Page 41 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
The moment is bittersweet as I know she won’t need me after today. She probably hasn’t needed me since the moment shetried to escape our father. She’s become a strong, independent woman.
There’s a knock on the door and Rosa enters. Her eyes tear up when she sees Elena. “Oh, you’re so beautiful. Don Leone is going to be in shock.”
“Thank you, Rosa.”
“He asked me to give this to you.” Rosa hands Elena a small box.
Elena glances at me. “Maybe this is the something new.” She opens the box and inside are two dazzling sapphire earrings.
“He said it was new and blue,” Rosa says. “I see you have blue already.”
Elena looks in the mirror as she puts on the earrings. “It goes perfectly.” She turns around. “Well?”
“Rosa is right, Niko is going to be shocked.”
While not traditional, Elena opts to not have anyone walk her down the aisle. After all, she’s giving herself to Niko. Outside, in the lovely garden filled with colorful blooms, she joins her life to Niko’s. I swear I see tears in the man’s eyes when she first comes into his view. It actually helps me feel more comfortable about the two of them. I know Niko is a killer, a ruthless, determined Mafia businessman. But I have no doubt that he loves my sister. There is no one better to give her what she wants and keep her safe than him.
The best part of the wedding and small reception for me is that I don’t see Donovan. I wonder if he’s even at the compound. So, all in all, it’s a lovely day. That is, until Niko informs me that I’ll be returning to Manhattan later that night with Liam.
“Why?” I’m part angry but also part afraid. Now that he’s married, is he going to get rid of me? Not to kill me, but to ship me back to Luca? Or just to separate me from Elena?
“I’m on my honeymoon.”
“Oh… right.” Due to the tensions between my father and Niko, the decision is to postpone a real honeymoon until my father is dead. Instead, they’ll have their honeymoon here at the compound. “I can stay away?—”
“You’re going to Manhattan. Rosa has packed your things.”
“Does Elena know?”
“Do you really think she wants her sister on her honeymoon?”
He has a point.
“You’ll be safe with Liam. Donovan will keep you safe while there.”
“Don’t you need him here with you?”
He arches a brow like he finds my question odd. “We’re plenty protected here. Besides, he has work to deal with in the city.”
Ugh.
It’s after nine when Liam loads me into his car and we head back to the city. I’m not sure what to make of him. He’s very serious, even more so than Niko. I’ve learned that he was once Bratva but is now in the FBI. Was that by design, or had he wanted out of the criminal life? If that was the case, why is he essentially Niko’sconsigliere? These are all questions I don’t dare ask him. Instead, we talk about Niko and Elena and our favorite Italian wines. He asks my opinion of the best pizza in New York. Of course, I say Niko’s place. Is it the best? Maybe not, but it’s pretty good.
When we arrive at the penthouse, he escorts me up. Maria is there to take my bag to my room. Donovan is there too, and my first sight of him after last night makes my insides roll over. He barely glances at me as he tells Liam they need to talk.
I go to my room and settle in. It’s late, after midnight, but I can’t sleep, so I head downstairs to get a glass of wine. Once I have my glass, I make my way toward the stairs.
“Settled in?”
I stop but don’t turn at Donovan’s voice. “Yes.”
“Good.”
I turn. “You missed the wedding.”
He’s leaning against the doorframe of Niko’s office, his arms crossed. “No, I didn’t. I was there. I left after.”
“Oh.”