Marked by the Mafia king

ra'

Lionel Godfrey to be you

the cathedral like a verdict,

ound a bouquet of white roses. Their scent clung to my nose, sweet and nauseating. I coul

ed, but no w

is hair was perfectly slicked back. His posture was perfect. His smile w

s his charming little fiancée. It was the same expression he wore in campaign posters and p

ighten around mine, a subt

amiliar, powerful people in expensive clothes, business partners, investors, and political allies. All

I saw

o

wed with excitement, though her features were pale and tired from too many hospital visits and to

I had s

nodded at the interviews, and ignored t

I couldn't breathe. The cathedral

ompted again, kindly.

. My tongue felt heavy.

n't wha

't do

isn't

al. A transa

icy smiles. Of press conferences and empty promises. Of lies spoken for the sake of legacy

ht on my face the last time Rosa and I visited the park. The wind

..

his

hed, a subtle but u

rching for something, gentlene

saw was

cracked

pered, almost too

ppled throu

ng. "Elara," he said, his voice like

s time, pulling my hand from hi

you saying?" he his

, voice shaking but fir

d. It felt like the

u're doing. Think about you

greed," I shot back. "But I can

lp her? After this stunt? You're making the biggest mistake of your life."

wait for

urn

I

ed faces, ignoring the gasps and murmurs and flashes of cameras. My bouquet dropped

d was grey and co

I didn't care. I pulled off the heels and ran barefoot

eal one. Cassian

to crush me. He told me if I changed my mind, even at the very last second, there

I ran, it

s and shouts and the sound of my name echoing behind me. I turned a corner, hea

and slid in. The driver

ded toward

e it

aiting, mine. Packed by Cassian. My

river asked, e

ah. Get me th

dro

nt woods. I didn't speak. He didn't ask. My dress soaked the seat, and the silence stretched thi

from the bag. N

e carpet was stained. The wallpaper pe

time that day, I l

till barefoot. My mascara h

ked mirror and barel

ride. The gir

finally took

t cry.

pped against the window. My heart slowed. My breathing

ncertainty, despite the fear, des

mil

first time in a

as