Chapter 4: The Vows

The cathedral doors opened, Ava’s heart nearly stopped. Hundreds of faces turned toward her. For one terrifying second, she forgot how to breathe. Then Luca’s hand settled against the small of her back.

“Walk.”

His voice was barely audible. Ava looked at him, that’s your advice? “Unless you’d prefer to run.” She almost smiled, almost. Then the orchestra began, she stepped forward. The long white train followed behind her, sliding across the polished floor.

Every eye was on her, everyone believed she was Elena Bennett, everyone except the man beside her. And perhaps the person who had helped Elena disappear. Ava kept her gaze fixed on the altar as her father’s words echoed in her mind.

If you refuse, they’ll kill all of us.

She had thought she was sacrificing herself for her family. Now she wasn’t sure whether she had walked into something much bigger. As they reached the altar, Luca offered his hand. She placed hers in it, his fingers tightened around hers. The priest began speaking, Ava heard almost none of it. Her mind was trapped in one sentence.

Elena was supposed to know who killed my father.

Who had killed Luca’s father? Why would Elena know? And why had she run?

“Ava?”

She blinked. The priest was looking at her. “Do you accept this man as your husband?”

Silence.

Luca watched her, his expression gave nothing away. Ava swallowed, “I do.” The words felt like a door closing behind her. The priest turned toward Luca, and do you accept this woman as your wife?

Luca didn’t hesitate. “I do.” Ava looked at him. There was something strange in his eyes. Not tenderness, not love.

Possession. As though he had just won something he’d been waiting for. The priest smiled, “Then by the authority granted to me—” A loud crash interrupted him.

Everyone turned. One of the cathedral’s side doors had slammed open, and a man stumbled inside. His suit was torn, his face was bruised.

Two security guards immediately rushed

“Wait!” Luca’s voice cut through the cathedral. The guards stopped, the stranger lifted his head. His eyes searched the crowd, then they landed on Ava. His expression changed. Shock, fear, recognition then he pointed at her.

“That’s not Elena.”

The cathedral erupted, whispers spread through the crowd. Ava’s blood froze, Luca didn’t move. The stranger took another step. “She’s not Elena Bennett.”

Ava’s stomach twisted, Richard’s face turned white. The guards grabbed the man, and he fought against them. “You don’t understand!” His eyes remained locked on Ava, “She needs to know!”

Luca finally moved. He stepped between Ava and the stranger. “Who are you?” The man looked at him, “You really don’t remember me?” Luca’s expression hardened, “Should I?” The stranger laughed bitterly. Your father would.

The entire cathedral went silent. Luca’s jaw tightened, “What did you say?”

“I said your father would remember me.”

Two guards dragged the man closer, Luca walked toward him. “Name.”

“Daniel Cross.”

Something flickered across Luca’s face, recognition. Ava noticed.

“So you do remember.” Daniel smiled. “Of course he does.” He looked at Ava again, because I was there the night his father died. Ava’s blood ran cold, Luca grabbed Daniel by the collar. “What do you know?”

Daniel didn’t answer. Instead, he looked over Luca’s shoulder at Ava. “Ask your sister.” Ava stepped forward, “My sister?”

Daniel nodded, “Elena knows everything.” Luca’s grip tightened.

“Where is she?”

Daniel smiled, she is closer than you think. Then the lights went out, screams erupted across the cathedral. Ava felt Luca’s hand close around hers.

“Don’t move.”

What’s happening?

“Stay beside me.”

The darkness lasted only seconds. But when the lights returned, Daniel Cross was gone. So was Richard Bennett. Ava’s breath caught.

“Dad?”

She looked around wildly. People were rushing toward the exits, security guards were shouting into their radios. Luca stood completely still as his eyes scanned the cathedral. Then he looked at Ava, don’t panic.

“My father is gone.”

“I know.”

You said you would protect my family.

“I will.”

“You can’t even protect him!” Something flashed in Luca’s eyes, anger. But he didn’t argue, he pulled out his phone.

“Lock every exit.”

A voice answered through the speaker. “Already done.”

Search the grounds.

“Yes, sir.”

Luca ended the call. Ava’s hands trembled, “This is my fault.”

No.

“If I hadn’t agreed to this—”

Stop. His voice was sharp. She looked up, this isn’t about your decision. He stepped closer, someone wanted your father taken. Ava shook her head.

“Why?”

Luca looked toward the altar. Because he knows something.

“About Elena?”

Maybe.

Ava’s thoughts raced. Then she remembered something.A tiny detail from earlier. Her father’s strange behavior, the folded letter, the way he’d avoided looking at her.

“Dad knew.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed. “Knew what?”

“Before you came upstairs…”

She hesitated, he said there were things about you people didn’t understand.

“And?”

He looked terrified. Luca’s expression changed, did he say anything else?

“No.”

Ava suddenly remembered another detail. The letter. She reached into the pocket hidden beneath her wedding dress and pulled it out. I found this in my sister’s room.

Luca took it. He read the words, then his expression darkened. “Where did you get this?”

It was in her bedroom. He turned the paper over, there was something written on the back. Ava leaned closer, neither of them spoke. A single sentence had been written in red ink:

The Man You Call Your Enemy Isn’t The One You Should Fear.

Luca stared at it. For the first time since Ava had met him, his composure cracked.

“What is it?” she asked.

He folded the letter, we are leaving.

“Where?”

Home.

Ava stared at him. “I thought this was my home now.” Luca looked into her eyes, no. He stepped closer, tonight , you’re coming to my house. Her heart skipped, “Why?”

His answer was quiet. Because whoever took your father knows where you are. He took her hand. “And if they wanted to scare me…” His gaze dropped to their wedding rings. “…they chose the wrong bride.”

Outside the cathedral, thunder rolled across the sky. And somewhere in the city, Elena Bennett watched the wedding broadcast from a dark room. A phone rested against her ear. “Is she married?”

A man’s voice answered. “Yes.”

Elena closed her eyes, then it begins.

“Should we warn her?”

“No, her voice trembled.”

Not yet.

“Why?”

Elena stared at the television screen. At Ava standing beside Luca, at the wedding ring on her sister’s finger. Because if Ava finds out who Luca De Luca really is…

She swallowed.

“…she’ll hate the wrong man.”