Page 14 of Ruthless King

“That doesn’t matter. I’m not big on spectacle. It will just be me and you and my guard, Enzo, as a witness.”

“You don’t have family you want at your wedding?”

Nico shuts the car off. “No.” He doesn’t elaborate as he gets out of the car.

As for me, the only family I have left is Beatrice, and I’m honestly happy she isn’t here. She kind of scares me.

But Beatrice will expect me to meet up with her soon to report my progress back to her. I’ll have to find a way to see her again without rousing Nico’s suspicions of me.

Nico takes my hand, and together, we walk into the church. The feeling of his hand over mine is like a vise, entrapping me.

The church is empty except for a priest standing at the altar. I hear Enzo behind us as we walk down the aisle, but I don’t dare look back at him. I can’t give anyone a reason to suspect my ulterior motives.

“Father,” Nico greets the priest.

“Is this her?” the priest asks, looking at me.

“Yes. Let’s begin.”

Clearly, the priest knew Nico’s plan because he begins the ceremony. Nico knew he would choose one of us women today. As he said, he wanted a wife, and he was going to get a wife.

I just happened to be the unlucky chosen one.

Nico’s expression is unreadable. His hands are around mine, but even those don’t give me any clue to how he’s feeling. He’s somehow both relaxed and rigid.

I wonder what I look like. Terrified? Guilty? The one emotion I know I’m not feeling is happiness. This is not how I imagined my wedding going. I dreamed of a wedding dress and my parents there and being in love.

Not one of those things is true for me today.

That’s not my mission, I remind myself. The point of this marriage is to find out the truth. Did Nico kill my father, and if he did, can I kill him? I have hate in my heart for this man.

But am I actually capable of murder?

Only time will truly tell.

“I, Nico Mancini, take this woman, Aurora Keller, to be my lawfully wedded wife,” he says, drawing me back to the present. Not even my real last name is being used. I’m no longer Aurora Costa, and I don’t think I ever will be again.

The priest tells me to repeat the same vow.

I try not to let my voice shake as I say, “I, Aurora … Keller, take this man, Nico Mancini, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Nico cups my face and gives me a simple, gentle kiss on the lips. My body lights on fire from that little touch. Why, though? I hate this man.

But I can’t deny he’s handsome, and it’s doing strange things to me.

No. He murdered my father. I can’t find him handsome.

“Let’s go home,” Nico says, walking me down the aisle. Once again, Enzo follows behind, ever watching.

“No party?” I ask.

“No. Too many people.”

“Are you not a people person?”

“I am. But right now isn’t a good time.”