Page 173 of Unspoken Lies

“I’m sure he said it a lot more colorfully than that too,” I reply.

“Doesn’t he always,” Jared says with a fake shudder.

Theo, Elijah, and Jared are all terrified of my stepfather. Liliana says that it’s healthy to be scared of your father-in-law. I don’t think that many people need to worry about their father-in-law calling a hit on you, but whatever works.

Getting closer to the crest of the hill, I take in how beautiful San Diego is. There’s still so much of California that I haven’t experienced, and I’m glad we got to spend a few days here before we fly out tomorrow.

My dress billows out behind me with the wind as we climb, the sidewalk ensuring that there’s no chance for me to trip. My lips part in surprise as I see the gorgeous flowers creating an aisle for me to walk between and Emil waiting patiently for me at the beginning of it.

Our wedding party is small, but I know there’s a photographer that’s supposed to be here, I just haven’t seen her yet. Jared said she’d be completely unobtrusive, I just didn’t realize that would mean she’d also be invisible.

“I knew you wouldn’t run,” he says with a smirk, holding out his hand to accept it from Jared. “The option to is still nice, though.”

“All options are nice,” I concede. “I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

Emil tucks my hand into the crook on his arm and he nods.

“Here we go then,” he says.

Jared leaves us to stand with Liliana and the guys, and Emil and I begin to walk toward them. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the photographer, and I realize just how good she is at that moment. When we were planning things, she promised to get candid shots of me walking up the hill with Jared. I never saw her at all.

“Liliana’s father wants to take over the construction of the safe room. Do you think anyone would mind?” he asks as if we’re just taking a stroll.

My heart is starting to pound with each step I take closer to my future, and I nod.

“I don’t see why not,” I rasp. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but I don’t know if I’m going to make it. “He was in charge of the one in Liliana’s house.”

She decided to give the house to her father to live in since he decided to move to be closer to her. This way, it stays in the family. It was the perfect escape for her when she needed it.

“He was,” Emil agrees. “I think he’s also planning a hidden room as well. We just won’t tell anyone until it’s done. You all just enjoy your honeymoon.”

My hand touches my chest as I laugh. Old men with their machinations. They’ll never change, and I fucking love it. Of course they’d take advantage of our vacation.

“I love you,” I tell him with a sigh.

“Oh,mija, I’ve loved you since I set eyes on you. You deserve the world, and I intend to make sure Liliana and your men give it to you.”

Calvin is standing in front of the archway of flowers to be our witness with my stepfather, a handkerchief clutched in his fingers as he watches us pass by him. Emil gives my hand to Nacio and he helps me join the group surrounding me. My mom gives me a watery smile as she holds a notebook in front of me. We asked her if she’d marry us, something she didn’t expect.

“This is a ceremony for a group that has worked hard to find their way,” Mom says, her voice strong despite the emotions written on her face. “Over the last year, I’ve been able to watch them together and it’s allowed me to see how much they love Rachelle. It also helped me see how protective they are too.”

When I went to the party last year with the guys, I found out that there were also people invited who were interested in the club as a whole. Someone drank too much and made the mistake of touching me. Theo punched him and Ignacio escorted him out. No one was surprised, and the party continued as if nothing had happened.

No one else made the mistake of touching me.

Mom talks about love, forgiveness, and redemption. My tears finally break when I make my vows with Jared. Even though we’re married on paper, we didn’t get to do this part. His hands squeeze mine as he promises to love, cherish, and protect me to his dying breath. I notice that his eyes also have a shine that wasn’t there before.

It appears no one is going to leave without shedding a tear or two.

Next, Mom performs a hand fasting for us, something she studied before the wedding. The six of us stand with our hands wrapped together and tell each other what we mean to one another.

Liliana is wearing a midnight blue and white dress that makes her look like a goddess, her hair also braided and curled like mine. She gazes at Nacio and I and says her vows, tears running down her cheeks with each word.

Each of them sees something different inside of us, showing you can’t judge a book by its cover. The guys are wearing tuxes that would make my mouth water if I wasn’t so damn emotional.

The ceremony ends in a group hug, each of us officially a mess by the end. It’s mid morning, and it’s not too warm yet. The hotel has a brunch set up for us, which I’m glad for because my stomach is starting to growl.

Theo digs into his pocket and hands me a little packet of tissues. Always prepared.