Brutal Vows (Queens & Monsters #4)(48)

Like every other man who gets married.

Except Declan. He doesn’t regret it for a second. He’d marry Sloane every day if he could, the mad bastard. She’s sitting in the front row on the groom’s side, beautiful and beaming like one of Raphael’s Madonnas, making all the other women around her look like dowdy pensioners.

Only Reyna could eclipse her.

Reyna with her scarlet lips and acid tongue and body that men and gods would gladly die for. Reyna with her tender heart and easy lies.

Reyna who I’m not fucking thinking about.

Again.

Forcing the thought of her from my mind, I concentrate on the row of stained glass windows lining one side of the sanctuary. It immediately makes me think of the stained glass windows at Reyna’s house, so I change my focus to the restless crowd.

My gaze lands on an unfamiliar woman sitting on the aisle about half a dozen rows back. She’s wearing a navy-blue dress with a pattern of pretty flowers that are the exact pale greenish-gray shade of Reyna’s mermaid eyes.

I’m so fucked.

When the music changes to the bride’s processional, I’m relieved at the distraction.

My relief lasts about two seconds, until Declan says, “Why are they playing this? It’s the wrong music. The matron of honor is supposed to come down before the bride.”

He’s right. That’s how we rehearsed it last night. Reyna should walk down the aisle before Lili and Gianni and take her place opposite the groom and groomsmen on the steps of the altar. Then “Here Comes the Bride” starts, which is everyone’s signal to stand. Then the bride comes down the aisle, arm in arm with her father.

But there’s no Reyna. And there’s no Gianni.

Instead, walking slowly out alone from the narthex, is Lili. Wearing a lovely white gown and holding a bouquet of white flowers. A long lace veil obscures her face.

My first thought is that something bad has happened to Reyna. I know bloody well she’d never disappoint Lili by not showing up for the wedding, so whatever’s happened, it’s major.

My blooming panic stalls when Kieran whispers in confusion, “Is it just me, or did the wee lass grow a whopping pair of melons overnight?”

I peer more closely at the slowly approaching figure.

He’s right.

Those aren’t Lili’s tits.

That’s not her nipped waist, either, or her generous hips.

Lili has a girl’s figure. The person walking down the aisle has the full, dangerous curves of a woman.

My heart makes one final, painful squeeze inside my chest, then drops dead.

Declan says, “Sweet Mother Mary. Looks like there’s been a change of plans.”

Murmurs arise from the Italian side of the aisle. People are starting to whisper, rustling in their finery as they crane their necks and gawk at the bride passing by who they can obviously tell is the wrong one.

Everybody on the Irish side has confused looks, trying to figure out what’s happening.

“Spider? You want to tell me how we’re going to handle this?”

I’d answer Declan’s question, but I’m unable to speak. I’m blank with shock. My brain’s in a jumble, my ears are ringing, and my central nervous system can’t decide if it’s about to shut down altogether or burn through a lifetime of adrenaline reserves in the next ten seconds.

The only thing that’s working—big surprise—is my dick.

Watching Reyna walk toward me down the aisle in a wedding gown has me sprung so hard and so fast, it’s got to be some kind of goddamn erection record.

She gracefully passes the first row of pews, walks up onto the altar steps, and faces me. Behind the veil, she’s tense, unsmiling, and very beautiful.

The only thing that manages to make it past my lips is a hoarse “What the fuck?”

She says quietly, “You wanted a wife, Quinn. You got one.”

The murmurs from the guests grow louder. I sense things are about to get even more banjaxed than they already are.

So I turn to Declan and say, “Don’t let anyone move. I’ll be back in two minutes.”

I grab Reyna by the arm and pull her away.

She allows it without fighting me or saying a word. I stalk past the startled priest and across the chancel, headed toward the sacristy at the back. I yank open the door, pull Reyna through it, and slam the door shut behind me.

She backs up several steps until she hits the wall and can’t go any farther.

Surrounded by racks of priest’s vestments in the small, office-like room, we stare at each other in blistering silence.

I growl, “Start talking, viper. And whatever comes out of that mouth of yours better be the bloody truth.”

She licks her lips nervously. She inhales and briefly closes her eyes. Then she opens her eyes and looks straight into mine.

“Lili’s in love with a boy named Juan Pablo. He came here to stop the wedding. Gianni found them together in the dressing room and was going to kill them both.”

I try to unfuck my brain long enough to piece a sentence together. “How does that end up with you in a wedding dress?”

She knits her brows. “Because of the deal you made with Gianni. What other Caruso female did you think would take Lili’s place? My mother?”

When I don’t say anything, she begs softly, “Please, Quinn. Please don’t hurt them. They’re good kids. They’re just in love.”