All Chapters of NOW AND FOREVER: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

CatalinaI’d never imagined it would happen to me. I’d heard the stories and even seen the scars. That was the evidence of someone else’s fate. Not mine. Never mine. Our family was different. I was going to be different. It had been my dream until my dream ended, and reality took over.Papá and I stood in the doorway. The sun mercilessly shone down on the Lucianos’ gardens, casting the guests in a shower of sunlight. The corset of my wedding gown kept me from slumping forward as bile rose from my empty stomach, teasing my throat. Slowly and steadily, I inhaled and exhaled, swallowing my physical response. I couldn’t show my unease especially not with our special guest. Doing so would be an unacceptable sign of weakness, one that wouldn’t be tolerated, not by my father, our family, or Dario’s family.With my chin held high, my shoulders straight, and my hand resting on the sleeve of Papá’s custom suit, I kept my expression unreadable and faced the altar. As my father and I stepped onto

CatalinaMy reflection in the long mirror showed a woman. The navy-blue cocktail dress my mother brought me was more flattering than the one I planned to wear. The hem came to just above my knees, the bodice held the shoulder-baring neckline in place, and the fit accentuated the few curves I did have. Turning from side to side, I assessed the shape of my legs in the higher heeled shoes.It was difficult for me to fathom that this morning I’d been a woman on the verge of her college graduation with unlimited possibilities before her. Now, less than ten hours later, the infinite choices for my future had dwindled down to one.Accept Jorge Roríguez’s declaration or…There wasn’t another option, not if I wanted my father to retain his rank and power. As Mother had explained after my talk with Papá, if a lieutenant can’t control his daughter, how would he deserve the respect of his soldiers?Patron and Papá had already spoken with Vincent Luciano.As I added the diamond earrings my parents

CatalinaTwo weeks flew by faster than I wanted them to. I tried to stay busy, pretending my life wasn’t about to change, pretending I was stable, not a kite about to be lost to the wind. With my degree, I wanted to interview at the art galleries, playing on Mama’s sentimental thoughts of me pursuing my dream.Papá agreed to the interviews with the stipulation that actually accepting a job would be up to Dario. After the first interview, I canceled the others. If my husband allowed me to work, it wouldn’t be in Southern California. It would be in Kansas City.There wasn’t much more I knew about my future husband than I had the night of my party. Using Papá’s computer, I found a few pictures of him. If I were auditioning him for a Hollywood role, I could admit to his good looks. Dario was downright handsome in the way that made your eyes scan his features, from his black wavy hair to his dark eyes, his prominent cheekbones, and his chiseled jaw. There was something dangerous about his

CatalinaThe day before the wedding, our plane touched down at a small airport roughly an hour from the Luciano mansion. Despite the offer from Vincent Luciano to use his soldiers, Papá had his own soldiers travel ahead. Our soldiers and their cars were waiting as we landed. My immediate family wasn’t alone; Uncle Nicolas, Aunt Maria, Mireya, and Nick as well as Uncle Gerardo and Sofia were aboard our private flight.As we taxied, Camila covered my hand with hers and whispered, “You look pale. Have you eaten?”“I’m not hungry.”Camila’s, Mireya’s, and Sofia’s concerned looks didn’t go unnoticed.I had other things besides food on my mind. Mainly, I was thankful that private airflight avoided TSA. While every man on our flight was carrying at least two guns and multiple knives, I was thinking about Em’s early wedding gift. Beneath my flowing sundress was a thigh holster, holding a five-inch stainless-steel fixed blade. During the last two weeks, Em and I spent hours working on self-def

CatalinaAs the priest began his prayer, I lifted my chin in search of Dario’s expression. As it was for most of our talk last night, his countenance was unreadable. His eyes were open, staring at the man with the collar and robes. Once the prayer was over, Dario squeezed my hand as a slight smile threatened his mask.I willed myself to remain standing as different readings of Bible verses were given. It was easier than I imagined, blocking the world away and concentrating on my breathing; that was, until the priest asked, “Catalina Ruiz and Dario Luciano, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”My first instinct was to laugh.Dario’s deep affirmative response reminded me of my role.“Yes,” I said after Dario.“Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other as long as you both shall live?”Now and forever.In alive, out dead.My gaze went to Dario, who effortlessly gave his oath. He turned to me.My vo