going to be the picture of a perfect wife today and there won’t be a single thing for you to worry about.”

He’s clearly never met Ellie.

She’s just as likely to pull a knife on me when we’re reciting our vows as she is to go through with this ceremony and not cause a problem.

There’s a grudging part of me that likes her unpredictable nature.

Even if she resists this life, she’s suited for it.

Dad leaves me to go speak with some of his friends as they arrive at the church.

I disappear inside to find Ellie’s entire family already sitting in the pews. Her sisters give me matching glares.

Maybe this is a funeral.

My funeral.

Aiden walks down the white carpet lining the aisle toward me. “I’m sorry about them. They took Ellie’s side when they found out the two of you were getting married, and they’ve all been giving me the cold shoulder for the past few days.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “It sounds like you have your hands full.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” Aiden claps a hand to my shoulder and steers me toward the altar where the priest is already waiting. “Ellie is going to behave, though. She knows that the future of both of our families is riding on this.”

“I think you underestimate what she’s capable of.”

Aiden sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “One of these days, the two of you are going to have to put aside your differences and learn to get along with each other. Especially now that you’re getting married.”

“And whose fault is that?” My tone is sharp as I tug at my gold cuff links. “You were the one who came up with this plan. Don’t you dare stand there and bitch about it now.”

“Listen, if I could go back and change your father’s mind, I would. He’s the one who came up with this entire scheme.”

“You didn’t fight him on it either.”

Aiden smirks and shrugs. “Maybe I thought it was time you and Ellie figured out a way to coexist with each other.”

I give him a flat look before turning my attention to the towering wooden doors Ellie is going to walk through soon. “You never would have wanted any of your sisters to marry me and we both know it. This is just what happened.”

“I tried to negotiate with your father, for what it’s worth.” Aiden steps away from the altar. “If I could have found another way to get the alliance I needed, I would’ve.”

He takes off for the doors, disappearing through them as the rest of his men and my father’s filter into the church. They take their seats as soft music begins to play.

A few minutes later, the doors swing open, and Ellie enters the room.

The dress she wears hugs her body, nude material beneath white lace, showcasing the curves I’m sure other men have begged to touch. White lace lays over the nude material, sculpting over her round breasts and hips.

The skirt hugs her thighs, flaring out just above her knees, a long lace train and a giant veil trailing behind her.

She’s stunning, even if she’s one of the most irritating people I’ve ever met.

Eyes the color of a deep-green forest turn to me, mauve-painted lips parting slightly. She looks like she’s counting each step she takes down the aisle, as if she’s marching to her death.

Ellie holds tighter to Aiden’s arm, eyes nearly bulging out of her head when they reach the end of the aisle and I hold my hand out for her.

Her hand shakes as she places it in mine, looking up at me from beneath her dark lashes.

She looks like she’s on the verge of tears, but just as I lean in to whisper something—I have no clue what—to her, she stands up straighter, her gaze hardening.

The priest clears his throat as I stand in front of him with Ellie, holding her hand in mine. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Sean and Ellie—two people who were brought together by fate and will be forever united.”

The corner of her mouth twitches, and I watch her fight the urge to roll her eyes.

She winks at me before her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip.

For a moment, I want to lean in.

Idiot. She’s nothing but trouble.

You don’t like her.

You could spend the rest of your life never having to talk to her again and you would be happy.

Despite the light mood she’s trying to keep, she squeezes my hand so tight I’m sure that my fingers are minutes away from breaking.

She doesn’t want to be here any more than I do, and in that regard, I feel a bit better about this entire situation. We’re both here just trying to do the best we can by our families, even if it’s killing both of us to do it.

The priest turns to me, swallowing hard. “Sean, do you promise to stay by Ellie in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?”

No.

I nod. “I do.”

He turns to Ellie, taking a moment to study her before clearing his throat. “Ellie, do you promise to stand by Sean in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Her voice is soft and sweet, entirely unlike the snarky and mildly amusing woman I know.

No, she doesn’t amuse you. She annoys the hell out of you.

At least she did until I found myself tied to her for the rest of our lives.

The priest has us exchange wedding bands. My hands tremble as I slide the gold band onto her finger, the diamond glittering beneath the sunlight streaming through the windows.

She takes my ring, holding it tight like she’s terrified of dropping it. Ellie’s fingers wrap around my hand, holding it in place as she slides the matching plain gold band onto my finger.

It feels like it holds the weight of the world.

That little ring is an anchor tied to me and pulling me into deeper water. I feel like I’m drowning as I look at her, the room silent around us.

The priest steps back and closes the binder in front of him. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss.”

My heart races, sweat coating my palms as I put one hand on her hip and lean in. I brush my lips over hers quickly, but that short kiss is enough to send my stomach lurching.

The color drains from her face, even as she forces a smile.

She looks like she’s going to be sick, so I take the lead, putting on the show I know Dad is expecting.

I take her hand and gently pull her down the aisle, heading straight for the doors. I don’t know about her, but I need a breather before dealing with our families.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Dad is going to want to celebrate the wedding as if it’s real and not just something crafted for an alliance.

Horns blare as we head outside and hurry down the steps.

She holds on to my hand tighter as I take her around the side of the building, stepping through the little iron gate and into the flower garden.

The scent of honeysuckle floats on the wind, covering up the city stench as I take her over to one of the stone benches.

She sits down, burying her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare.”

“Yeah.” I crouch down in front of her, pulling her hands away from her face. “We don’t have time to break down about this right now, though. You have to hold it together until we head back to my home tonight.”

“Don’t pretend that you care about me, okay?” She barks out a bitter laugh, leaning back and looking up at the fat white clouds drifting across the sky. “We can both play the parts we’re supposed to play for our families, but I’m not going to keep it up when we’re alone. I can’t.”

“That’s fair.” I swallow against the thick feeling in my throat as I stand, gaze turning to some of the yellow roses growing along the edge of the path. “This isn’t what either of us wanted, but I think we have to learn to do the best we can. My father is a domineering man. He’s going to want you to be the perfect wife.”

Ellie rolls her eyes. “I can do that.”

“I have a hard time believing that.”

She jerks her chin in the direction of the church. “You saw the show we put on in there. I would say that I held up my end just fine.”

Though I hate to admit it, she has a point about that.

While she walked down the aisle, she may not have looked like a bride on the happiest day of her life, but she also didn’t give anyone a reason to speak out against the marriage.

Nobody in attendance would have, though. Not if they valued their lives.

As I stand beside her, I don’t know what else there is to say.

This is the longest we’ve ever been alone together, and the weight of the silence that stretches between us is proof of that.

Thankfully, Dad enters the garden, heading straight for us with his oldest friend, Marco, trailing along beside him, Aiden close behind them.

Marco grins, the look in his eyes making my hands ball at my sides. “There’s the happy couple.”

Dad shoots him a sharp look. “Now that the two of you are married, the alliance is in effect. If the marriage ends, the alliance will end with it.”

Ellie swallows hard, glancing at Aiden. “I understand.”

Chuckling, Marco takes a step toward us. “Now, there is still one matter to be settled.”

I stand taller, stepping between him and Ellie. I don’t like the way he looks at her. It’s like she’s his prey and he’s just waiting for the chance to get his hands on her.

Marco tucks his hands in his pockets, stepping to the side to look at her again. “For the marriage to be official, it has to be consummated. With witnesses present.”