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GLORIA

“ Y ou. Look. Incredible!”

“Thanks, Peggy.”

“Sandra will be here soon. She just called.”

I almost tell her to call Sandra back. To warn her not to come.

But after last night, I would love to see her. No, more than that. I need to see her. Know that she’s okay. And that I didn’t ruin our friendship by putting her in harm’s way.

After we just made up.

Flashes of the horrifying chase and confrontation flicker through my thoughts and I have to take a breath, snapping my eyes open to clear the mental images that haunt me every time I close them.

Because I killed two men last night.

Evil men. Horrible, dangerous men.

Adriano told me to repeat that fact to myself, to remind myself of what was at stake. That they signed up for just that, to take lives or have theirs taken.

Like clocking in for an hourly job.

Only your life is on the line every minute you’re there.

Apparently, that applies to me every day now too.

The fact of that matter is, the only thing keeping me together is that I saved my lover’s life by pulling that trigger. And the fact that it was so much easier for having already killed the man threatening to murder Sandra and I, makes me want to puke.

But I thank the heavens that I was able to save her. And him.

Adri broke into a van nearby as soon as we were clear and rushed her to the ER. I swear, that man is made of something stronger than his namesake. Even knowing his fears, his insecurities and quirks, I am always amazed at the way his mind works. The way he keeps himself together in catastrophic situations.

For the millionth time I wonder if I will survive. I wonder how things would be if I had just ignored my father’s letter and moved somewhere else.

I’d probably be on the run, like my mother was. Always looking over my shoulder for him.

Anna deserves better. I deserve better.

And that ship has sailed.

I can’t walk away now no matter what. Because I met Adriano, and he’s as much a part of who I am as my favorite songs, my fashion sense, or my career.

Except he’s more than all of those things combined.

He’s the only person I would throw all of that away for.

“Here, take a drink.” Peggy offers me a glass of champagne, and for a split second I almost take it. It would help so much with the nerves. Then I remember the “state” I’m supposed to be in.

Even if Peggy, or anybody else doesn’t know. Dom may have eyes on me.

And we cannot afford to slip up now.

If he discovers I’m not pregnant, he’ll go ballistic. Even if he does need me to produce an heir. Pushing him too hard, too far, might result in him lashing out at Adriano, or someone else.

Like Anna.

Smoothing out the front of my dress, I turn slowly, facing the mirror.

It’s a dream dress.

Low cut in the front, simple, yet elegant. The swooping off-the-shoulder tooling accents my collarbones, while the sheath cut silhouette punctuates my curves, flaring just a bit more than usual at the bottom, flowing back into a sparkling train draped with a neat bustle in the back.

Sandra is a miracle worker.

As if on cue, a knock at the door has a thrill rushing through me, has me rushing to open the dressing room door. “San, you made?—”

“Hello, Gloria.” Dom’s immaculate, overly white smile greets me instead.

“Dad. I was expecting-”

“You mean you are expecting,” he snickers, winking and sweeping into the room without an invitation. “I like the dress. Might have gone with something a little more modest, though.”

This coming from the guy that has half-naked women hanging off of him at his club five nights a week.

“I highly doubt you came to critique my dress choice. Did you need something?”

“Don’t be trite, Gloria. I wanted to see my daughter on her wedding day. To run through the course of events and make sure we are on the same page.”

“It almost sounds like you think this is your wedding day,” I snap, a little too hot.

“My checkbook would agree with that statement. I didn’t realize that you’d be wearing such a sickly shade of bitch today. Are you feeling alright? A little under the weather?”

“I’m feeling fine. I’m just a little irritated that someone tried to kill me last night.”

Dom’s eyes flare slightly at the admission and the hint of accusation in my voice.

“I was worried sick; I’ll have you know. Adriano vanished. I had no check-in from either of you that you made it home safely. But I had no idea?—”

“I’m sure you were just agonizing by the phone.”

“I assure you, Gloria, that if I had known you were in danger, that the child was in danger, I would have come running. You should have called me.” He raises one finger. “And there will be retaliation, mark my words. No one comes after my kin.”

“No need. I left them a message, loud and clear.”

“Who would have the gall to do such a thing?”

“Vito Carlote. He replaced our party bus driver with a hit man.”

“That cowardly bastard! At least have the balls to send someone after me !”

I’m a bit shocked at his vehemence.

After a moment of tense silence, he tilts his head, narrowing his eyes. “How is Adriano? I haven’t seen him this morning.”

“He’s fine. Showed up just in time to pick me up and get Sandra to the hospital.”

“And you didn’t have any other trouble on the way?”

“Why do you ask?”

“No reason. I can only assume if they sent someone after you, they might have sent a backup plan, or possibly another hit on Adriano, as well.”

I let a small frown crease my brow, cocking my head to the side as I play the events of the night again.

“That explains the three cars that tried to run us down and the gunmen that pincushioned the car with bullets,” I muse, watching his reaction.

Dom pales, hiding his flinch, but not quickly enough.

“You son of a bitch,” I whisper.

“You were supposed to be on the party bus on the other side of town.”

“And Adriano? Where was he supposed to be?”

Dom grimaces, his shoulders dropping a fraction, more put out than shameful. “He was supposed to get fed up with the outrageous party and pushy bar patrons. Or get hammered and need a ride home,” he grits the explanation out in a terse growl.

“Why? Why would you want to kill him?”

“Because he is no longer necessary . He fulfilled his purpose.”

As hard as I try, I can’t contain the rage building in my gut, souring my mouth. My fists ball up in the fabric of my dress.

“And this? My wedding?”

“Would have been a heart wrenching occasion, discovering that the groom never showed, that he abandoned you at the altar, carrying his child. Truly. Despicable.” All of Dom’s pretense, emotion, and previous compassion for my ordeal is gone. He’s ice cold.

“And all the excuse you need to lock me up at the compound for my own safety.”

“Hm. As naive as you are, Gloria, no one ever said you were an idiot. Well…you did fall for that worthless, traitorous fool.”

“That’s rich coming from you.”

“I’ve never hid who I am from you. Can you say the same thing about Adriano?”

“Yes.”

“So you admit that you knew he was an asset for the feds?” His eyes glint with a spark of anger, vicious satisfaction. Like he cornered his prey.

“What? That’s ridiculous. Adriano would never trust the FBI.”

“Then how do you explain his illicit rendezvous with a certain agent at the cemetery…” Dom holds out his phone, a photo displayed on the screen.

Adriano stands with his hands in his coat pockets, glaring down at a headstone.

And there, in the background, another man, speaking to him. A face I recognize, despite the fact that I only met him once, at night in Paris. It’s unmistakable.

Even so, I shake my head, trying to school my expression.

“How do you know that man is FBI? And even if he is, it’s circumstantial at best.”

“Your poker face needs work, Gloria. I did my homework. And Adriano is selling us all out.”

The words worm their way into my head, seeding doubts. Not that I really believe Adriano was consorting with the FBI.

More importantly, why didn’t he tell me about it?

That the same man approached us both. Regardless of whether Adri gave him any information or agreed to work with him.

Dom steps closer, reaching out but not touching me, feeling me out.

“He needs to be dealt with. For both of our sakes.”

My head whips toward him, my eyes widening.

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying that it’s time to prove yourself to me. Once and for all.” His hand slips out of his coat pocket, holding up a small, discreet pistol.

Before I can react or reach for the weapon, Dom raises his other hand, a sign that he’s not done. Crossing to the door, he opens it, muttering out to someone in the hall.

Stepping back, he smiles, guarded, almost menacing.

Right as a blonde ball of energy in a baby-blue dress bolts through the doorway, throwing herself into my arms.

“Glow!” Anna’s delighted squeal fills the room as she throws her arms around my neck.

And for a second, I’m paralyzed with shock.

Then I’m sighing, laughing, on the verge of tears.

“Anna, what are you doing here?” It’s exasperating. Surprising. Horrifying.

“Your father reached out and explained what’s been going on. He invited me to come and I just had to be here. I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me! What’s he like, tell me everything!”

“I-I will. Once we’re done with the ceremony, okay? Will you stand with me, on the podium? Wait for me there.”

“I will, oh Gloria, I’m so happy to see you.” She clasps my hands between her delicate fingers, kissing my thumbs once and bounding out of the room.

Leaving me dumbstruck.

Shaken.

“Surprise,” Dom croons, having stepped into the background for our reunion.

“Th-this is?—”

“Necessary. To make sure you do what needs to be done. She’s your family. I am your family. The child inside you is your family.”

“And what about the child’s father?” I ask bitterly.

“Adriano made his choice. Or maybe he never had one. I can’t blame him for that, for wanting to bring me down. However, I must stop him from destroying everything I’ve worked for. We must stop him.”

A high-pitched keening hum whirs in my ears.

My body doesn’t want to respond, even as Dom leads me out of the room. Down the hallway.

At the base of the stairs, I stumble, lightheaded. But Dom is right there, catching my arm. Steadying me.

Slipping something cold into my hand, followed by my bouquet, tucking the tiny barrel of the gun into the ribbon of the arrangement and folding my fingers over it. He leads me up the stairs, to the sanctuary door of the church.

My eyes drift up to his. To those awful, hollow eyes, catching in a beam of sunlight clipping through one of the stained-glass windows.

Eyes that always seemed so dark to me.

But what I find instead is something even worse, something I never noticed before.

Amber.

Just like mine.

Music announces the procession, the doors opening to reveal the staggering crowd gathered in the pews, the dazzling array of flowers, white tooling draped from the banisters, the arm rests. Every surface is resplendent with petals and glimmering white, all blushed with the tint of stained-glass light.

So bright.

Unlike the shadow spreading through my body, choking me.

Dom’s grip tightens on my arm, pinching me and carrying me along toward the dais, where blurred faces wait for me. My sentence.

The smiles lining the aisles mock me, warping into sneers.

Until I see her face, Anna’s, waiting for me, joyful tears in her eyes.

Locking onto that glowing gaze, I wrangle my terror into a stranglehold as my father stops us at the bottom of the steps, turns me toward him. His lips burn my cheek as he kisses me, whispering words I can’t hear into my ear.

One step. Two.

And I cross to my place, keeping my eyes from rising to see his face, the beautiful man across from me.

“Please be seated…” the officiant announces, the only bit of his spiel that finds purchase through the screaming rush of blood in my ears. Each breath echoes in my skull, like I’m underwater, just under the surface.

“Gloria,” Adri says my name and I jerk my head up, looking at him, the concerned look on his face.

“Yes?”

He glances to the priest and back to me.

“Do you, Miss Vipera?”

My throat constricts, my body locking up. But his hands are there, taking mine. So warm. So safe.

“I…I do.” It tumbles out as I meet Adri’s gaze, a swell of joy battling the barely masked dread filling my lungs. His fingers slide the ring onto mine, a shackle, a penance. Yet it sets me free.

“Do you, Adriano, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love until death do you part?”

“And beyond. I do,” he asserts, offering his finger to me.

Anna passes me the ring; I slip it onto his hand.

While my other hand shifts, one finger slipping around the trigger inside my bouquet.

“You may kiss the bride!”

My eyes drift closed, Adriano’s arms curling around my middle, pulling me into him. I’m falling. I’m his. Our lips meet and my heart soars, far above the turmoil boiling beneath the surface of this facade, this farce.

But one thing is true, unmistakable, unbreakable.

My love for him.

Snapping back to reality, I step back, spinning toward the first row and tear the gun from the bouquet, leveling it right at Dom. The source of all my pain, anguish, and fear.

Rage and disbelief contort his face as he stands, matching my hatred as he says two words:

“Do it!”