Chapter 4
Matteo didn't hit Adrian.
Not yet.
Instead, he ordered dinner.
That confused everyone.
Especially Celeste.
“You drag us into a basement, accuse us of murder, then ask the kitchen for dinner?”
Matteo looked at her.
“You complained you were hungry.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I was making a point.”
“So am I.”
We returned to the private dining room.
Four plates were set.
Celeste stared at hers.
No wine.
She looked insulted.
Adrian sat beside her.
I sat beside Matteo.
The pearl earring and broken capo pin remained on the table.
Celeste refused to look at them.
She focused on me.
“You've destroyed your own rehearsal.”
I didn't answer.
“You know that, don't you?”
Still nothing.
“Guests are whispering. Capos are watching.”
She cut into her food.
“Your mother would be proud. Lucia always did love ruining rooms she didn't belong in.”
My fork stopped.
Matteo didn't look at me.
He looked at Celeste.
“She belonged here.”
Celeste laughed.
“No.”
She pointed her knife toward me.
“Daniel married a pretty woman and suddenly she believed she had a voice in Bellandi decisions.”
“You mean my mother wouldn't obey you.”
“I mean she was given protection and mistook it for equality.”
My stomach turned.
Celeste continued calmly.
“Women who enter families like ours survive by understanding the difference.”
I looked at her.
“Is that what you intend for me?”
Her smile returned.
“At least you're finally asking the correct question.”
Matteo's head turned.
Celeste shrugged.
“What? You think this wedding changes what she is?”
“What is she?”
“Your wife.”
The way she said it sounded like servant.
Property.
Something owned.
Celeste looked at me.
“You eat at his table because he permits it. You wear his name because he offers it. You are safe because Bellandi men decide you're worth protecting.”
I stared at her.
“You really believe that.”
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Lucia didn't. Look how well that ended.”
Matteo set down his fork.
Very gently.
Celeste finally noticed.
He asked:
“What happens if Sofia disagrees with me?”
Celeste looked confused.
“What?”
“If she says no.”
“She shouldn't.”
“If she does.”
Celeste laughed.
“You correct her.”
My skin went cold.
Adrian nodded.
“Exactly.”
He pointed toward me.
“She is already causing disorder. Look at today.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Celeste could.
She believed every word.
She leaned toward me.
“This is what your mother never taught you. Love is not permission to embarrass your husband.”
I almost laughed.
“You threw my mother's dress into a pool.”
“And you turned it into a tragedy.”
“You knew the letter was there.”
“No.”
“You went pale.”
“Because Adrian acted like an idiot.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Thanks.”
She ignored him.
Matteo leaned back.
“Then you won't mind if we continue the rehearsal tomorrow.”
I looked at him.
So did Celeste.
“What?”
“Same guests.”
Matteo's expression remained calm.
“Same schedule.”
Adrian laughed.
“You're joking.”
“No.”
Celeste studied him.
She was looking for anger.
She didn't find it.
That bothered her.
“You expect everyone to pretend none of this happened?”
“No.”
“I expect whoever planned something for my wedding to continue planning it.”
Silence.
Adrian's fork stopped.
Celeste's eyes narrowed.
“What are you suggesting?”
Matteo smiled faintly.
“Nothing.”
That was the first time I saw fear enter Adrian's face without anger covering it.
Celeste recovered.
“Fine.”
She returned to her food.
“Continue the rehearsal. Maybe Sofia can get through one evening without crying over a dead relative.”
I looked at her.
Matteo spoke.
“Sofia isn't crying.”
Celeste glanced at me.
She hated that he was right.
Then one of Matteo's bodyguards entered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“We checked tomorrow night's assignments.”
Celeste looked up.
Adrian did too.
The guard continued.
“Someone changed the chapel detail.”
Matteo's eyes sharpened.
“How?”
“Three men were moved from the west corridor.”
“By whom?”
The guard hesitated.
Then looked directly at Adrian.
“His authority code.”
Adrian pushed back from the table.
“That's impossible.”
Matteo didn't move.
“Is it?”
“I didn't change any guards.”
Celeste looked at him.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely surprised.
Interesting.
The bodyguard continued.
“There is more.”
“What?”
“The change wasn't entered today.”
Pause.
“It was entered six weeks ago.”
Six weeks.
Before the dress arrived.
Before the rehearsal.
May you like
Before my mother's letter appeared.
Someone had been preparing something for our wedding long before Celeste ever touched that box.
