Page 40 of Bound By A Promise

As I disconnected the call, I turned, meeting my sister’s hazel stare.

“Here,” she said, “I have something for you.”

Looking down, I watched as her fingers unfurled, revealing a large red ruby on a gold band, with tall prongs.

“No, Mia. That was Nonna Luna’s ring, the one that was stolen. You have it back.”

She glanced toward the knife still on the counter. “That knife you stabbed my wall with belonged to Nonno Alessio. The knife and ring will be together under one roof as they were when Nonna and Nonno were alive.” When I didn’t respond, she shoved the ring in my direction. “Take it and go. It’s too small for me but should fit Camila. You can take Jano’s car.”

I slid the ring into my pocket.

Jano’s car.

His Porsche.

I’d rather take his Ducati.

“I have my rental car.”

Silas and Viviana emerged from their hallway. While Silas was subdued, Viviana was grinning from ear to ear. “We have a wedding tonight. I have some quick baking to do.”

Aléjandro came out of his office, shaking his head.

“What?” I asked.

“Father Gallo will be here as soon as he’s able. He can perform the ceremony, but he can’t make the marriage legal until tomorrow at the courthouse.”

Shit.

Fuck.

One step forward and two back.

“It will be blessed,” I said, trying to convince myself. “That should appease the famiglia, thefamilies.” I hoped it would. If the marriage wasn’t legal, Andrés could pull some annulment bullshit.

Aléjandro continued, “The priest said there’s another option. In California, you can marry online. The two people must physically be present in California and together. He knows of a 24-hour website.”

Hope returned.

“We’ll do both. Legal through the website and blessed by the priest.”

“Go,” Mia said. “Go get your bride.”

Chapter

Thirteen

Camila

My pajamas were replaced with a pair of shorts, top, and hoodie. If seen by my parents or any of the guards, the change wouldn’t incite anyone’s curiosity. The long white sundress I have stuffed into my backpack would. It wasn’t what I imagined my wedding dress would be, but as my circulation hummed with anticipation, I knew my dress wasn’t what I’d remember about this night. It would be the significance of saying ‘I do.’

Turning my phone to vibrate, I stuffed it in my back pocket. I zipped my backpack and swung it over my shoulder. Inside my bedroom, I stilled, standing with my hand on the doorknob and looking around.

Seeing the room I’d lived in my entire life, memories stared back at me. Pictures in frames and others pinned to a bulletin board. Hurrying to the bookcase, I grabbed a framed picture of Em, Catalina, and me. It was taken at Catalina’s graduation from college. Taken before her life changed forever. The innocence weshared could be seen in our happy and clueless eyes. The time from before tugged at my heart.

I slipped the framed photo into an outer pocket on the backpack.

The rest of the room represented my childhood, the period of time I was walking away from.