Page 115 of Darkest Sin

The church is large and gothic and beautiful. Or it would be if I wasn’t so scared.

Denis grabs my arm, forcing me out of the car and up the steps. My sisters and mom move slowly behind me but Josh forces them to keep walking. There’s a silent message: don’t even think about running.

We go inside the church. I can see Cillian waiting at the end of the aisle for me, next to a priest. Déjà vu hits me hard. The memory of marrying Mikhail in a similar church. Him waiting for me at the end of the aisle. My future uncertain.

But then, I was excited to marry Mikhail. He scared me but I was intrigued. I’m not that way with Cillian. All I feel now is dread.

One thing is the same though: I married Mikhail to try and protect my family. I’ll marry Cillian now to do the same.

Maybe I can kill Cillian if I get the chance. Maybe I can stop Denis. Maybe I can save my family.

So many maybes and not enough definitive answers.

Josh forces my sisters and mom up the aisle and into the front pew. His gun glints in the sunlight coming through the large stained glass windows. A reminder to not do anything stupid. My sisters could have died today, trying to escape. I can’t do something risky like that again.

Denis holds my arms tightly to him. “See how fitting this is? I get to walk you down the aisle.”

“You’re not my father.”

“No. I’m better than him and you will learn to be grateful. In time.”

“You will never be as good and strong and brave as my father was. You’ll never be as powerful. Just know that. You will never be able to get me to change my mind.”

“We’ll see about that.”

His words send a shiver down my spine. Will my uncle spend eternity torturing me into liking him?

He grips my arm tightly as we walk down the aisle. There’s no music playing, which makes everything more ominous. Some of Cillian’s men are with us, including Liam. Total, he has five men here, all with guns. There’s no escaping.

Every step I take leads me closer and closer to my new fate: one that doesn’t include Mikhail.

I reach the end of the aisle.

“Who gives this woman away?” the priest asks.

“I do. Her uncle,” Denis says.

“He doesn’t,” I say. “He’s not my uncle. He’s no family of mine. And you should know that I’m being forced into this, Father. Help me.”

The priest stares down at me with pity before turning to Cillian. “Shall we begin?”

So, he’s on Cillian’s side. I’m all alone then.

Denis places my hand in Cillian’s and before I draw it away, Cillian tightens his grip. The more I tug, the harder he holds onto me. I stop fighting and give in, if only to protect my hand from more injury.

The priest begins the ceremony. The whole thing is one long monotonous wave in my mind. I can barely make out the words.

None of this matters without Mikhail.

Cillian’s hands tighten on my own, making it clear he thinks I’m his.

A glance at my sisters shows Irina and Ana are crying and Sasha is stone faced, angry. My mom just looks miserable. They know this is the end. They know once I marry Cillian, there’s no going back.

“If anyone should have a reason as to why these two shouldn’t marry, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the priest says.

“There is no objection,” Denis says. “Get on with it.”

The church doors burst open and in walks Nico. “I have a reason they shouldn’t marry.”