Page 25 of Claimed By The Mafia Prince

Which makes my reluctance so much worse. Father is probably festering in a soup of guilt right now. I bite my lip and nod.

I inhale harshly and close my eyes. "You're right. I just hate to think about Lucian. I hate to think what will happen when he finds out. What if he tries taking my baby from me?"

Daniel pulls me across the seat and tucks my head into his shoulder the way he's always done when I'm in need of comfort. I let myself relax into him for a moment.

"He can't do that. You two will be married, and you know he can't leave you. Same as you can't leave him."

The words do not bring me any comfort. Instead, I mumble the family vows, which suddenly sound like a death knell to my ears. "Till death us do part."

Daniel chuckles darkly, and I wince, grateful he can't see my expression. "Exactly. It's easier to leave if you're dead, Mel. And Xander will never let any harm come to you. He'd rather die."

For some reason, I doubt that. The Xander I knew is nothing like the one who dressed me in solid red for a wedding I don’t want. Xander still exists, but he’s not mine.

That Xander knew I don't like the color red, not since I'd seen it spill out of my mother's side before she'd keeled over to her death. Not since every flower at her funeral had been the red roses she'd loved so much.

Father had made sure all of it had been arranged around her casket, and then he'd torn down her rose garden and went on a vengeful spree of killing that had lasted an entire month.

No, this wouldn't be anything like when we'd both been younger and thought ourselves in love.

Xander

I tip my head up and down half of the drink. My brother Alec hitches his brow and smirks like he's seen something funny.

"Mel really won't love it if you're drunk by the time she arrives."

I eye him out of the corner of my eye, then keeping my eye on his, down the rest of the drink. His lips twitch at the corner.

"Fucking asshole. They're here. Get the bottle away from him." Declan growls. Two years younger than Alec, he's the stiff one of the family, and he's always loved Mel.

Actually, all my siblings have always loved Mel. Of course, they don't want me drunk when she arrives.

They also do not understand that the only way I can face the woman who broke my heart six years ago is if I'm three sheets to the wind.

"I've barely had a sip of the drink. Get off my back, you two." I snap. I drop the tumbler to the table with a thump and shove my chair back. "Have father brought in."

Alec nods, and this time, his face is an expressionless mask of nothing.

I move out of the living room to the door, passing by the mantel with its many photos of our family that mother insists we put out.

When my father had fallen ill three years ago, I'd known this day was coming. His voice had been a still croak in his throat as he'd told me he'd brokered a deal with the Sedrics.

Marriage in exchange for a joint alliance and an end to the very feud that had birthed the end of my relationship with Mel.

I feel a bitter mask slip over my face. Six years later, I was back at the same place. Getting married to a woman I'd loved and lost.

Father's butler, Enzo, is standing by the door, an expectant look on his face. I nod and step out of the house when he opens it with a short bow. Right as she steps out of the car, her arm is tucked into Daniel, who sends me a glare as he leads his sister towards me.

The guards stationed outside have their faces turned away, their spines straight as always.

I feel the betraying hike of my heart. It racks its way into my throat, and I swallow. She's changed.

Her body looks titillating under the drape of her red dress to match the glint of the engagement ring I'd sent this morning.

Her hips are curvier, thrusting out of her waist like they wish to make a statement all their own.

"Might want to pick your jaw off the floor and go speak to your bride."

Declan is back beside me. I roll my eyes and walk down the steps towards them. She stops for a moment, her eyes freezing on her brother's shoulder before she inhales and takes a step forward.