Chapter Eight

The ceremony was beautiful. Gen’s father walked Jada down the aisle, tears shimmering in his eyes the entire time. Jada cried throughout her vows to her husband, Louis, who now whisked her across the dance floor. Their large smiles were enough to quell the nerves she’d felt since finding out she’d slept with a mob boss the night before. She refused to acknowledge the hope which had flared in her chest every time she’d glance out at the crowd hoping, for whatever reason, to see his dark hair and hazel brown eyes among the throngs of people. It’s one reason why she detested weddings. The stench of love was palpable enough to infect even the most cynical of individuals.

Gen took another sip of her tonic and smiled as her sister sent her an enthusiastic wave. The reception would be coming to an end soon. Already people were trickling out after giving the happy couple one last congratulations. She watched a familiar looking man approach and averted her gaze.

She shouldn’t have been surprised to see Brian here. After all, it had been Louis who introduced them on one of Jada’s visits to Boston. Gen and Brian dated for nearly two years before he suddenly decided to follow his career to New York six months ago. She and her friend Charlotte had just opened their own accountant firm when they’d broken up, keeping her from following him. Not that it seemed to slow him down as he now held the hand of a heavily pregnant woman. She wondered what drew her ex to a pregnant woman. He’d always told her he had no desire to be a father.

While Brian stopped to speak with Louis and Jada, the woman excused herself and started wobbling toward Gen’s table. Two other women joined her and helped her the last few feet. Gen took her phone out and pretended to be very involved in an email.

“There you go, Sugar Plum,” one of the women said as they helped her to sit.

“Ugh, thanks guys. Bri will be ready to leave soon. I have to get off these feet,” the woman with Brian said.

“Any day now, right?” the other woman interjected.

“Yes, this little guy needs to just get here. I knew he would be late. Both me and Brian were so I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Gen’s fingers tightened on her phone.

“I am so happy he decided to man up and move down here for you. You made the right choice in not aborting it, Babe.”

“I know. I mean we were together for over a year before I got pregnant and he refused to wear protection. What did he expect?”

Gen felt bile rising in her throat. She shoved up from her chair, catching the attention of the three women. She ignored them and moved for her sister just as Brian was walking away… and toward her. The look of sheer panic on his face as he caught sight of her storming away from the table where his pregnant girlfriend sat would have been comical if she wasn’t the one he’d obviously cheated on. She tried to walk past him when his hand caught her upper arm. She tried to yank it away but his grip only tightened, pinching her skin in a punishing vice.

“Genevieve, it’s so great to see you. You look… stunning,” Brian said in that low voice she always had a hard time saying no to.

“I wish I could say the same. Fatherhood is already taking its toll, I see,” she hissed. His beautiful blue eyes widened as they flitted between her and the table of women.

“Look, Gen, I can explain…”

“Don’t,” she croaked, trying to get her arm free again.

His grip tightened further causing her to gasp from the pain. He always did like to manhandle her. She should be happy he let her go before the same fate fell on her head and bound them together forever.

“You aren’t going to tell her,” he said, his voice threatening. She knew from experience if she were to disagree, he wouldn’t hesitate to bend her to his will with his words, or his hands.

“Brian, what the fuck?” Louis interrupted.

Brian’s hand left her skin as if it had burned him. Jada grabbed Gen’s hand and pulled her protectively between Louis and herself.

“What? We were just talking,” Brian said in his defense.

The exchange had caught the attention of the group of women at the table.

“I think you lost the right to talk to her about a year and a half ago, Man. You made your choice,” Louis said, looking pointedly at his pregnant girlfriend.

“What’s your deal?” Brian asked. “She’s my ex, I can talk to her however I want.”

“You’re one of my oldest friends, Bri, but she’s my sister now. If you hurt her again, I’ll be forced to pick sides.”

“And he’ll choose the one he’s legally bound to,” Jada promised.

Brian scoffed and turned his darkening blue eyes to Gen. “We’re over. It doesn’t matter why. Stay away from my fiance,” he warned her.

Gen’s heart twisted. Fiance. He always said he never wanted to get married. Gen was a rational woman. She knew she’d lucked out when he left Boston. Still, the hurt she felt couldn’t be smothered by rational thought. As Brian walked away, she was startled to realize she wished Matteo were here to take her home. She pictured his rough, bleeding knuckles pummeling Brian to the ground in defense of her honor. God, she’d had too much to drink.

“You okay?” Jada asked.

“I’m sorry, Gen, I didn’t know he was bringing her tonight,” Louis apologized.

Gen waved her hand in the air, a new, dangerous idea coming to mind. “Don’t worry about it. It’s done and over. She can have him. I’m moving on…. And heading out. You two have fun on your honeymoon, okay? Call me when you can,” Gen said, kissing them both on the cheek. Jada gripped her in a tight hug and Gen rubbed her back.

“He’s dangerous, Genevieve,” Jada whispered where Louis couldn’t hear.

“I don’t know what…”

“I’ve known you since I was twelve. I know that look. Just go back to the hotel, okay? Promise,” Jada whispered.

Gen sighed. “I promise.”

Jada pulled away and swiped a tear. “I can’t believe I’m married!”

Gen gave her and her new husband a soft look of approval. “I can. You two were made for each other.” Louis looked down at her sister and smiled. “Bye.”

They each gave her one last hug and Gen made her way outside. She hailed a cab and gave him the address. She continued to fiddle with her purse strap as the nerves in her stomach climbed to her throat. The towering skyscrapers soon turned to familiar townhomes. The taxi pulled up behind a black Range-Rover parked against the curb.

“We’re here, Ma’am,” the driver announced.

She handed over the last of her cash and stepped out of the car. A chilly breeze ruffled the end of her knee-length dress and she shivered. She clutched the borrowed hoodie to her chest. She stared up at the dark wooden door and contemplated calling another taxi. She paced back and forth on the same two squares of sidewalk until she gathered the remainder of her courage and finally raced up the stairs and rang the bell.

The door swung open as if he’d been waiting on the other side since she’d left that morning. He held the door open with one hand and gave her his heartbreaking smile. His eyes slid down her dress and she saw the flames of desire ignite behind them.

“I was wondering how long it was going to take you to get your ass up those steps,” Matteo mused.