My neck snapped back with the heaviness of his words. Fear like I’d never known constricted my chest as I watched his retreating form leaving the bathroom.
***
After an IV, pain meds, and several cups of black coffee, I felt somewhat human again. When we arrived at the church, Rafe didn’t wait for the bodyguard. He flung open the door before puking violently all over the sidewalk.
“My sentiments exactly,” I muttered as I got out of the other door.
After coming around the SUV to help him, Rafe grunted before sidestepping his vomit as he got out of the car. Gianni and I flanked him before heading into the massive Cathedral Basilica of Saints Paul and Peter.
The moment I stepped through the door, my hungry gaze bounced around the crowd for Drea. The longer I couldn’t find her, the more desperate I became. Finally, I spotted her all alone on a pew close to the altar.
With Rafe occupied by Edoardo, I slipped away from Gianni and started down the aisle. When I reached Drea, her head was bowed as she knelt on one of the risers.
“Hey,” I said softly.
She jerked her head up and whipped her gaze over to me. “Hey,” she choked out.
I’d never seen her tan skin so pale. “Are you okay?”
“I’m getting married tomorrow,” she said.
“That bad, huh?” I teasingly replied.
The corners of Drea’s lips quirked slightly. “Yeah, that bad.” Turning on the riser, she glanced to the back of the cathedral where Rafe was. “How’s he holding up?”
“Let’s just say he’s on the way to helping the Scotch companies to record profits this quarter."
“I can’t say I blame him. I’d probably be coping with alcohol if not for being–”
At the panicked expression on her face, I asked, “What’s wrong?”
With a nervous laugh, she replied, “I just realized I almost talked shit about Father in his presence. He’s already like a powder keg set to go off. I don’t want to light the match.”
Even though he wasn’t close, I didn’t argue with Drea. I knew she was gun shy from Edoardo’s mania.
She rose off the riser. “Speaking of Father, I'd better join him and Rafe.”
“Yeah, of course.”
I stepped back to where she could exit the pew. I didn’t plan on following her until Gianni waved at me.
The next half hour of rehearsing the ceremony was pure torture, not just for Rafe, but for me also. I couldn’t imagine how hard the ceremony would be tomorrow. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did.
The priest nodded at Drea and Rafe. “And I’ve pronounced you man and wife, and now it’s time for the two of you to kiss.”
Fuck. Me.
This was fucking torture. While I’d anticipated having to see it tomorrow, I sure as hell hadn’t today. From the body language of Rafe and Drea, they weren’t thinking it would happen either.
“Get on with it,” Edoardo shouted from the front row.
With a grimace, Rafe started to dip his head. The closer his mouth got to Drea’s, the harder I clenched my fists at my sides. He’d barely brushed his lips against hers before he jerked back. As he turned to the priest, I exhaled a ragged breath.
“Now what?” Rafe demanded, which caused the priest’s bushy grey brows to raise.
“Um, well, then the music strikes up and the two of you walk down the aisle as man and wife.”
Rafe held out his arm, but before Drea could slip hers through his, the wedding coordinator frantically stepped forward. “No, no. It’s bad luck for them to walk down together now.”