Page 5 of Sinful Hearts

“Liliya,” Emilio quickly corrects.

The correction silences the room as people wait.

I don’t dare look at my mother or Aleksy or anyone else.

The priest stutters again, studying us in confusion.

Emilio tips his head toward him, a silentproceed.

The priest clears his throat, nodding. “And, Liliya, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”

Freely?

Wholeheartedly?

Fuck no.

I hold in my scoff.

“Yes,” I whisper, hating the sound of my voice and shocked that I could even get that word out.

My heart speeds as I repeat the priest’s words, reciting vows that are nothing but lies.

Emilio does the same, his tone calm and deliberate, and his eyes never leaving mine.

When it’s time for the ring exchange, Emilio reaches inside his tux pocket to retrieve a small black velvet box and opens it, revealing two rings.

The first is a simple black band.

The second is the opposite of simple. A large rose-cut diamond on a gold band shines in the light.

I don’t have much time to admire the ring before he presses the black band into my hand. His rough fingers brush over mine, and goose bumps crawl over every inch of my body.

I nearly drop the ring in my unsteady hand. My throat tightens as I slip the band over his thick finger. He doesn’t let me off that easily. Right before I can release him, he curls his free hand around mine. I shudder as he keeps his hand on mine there for a moment. My skin burns hot at his touch.

He immediately tightens his hold.

A warning.

You belong to me now.

I own you.

I tense when he abruptly releases me. He snatches my hand to firmly shove the diamond ring on my finger, officially branding me as a Lastro. I stare down at my hand and admire the ring that sits on a spiraled pair of bands, fused into one.

It’s a ring for true love.

For fairy tales.

Not unions born on lies for power and money.

And then it happens, the moment I’ve been dreading since I made it past our vows alive.

The priest finally says, “You may now kiss the bride.”

All eyes are on us.

My body tightens, as I’m unsure of what Emilio will do.