Chapter 13

Aurora POV

I jump so hard that I nearly trip over myself stepping back from him.

Of course, Dominic doesn’t at all look startled. The only sign of surprise that colors his face is the single brow he raises in my step-sister’s direction.

“You’re supposed to be making decisions, you know. This is your wedding.” Her words are laced with audible venom. “Not coming over here to… hang out.”

“I wasn’t.” Though, even to my own ears, my words sound suspicious.

Plus, I don’t know why it matters. It’s not like I’ve been the one making decisions this entire time anyway.

If anything, she and her mother have relished stripping every last ounce of control from me, making it their personal mission to dictate everything from the guest list to the flower arrangements, even down to the exact shade of the decor.

“Really…” Her gaze flickers past me, sharp and assessing. I don’t need to turn around to know what—or rather, who—she’s looking at. “Is that true?”

He’s leaning back against the brick wall of the pavilion now, arms folded loosely across his chest, his usual casual stance restored. As if he wasn’t just standing inches from me moments ago practically swallowing up the air between us with his overwhelming presence alone.

How can none of this bother him?

“Yes.” He replies. “Just ran into each other on the way back from my smoke break.”

Camilla’s lips press into a thin line. “Well, hurry up. Leonardo’s waiting for your answer.”

The moment she disappears from view, an unsettling awareness settles over me. For a fraction of a second, neither of us moves. All traces of irritation and secrecy from our earlier conversation are wiped away as he adjusts the cuff of his suit.

“Let’s get going.”

I exhale quietly, forcing my emotions back into the little box I’ve been keeping them in, locked away inside my heart. It’s been easier that way lately, to push them down and forget they exist instead of trying to understand them.

Without another word, we both head back toward the others.

“Aurora.”

The moment we step back into the main area, Leonardo finds me immediately. His arm is around me before I even have a chance to react, his grip possessive. His gaze flickers past me, sharp and assessing, as it settles on Dominic.

“Where did you run off to?”

“Just stepped outside for a smoke,” Dominic explains smoothly.

It’s a perfect, effortless lie, one that can’t be questioned. One that Leonardo won’t question, because this is his son, his heir, the man who plays his part well enough to never be second-guessed.

I keep my face blank, my breath slow and measured, pretending that standing between the two of them doesn’t make my stomach twist with unease.

The moment Dominic is back within reach, Camilla comes up beside him, her head tilting as a small smile plays on her lips. “You know, I don’t think I have your number, Dominic. Mind if I get it?”

I don’t miss the way Beatrice glances over, her expression approving. Camilla isn’t subtle about her attempts to draw Dominic’s attention at all. If this were any other situation, I’d be a little envious about my step-sister’s bravery.

“Romero handles my contact information,” he replies, completely devoid of interest. “You can contact him.”

Camilla blinks, thrown off for just a second before recovering. “Oh… right. Um. Of course.”

She laughs lightly but I can tell the rejection stings. I school my face but a flicker of satisfaction spreads through my chest at her failed attempt.

Serves her right.

Once the awkward moment passes, we turn back to the matter at hand—the venue decision.

After all the back and forth after all the suspicion I have toward why Dominic wants me to choose this particular location, I give in to what he wants. “I like the botanical garden the most.”

Maybe it’s exhaustion. Maybe it’s because I already know this wedding is nothing more than a spectacle for whatever Dominic’s planning. Or maybe, deep down, I trust Dominic more than I should.

Dominic doesn’t react outwardly after I speak, but I catch the way his fingers still at his side for just a moment.

“There’s no need for something extravagant,” I explain. “We already announced the engagement so I think a smaller venue would be more… practical. For security reasons.”

Leonardo watches me for a beat, then nods. “Yes, I agree with you. I did like the large one we went to first but you’re right. This one is just as beautiful.”

For the first time, he looks almost pleased, as if me expressing an opinion makes him think I actually care about this wedding.

The moment the venue is locked in, the next step falls into place.

“Now we need to get you a wedding ring.” Leonardo says in my ear. “Something big and shiney.”

“Ugh.” Camilla grumbles. “I don’t want to be around for that. Picking out jewelry is so boring.”

“We’ll head home then, dear.” Beatrice folds both of her hands over her daughter’s shoulders. “Aurora doesn’t need us for that. Besides, Leonardo seems to have a fine taste in jewelry.”

We head for the front of the venue where ours and Dominic’s cars have already been pulled up. Leonardo’s hand is tight on my hip as he guides me to his own, leaving Camilla and Beatrice to slide into the one we’d taken to meet him here. Theirs quickly speeds off the second both of them climb inside, leaving the rest of us in the dust.

Right as Leonardo’s hand brushes over the handle of the passenger-side door, his phone chimes.

He pauses, brow furrowing slightly, before pulling it out of his jacket pocket. “One second.”

I watch as he drifts away from me to answer it, stepping just far enough that I can’t make out the conversation. His voice drops into a low, clipped tone, but even though I can’t hear the words, I don’t need to.

The way his shoulders stiffen, his responses becoming short and curt—something’s gone wrong.

“I need to go handle some business,” he says when he comes back to me, already moving toward his car. “We can reschedule this for another day.”

I blink, still catching up to the sudden shift in plans.

Before I can ask why, another voice drifts over.

“What’s going on?” Dominic.

Leonardo sighs, rubbing his temple as if this is just another inconvenience to add to his growing list. “I need to take care of something. We’ll reschedule—”

“I can take her to the shop.” The words slip from Dominic’s mouth smoothly but there’s something underneath them that has me watching him warily.

A beat of silence stretches between us.

Leonardo’s gaze flickers toward him, assessing him. “What’s with the sudden interest? I didn’t take you as a jewelry person.”

“There’s no sense in delaying things, father,” Dominic continues, his tone deceptively casual. “Take care of whatever it is that’s going on. I’ll make sure she comes home with a ring. We wouldn’t want anything to delay your wedding.”

The words are delivered lightly, but I know better. After a moment, Leonardo exhales sharply and nods.

“Alright.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his sleek, black credit card, holding it out toward me. “Aurora, take my card. Buy whatever you want.”

Leonardo's phone chimes again. A muscle ticks in his jaw.

“Fine.” His attention shifts back to me. “Aurora, I’ll speak to you soon.”

And just like that, he’s gone.

My skin prickles, awareness creeping down my spine. A hand caresses my hip, firm yet slow, the touch light and deliberate. A shiver rolls up my spine before I even register the words that follow.

“Let’s go.” He says into my ear.

I inhale sharply, my pulse thrumming, as the weight of my new reality settles over me.

I’m guided back to Dominic’s car, ignoring the angry stare from my step-sister as we pass their car and I’m put into the passenger seat of the one behind it.

I say nothing as he shuts the door behind me and gets in on the other side. How is it that I’m always finding myself trapped in these close-knit situations with him? Time and time again, we seem to fall into the pattern that it’s becoming clear to me is some kind of fucking up karmatic loop.

I choose to stare out the window as we take off for the boutique.

Soon, I notice that Beatrice and Camilla's car take a different route at an intersection, while Leonardo's car continues to drive steadily ahead of us. It seems like we were heading in roughly the same direction.

I could tell my mind is still caught in a tangled mess of thoughts as Dominic drives in silence.

What am I going to do?

The car slows. No, not slows. It jerks, the force of it slamming my body against the seat as the seatbelt locks across my chest.

The air leaves my lungs in a sharp gasp.

“What the fuck?” Dominic growls from the driver’s seat.

Looking out through the windshield, that’s when I see it: ahead of us, the road is partially blocked by a group of men—armed.

A gang dispute?

That’s when I realize something else: the car the men have surrounded is Leonardo’s car.

He’s surrounded.

“Hold on.” Dominic says, throwing an arm out across my chest to protect me as he shifts the car into a different gear.

The second one of the men turns to our car. He lifts his gun and aims for our vehicle.

My eyes slam shut.

Oh god, we’re going to die.