Page 169 of Dancing with the Devil

“He did that? When?” I asked as we stepped onto the sand.

I looked up to see Antonio standing in front of the beautiful sunset underneath a curved wedding arch that was covered in my favorite flowers.

There was a pathway made with wood across and candles on their side of it that led up to him.

“Like I said. I’ll explain later,” Nereus whispered.

I saw him speaking to an elderly man, but when he saw me, he stopped talking, turning his entire body towards me. I smiled while Nereus walked me down the aisle.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as I realized what was going on. It was finally happening. My chest exploded with warmth when Nereus kissed either of my cheeks, handing me to Antonio.

Nereus smiled, and as he stepped back, Antonio shot him a warning look, making his smile drop. Nereus gulped.

“Marisol is recovering just fine. Thank you for asking,” he glared at Antonio, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Antonio and I faced each other, and he took my hands in his.

“Beauty takes life form in you,” he whispered, and I blushed, thanking him.

I got so lost in his eyes that I barely heard the priest speak. All I knew was that this was it. This wasus…

“Nirah Joy. Do you take Antonio…” his voice became distraught as I focused my eyes behind Antonio.

“Nirah?” Antonio softly said, squeezing my hands a little, and I anxiously swallowed hard.

“Do you still carry your gun in your waistband?” I asked, and he looked confused.

“Yeah, why?”

“I need you to say ‘You may now kiss the bride’—like now,” I turned to the priest.

“But miss—”

“Just say it!” I whisper-yelled, and Antonio looked at me in confusion.

“Alright,” the priest cleared his throat. “You may now kiss the bride.”

I forced a smile, leaning in to kiss Antonio.

“Trust me,” I whispered before kissing him. I pulled him closer to me, grabbing the gun in his waistband. I aimed it at the figure behind Antonio and pulled the trigger.

Antonio broke the kiss, turning around with his arm out to keep me behind him. I brushed past him, picking up the ends of my dress as I ran over to the man I just shot.Oh my God…

My steps came to a drastic halt, and my heart dropped as I saw my father staring back at me on wobbly legs. He looked down at the gunshot wound and dropped to his knees. “Nirah?” he groaned, and Antonio and Nereus ran up next to me. “What did you do?” he asked, falling onto his back in pain.

“Why were you aiming your gun at Antonio?” I asked in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

“You shouldn’t be marrying him,” my father choked out. “He isn’t the man for you. He’s a liar,” he coughed out blood.

“Nirah give me the gun,” Antonio said, but I backed away, shaking my head.

“She doesn’t know?” Nereus asked in complete shock—looking at Antonio—and I felt my heart rate pick up.

“Know what?” I asked, looking between the three of them.

“I’ll tell you everything, just put the gun down and come with me.”

“No, since we’re all fucking here, you might as well come clean. Know what, Antonio?”

“That day… at our house,” my father groaned, clutching his wound. “He lied to you, didn’t he? Said he was a friend? A business partner? Something—anything.”