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Fifteen

C ALISTA

Squinting through the boutique’s large window, I scanned the street outside, taking in the bulky figures clad in tailored suits and earpieces. I counted the familiar faces, reaching a total of twelve bodyguards, their presence as obvious as ever, not even including the ones flanking my sisters.

The whole scene was absolutely ridiculous.

With a deep sigh, I reminded myself of the capable security already at my disposal.

Yet, here we were, with even more men stationed outside. It was clear Leon had orchestrated this without a word to me, and although I attempted to swallow my irritation, the effort was in vain .

Most of the guards were under Leon’s command, with only a handful dispatched by the Vitalis family. I mentally noted to address this extravagant display with him. The potential cost gave me a chill, even though I knew Leon wouldn’t be bothered by the expense.

His intentions were rooted in protection, but the spectacle made discretion a lost cause. The men tried to blend in, pretending to linger, yet their vigilant stances screamed otherwise, drawing attention to the fact that they were guarding a mafia princess.

I considered bringing this up with my sisters, hoping for some solidarity or even just shared exasperation.

But as I turned back toward them, ready to voice my thoughts, Avra interrupted with a grin, pressing another sparkling champagne flute into my hand, the bubbles dancing up the glass in a silent cheer.

“Drink!”

“If you insist.” I downed the sparkling golden spirit. “But if I keep this up, I won’t be able to walk, let alone stand up long enough to try on another gown.”

The boutique’s lighting reflected off the rows of pristine white dresses hanging like dreams waiting to be tried on.

I was here to find my perfect wedding dress, but the bubbles from the flutes of champagne they kept refilling had gone to my head, making my steps a little unsteady on the plush carpet.

“You’re drinking for both of us,” Avra teased, her hand resting on her prominently rounded belly, which seemed ready to burst with life.

Her skin radiated a soft glow, and she exuded an air of serene beauty that made her look like a fucking goddess descended from Olympus, glowing with health and happiness.

“And for both of us as well.” Laya indicated Constantine, who nestled against her while nursing happily. She ran her fingers through the baby’s dark curls.

“Exactly,” Avra continued with a playful grin. “You have to finish this bottle for us since we can’t join in.”

I giggled as I wobbled back to the dressing room, the champagne flute cool in my hand.

“I don’t think that’s a wise move.” I pulled aside the heavy velvet curtain.

“Besides, Avra, you’re on the brink of bringing a new life into the world, and I’d hate to be slumped over in a champagne-induced stupor when your little one decides to make an entrance. ”

“Don’t jinx it,” she replied with a mock-serious tone. “I want this baby to hold off until after the wedding.”

“I think that decision might be up to the baby,” Laya stated.

As I stood behind the curtain, I smiled while thinking of my sisters. Laya was a fantastic mother, and I had every confidence that Avra would be just as amazing. After all, she had practically raised both Laya and me when we were in hiding in Prague.

Sometimes, it felt more like she and Vik were my parents than our mother and father had been. I’d been so young when they’d died, and I had so many more important memories that I shared with Avra.

It made me sad to think of all the things our parents had missed. And now, my wedding would be just another stark reminder of their absence.

I slipped on the third dress of the day and stared at myself in the mirror.

In the end, I decided it was way too poofy, but I walked out to my sisters anyway. They’d only make me put it back on if they didn’t get a chance to see it.

“It’s…so…” Laya let her gaze roam from the tiny off-the-shoulder sleeves down to the widening froth around my hips.

Avra shuffled ahead with a slight wobble due to her swollen belly. She placed her hand on her rounded belly while squinting at me.

“No. You look like a marshmallow drifting off the cake stand,” she declared, warm but firm. “Why does the dress flare out like a bell? It’s supposed to be a dress, not a blimp.”

“Glad we’re unanimous.” I pursed my lips.

“Even though you look like you’re about to float away like a cloud in the sky, you’re still beautiful, Cali,” she said. “Mama and Papa would be proud of you.”

“Thanks,” I said, my smile fading.

Avra seemed to notice my sadness. She grabbed the bottle of champagne and poured me another glass.

“Keep drinking,” she said.

“If I keep drinking, I’m going to wind up deciding on some atrocity like this!” I protested, but I took the glass anyway, taking a sip of the delicious bubbly.

“Okay, now go and take that monstrosity off and keep going!”

I did as she said, trying to push away the sadness. This was supposed to be a happy occasion, not a depressing trip down memory lane.

I tried on another dress, this one a heavy couture strapless beaded number that had an excessively tight bodice.

“It looks like your boobs are pushed up under your chin!” Laya cried.

I looked in the mirror and couldn’t argue.

“This is excruciating,” I complained, grabbing the nearby flute and downing the rest of the champagne. “I’m never going to find anything.”

“Yes, you will. It just takes time,” Avra said. “You can’t expect to find perfection on your first try.”

Her words made me think of Leon, and I felt a flush of heat rise to my cheeks.

“Oh my God, she’s blushing,” Laya teased, reaching out to pinch my cheek.

I swatted her hand away. “I’m not! I’m just…thinking about how lucky I was that I got to meet my fiancé on the first try.”

“That was luck indeed. But finding the perfect dress? That’s another quest entirely. Now, on to the next one,” Avra stated.

She pushed me playfully, and I retreated again behind the curtain. I shimmied out of the beaded gown and slipped into the next dress, expecting to reject this one too.

But as I caught my reflection in the mirror, an unexpected wave of warmth surged through me, and for once, it wasn’t because of thoughts of Leon.

The gown, crafted from exquisitely delicate silk, fit like a dream, hugging each of my curves in precisely the right way.

The sweetheart neckline offered just a glimpse of cleavage, enough to be alluring without being revealing.

The skirt flowed in an elegant A-line, cascading over my thighs in a luxurious drape that swayed with every tiny movement.

I beamed at my reflection, a certainty settling over me that this was the dress. With a grin stretching across my face, I stepped out to show my sisters.

“I think this is?—”

“Fuck yes!” they exclaimed in unison, cutting me off with their excitement.

“—the one?” I finished.

“Spin!” Laya demanded, circling her fingers in the air.

With a joyful flourish, I obliged, twirling around and watching the silk whirl around me as if it had been crafted for me alone.

“Oh, Cali.” Avra’s eyes shimmered with tears of happiness. “You’re going to be the prettiest bride who ever lived!”

“Can we go to lunch now?” Laya asked, a hint of impatience in her voice. “I swear this kid sucks every calorie out of my body!”

“Let me get out of this and talk to the clerk, and we can go,” I reassured her, retreating to the dressing room once more. I lingered in front of the mirror, taking in the sight of myself in the dress.

I was going to be a wife.

Somehow, wearing this dress made it all feel so real, so immediate. Leon’s face flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile as I finished getting ready.

Twenty minutes later, the four of us were tucked away on plush loveseats at our favorite restaurant, the familiar chatter of patrons and the clinking of cutlery surrounding us.

We indulged in olives and hummus, my sisters stealing glances at me as I sipped more champagne.

I was on cloud nine, and they quickly picked up on the blissful aura that enveloped me.

“I’m assuming the fact that you can’t stop smiling today means that you’re happy with your choice of Leon as your husband?” Avra asked.

“I am,” I admitted. “Although that dress is dreamy, isn’t it?”

“You know, Cali, you can purchase the dress without a wedding being required,” Laya said. “It’s not too late to back out if you’re having second thoughts.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m sure. Leon’s a great man. He’s been nothing but good to me.”

Too good, I thought to myself. He’d been polite, almost hesitant, in bed, and my heart thudded at the memory of every single moment. I craved the roar behind those gentle eyes, the kind of passionate intensity I needed more than he knew.

All the rumors I’d heard about him being violent and wild had left me wondering when that man would appear. So far, Leon had kept him hidden, if he existed at all.

I wanted to talk to my sisters about this, but they didn’t even know we’d slept together at all, let alone what it was like.

“Well, he does seem like a good man, but don’t they all?” Avra said. “The important thing is that he’s gentle and respectful to you the first time.”

Heat once again crept up my cheeks.

I wondered what my sisters would think if they knew I’d already had lots of sex with Leon. I wondered what they would think if they knew what I wanted was anything but gentle or respectful.

“I don’t think that’s anything anyone needs to be worried about,” I said with a chuckle.

I should have known they’d see right through me. They always did. There were times I was sure they were mind readers.

Avra squinted over at me.

Laya cocked her head.

And then they glanced at each other before staring back at me, full of accusations.

“Calista!” Avra exclaimed. “You’ve already slept with him!”