Wrong Bride

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

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“Belinda.” She smiled at me, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. My fingers tightened on my champagne flute.

“Verena,” Kieran spoke from behind me. “I did not expect to see you here. I did not invite you.”

“I wouldn’t miss your wedding, darling. After all, we have so much history together.”

I felt this aura between both of them as they locked eyes and held it. It was obvious that they hated it each other, but underneath was this romantic tension.

He dismissed her casually with a wave of her hand. She bent down to kiss my cheek. As her lips brushed my skin, she whispered, “I know who you are little mouse. And I know what happened to your sister. The question is: when should I tell my dear Kieran?”

I sat rigidly upright, trying to be carefully neutral as possible. Even though my heart hammered dangerously in my chest. She gave me a last knowing look before her heels clicked away. When she was finally out of eyesight, was when I could finally breathe.

The Master suite was breath-taking; soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a posh garden, and a massive bed sitting prettily in the middle.

I felt his palm at the small of my back. “It’s beautiful.” I whispered.

“I had it redecorated when we announced our engagement,” Kieran moved further into the room. “I wanted everything to be perfect for my bride.”

His Bride. The possessiveness in his voice sent shivers down my spine. Then, I remembered that we were going to consummate the marriage. Heat spread up my neck. I have never been with a man before, and I wasn’t sure that I was ready for my virginity to be taken. Especially by a man as dangerous as Kieran.

“Kieran, about tonight…” I started, then stopped. He turned to look at me. “Yes?”

“I…that is…we” God, why I couldn’t I form a complete statement. “I’m very tired.”

His eyes studied me closely. Then he slowly nodded. “Of course, it has been an overwhelming day.”

Relief flooded through me. “Thank you.”

“Though, I do hope you don’t think our marriage will remain…unconsummated…indefinitely.” His voice was calm. “I am, after all, a man with certain expectations.”

I swallowed. “I understand.”

He nodded once, then headed towards the door. As he opened it, he paused.

“I want you to know something Belinda.” He said, without turning around. “I don’t believe in fairytale marriages or romantic love. This arrangement serves my purposes, and yours. But I do believe in loyalty.”

I stood frozen on the floor as he continued. “Betray me, and you’ll discover why they call me the most dangerous man in this city.”

“I understand.” I whispered.

“Good,” he stepped outside. “Then, maybe, this marriage will not be a disaster as we both expected.” He closed the door with a click.

I woke up to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows. When my eyes adjusted to the bright light, everything that happened came crashing down.

Yesterday hadn’t been such a nightmare.

I was married to Kieran Vescari. And somehow, I was still breathing.

I admired the huge bedroom better now. Was this going to be mine alone? Or will I move in to sleep with Don Vescari. In the night, I had heard movement inn the room beside me, I suspected it to be Kieran. I was so glad that he had not disturbed me, and hadn’t claimed what others would consider his marriage right.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. My heart pounded. Was it Kieran? “Come in.”

A maid entered with a silver breakfast tray. “Good morning Mrs. Vescari. I hope you slept well.”

Mrs. Vescari. It was going to take me time before I would get used to it.

“Very well, thank you. Is Don Vescari awake?”

“Oh yes, madam. He has been up since dawn, he asked me to let you know that he will be in meetings most of the morning. But he expects to see you for lunch.”

I was hit by both relief and disappointment. Relief that I would be free from his scrutinising gaze, and disappointment for reasons I didn’t want to examine.

After she left, I picked up the breakfast tray. It was covered in fresh fruit, pastries, and delicacies that I didn’t recognize.

But it was what laid beneath the silver dome that made my blood turn to ice.

A peanut butter bagel, toasted perfectly, with an orange marmalade on the side. Belinda’s favorite breakfast.

My hands shook as I stared at the innocent looking bagel. One bite would prove that I was Belinda Russo. But I wasn’t Belinda, I was Melinda and I was severely allergic to peanuts since I was a child.

Was this a test? What does he know? How much does he know?

I set the bagel down with trembling fingers and reached for a croissant instead, my appetite completely gone. This wasn’t a coincidence. I was sure of it.

KIERAN

I sat in my study watching the security monitors that showed every angle of the master suite. Belinda had been staring at the breakfast table for ten minutes. Peanut bagel was her favourite food, and I expected her to wolf it down in minutes. Instead, she sat looking at it in horror. She set the peanut bagel aside and reached for a croissant.

Either she wasn’t Belinda Russo, or Belinda had lied about herself.

Both possibilities intrigued me.

My phone rang on top my desk. It was my right-hand man, Raffaele. “What did you find?”

“The Russo’s family is more desperate than we thought.” His voice came through clearly. “Vincent’s gambling debts run deeper than we imagine, he owes money to the Caruso family.”

Caruso family, the number one enemy of the Vescari’s.

“…the Irish, and even to loan sharks downtown. We are not his only problem.”

“And the daughter?”

“Which one?”

I leaned forward in my chair, a slow smile spreading across my face. “You found something.”

“Two daughters boss. Belinda, twenty-four, the one you met at the engagement party and Melinda twenty-three. Melinda works as a librarian, keeps to herself, is barely seen or heard of. It’s like she walks in Belinda shadows.”

I hadn’t seen any Melinda during the engagement party. I thought Belinda was the only child. Melinda. The name fit her better than Belinda.

“Where is Belinda now?”

“That’s where it gets interesting. She left town two nights ago with a man named Marco Vescari, Your cousin.”

My blood turned to ice. Marco was my father’s sister’s son, the weak link in the Vescari chain. The one relative who had always resented my position as the head of the family.

“They are married?”

“Yes they are. They got married yesterday morning, in Vegas.”

Clever I thought grimly. Very clever.

So the Russo family had sent me the wrong daughter, but instead of a shallow predictable woman I could ignore, they gave me something far more dangerous. A woman who fascinated me, who reeked of purity and innocence. Innocence. When was the last time I encountered such quality in my world?

The original Belinda had been beautiful but uninspiring. All she could talk about was fashion and minor gossip.

I could expose her, demand the real Belinda, punish the entire family for their audacity. Stay true to my reputation. That would send the right message about trying to deceive me.

But that would mean losing her and I was surprised by how unappealing that sounded.

She is just a woman. I reminded myself. But as I watched her from the security cameras, I decided to choose a different path. I was eager to see how long she would be able to keep up with the lie.

“So what do you want me to do boss?”

“Nothing. Not yet. But let me know if Marco and his new bride surface anywhere. And Raffaele? This information does not leave this room.”