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We walked in silence through the e on theindoor onto the veranda overlooking the backyard and the beach The front of the garden was occupied by the huge white pavilion where the wedding ceremony would be held But behind the pavilion dozens of tables had been set up for the following feast Voices carried over tofor my arrival A path of red rose petals led from the veranda toward the entrance of the pavilion I followed mother into the small room between the outside and the htened e entered Mother gave hi into the makeshift chapel His smile was earnest when he offered me his arm “You look beautiful,” he said quietly “Luca won’t knohat hit him”

I ducked my head “Thanks, Father”

“Be a good wife, Aria Luca is powerful and once he takes his father’s place, his ill be law Make me proud, make the Outfit proud”

I nodded, ht for words Thequartet and a piano Father lowered lad for the extra layer of protection, no matter how thin Maybe it would hide my expression from afar

Father led ave a low co aisle and the uests to either side of it My eyes were drawn to the end of the aisle where Luca stood Tall and i in his charcoal suit and vest with the silver tie and the white shirt His groorey, and wore no jacket and a bowtie instead of a tie Fabiano was one of theht much shorter than the men

My father tugged s seemed to carry me on their own accord as my body shook with nerves I tried not to look at Luca and instead watched Gianna and Liliana from the corner of ave h and not bolt for the outside

White rose petals covered my path and were squashed under h I was sure it wasn’t meant to be

The walk took forever and yet it was over too soon Luca extended his hand, palripped the corners of my veil and lifted it, then he handed ray eyes seemed to burn up with an e? I didn’t aze

The priest in his white frock greeted us, then the guests, before he began his opening prayer I tried not to pass out Luca’s grip was the one thing keepingWhen the priest finally cas could barely hold uests all rose from their chairs

“Luca and Aria,” the priest addressed us “Have you coive yourselves to each other in e? Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?”

Lying was a sin, but so was killing This room breathed sin “Yes,” Luca said in his deep voice, and a moment later my own ‘yes’ followed It came out firm

“Since it is your intention to enter into ht hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church” Luca clasped ainst my cold skin We faced each other and I had no choice but to look up into his eyes Luca spoke first, “I, Luca Vitiello, take you, Aria Scuderi, to be ood times and in bad, in sickness and in health I will love you and honor you all the days of my life” Hoeet the lies sounded from his mouth

I recited the words expected of s

Luca picked up ers shook like leaves in the breeze as I raised the hand was firn of my love and fidelity In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”

He slipped the ring onto old with twenty sn of love and devotion for other couples was nothing but a testaolden cage I’d be trapped in for the rest of my life Until death do us part wasn’t an empty promise as with so e There was no way out of this union for me I was Luca’s until the bitter end The last feords of the oath men shen they were inducted into thevow:

‘I enter alive and I will leave dead’

It was er For athat Luca had to steady my hand and help me I hoped nobody had noticed, but as usual Matteo’s keen eyes rested on h abouttime

I should have run when I still had the chance Now as hundreds of faces froht was no longer an option Nor was divorce Death was the only acceptable end to a ed to escape Luca’s watchful eyes and that of his hench my father could say would prevent Luca’s Fa them lose face