Deathless & Divided (The Chicago War #1) (35 page)

“My girl has a way about her.”

Dante laughed darkly. “The good women always do. Congratulations.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“E
yes wide, let me see them,” the makeup artist ordered.

Lily did as she was told, letting the woman fan her lashes further. She wasn’t sure how much longer her eyelashes could possibly be.

“Pinky again,” another woman said.

Lily tilted her hand to put her pinky out. The nail artist manicuring Lily’s fingernails started her work over as a top coat of clear polish smoothed over each nail. Another woman worked on her hair, setting each of the wavy strands into perfectly managed curls that would be set up into a messy chignon.

Oddly, Lily didn’t mind all the people working around her or the attention. It wasn’t often she preferred the spotlight, but since it was her wedding day, she didn’t have much of a choice. She figured she might as well enjoy the pampering and time.

Her wedding morning started out early. Maybe a little too early considering her bachelorette party hadn’t ended until nearly two in the morning. Theo woke Lily up with breakfast and a phone call from Damian, which was nice. Theo took Lily to the spa and as far as she knew, was still waiting out in the lobby for her and Abriella to finish.

Dino, on the other hand, hadn’t shown himself that morning.

Lily wasn’t too worried about it.

“That smells amazing,” Abriella said as some coconut oil was rubbed into her hands.

“It does,” Lily agreed.

Abriella smiled, tilting her head to the side so she could look Lily over. “Are you nervous?”

Not at all.

“No,” Lily answered honestly.

“Excited?”

“Very.”

For a day that was usually high-stress and full of nonsense for other brides, Lily’s wedding day was turning out to be a quiet affair with little issues. No one bothered her for useless things or demands. Even Theo, who didn’t know how to be a quiet man, had given Lily space and silence that morning.

She was so relaxed, it was crazy.

Lily loved it.

Every day should be like this.

Abriella grinned wide. “I’m happy for you. Damian is a good guy.”

Lily nodded. “He is.”

It just took a lot for Lily to correlate the good man she knew resided inside Damian and the parts of him that did bad things.

“A few more hours,” Abriella said.

Only a few?

Lily checked the clock on the wall. Abriella was right.

“What is next?” Lily asked.

Abriella shrugged. “The church. Confession to start out new. What else?”

Great.

Lily sat in the private room, counting on the beads on her rosary. The black globes felt smooth under her fingertips as she recited the words of prayers she couldn’t ever forget. Over and over. One more time …

Penance was never really over.

Touching the rosary gave her a sense of comfort she hadn’t expected. The rosary had been a gift from someone—Lily didn’t know who—and delivered to her when she arrived at the church from Theo. He’d said nothing when he handed over the sleek, blue velvet box. Only that someone had wanted her to have them. She started her last confession before becoming a married woman with peace settling in her heart.

Something else she hadn’t expected to feel on her wedding day.

Clicking each bead on the rosary as she went through the final words, asking to be forgiven and cleansed for her past transgressions, a knock on the private room’s door broke her concentration. Lily assumed it was just the priest coming to see if she had finished.

“Come in,” Lily called, setting the rosary aside.

The door opened a crack and Theo poked his head in. Her brother flashed her with a smile that was known to dazzle women and set men off-guard. Theo had a way about him. Out of Lily’s two brothers, Theo was the more charming, likeable of the two whereas Dino had a roughness around his edges that kept people at bay.

Lily figured nobody really knew Theo well enough to know his demeanor was nothing more than a trick to draw people in. He could be just as ruthless as Dino, but he had a cleaner way about doing it.

“I’m not interrupting, am I?” Theo asked.

Lily waved at the seat across from her. In their church, confession wasn’t done in a booth, but instead a private room decorated with beautiful tapestry and rugs. Two chairs, sitting directly across from the other so the priest and the parishioner could look at one another, served as the confessional. The room was then used as a private area for penance if that’s what someone wanted.

“No, I’m done. Or as close as I’m ever going to get for today.”

Theo laughed. “Tomorrow, new sins arise.”

Lily grinned. “Always. Come in.”

Theo stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him. Lily waited as her brother moved the seat across from her so that it was positioned beside hers instead. Sitting in the ornate wood chair meant for a priest, Theo kicked his legs out and crossed his shined leather shoes at the ankles. Her brother looked sharp in his black suit with a blue tie and vest to match the color scheme of the day.

Glancing at her from the side, Theo reminded Lily of when she was young and so was he. “How’re you really doing?”

Lily shrugged. “I’m doing okay.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Theo. I’m good.”

Theo sucked in a deep breath and chewed on his inner cheek. “I wondered. I mean, you keep saying that to everyone but with you, it’s hard to tell. You always were good at hiding shit when you needed to.”

Lily scoffed playfully. “Church, Theo. Watch your dam—watch your mouth.”

Theo barked out a laugh, pointing at her. “You almost said damn.”

“Shut up.”

Throwing his hands high, Theo conceded. “Fine. I did wonder. I know you didn’t choose this, Lily, and it’s probably the last thing you want to do.”

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Actually, I did choose it. In my own way and in my own time,” Lily said, reaching out to pat her brother’s arm gently.

“Good. I was thinking maybe I would have to steal you out of here and run you down to the Mexican border or something.”

Lily snorted under her breath. “Right. How far do you think we’d make it?”

“Oh, we’d make it. Don’t you worry your pretty little head off about that. I’d make sure of it.”

“You would never do it for real,” Lily said, teasing her brother.

Theo caught her gaze and held it. The briefest flash of something unknown passed his eyes before it disappeared. “I would have, Lily. I don’t want to see you unhappy or pushed aside. You’re too good for that, little one. You always were. You should have a man who adores and cares for you because you’re everything to him.”

Lily’s breath came out in a shuddering exhale, emotions rising. “I have one, Theo.”

“Yeah, I guess Dino didn’t do too badly after all, huh?”

“Something like that,” Lily replied.

Theo caught her hand with his own and held it tight, grounding Lily with that one action. Her brothers had never been emotional men, as far as that went. She remembered that as they grew up, the boys had been taught to shut that side of themselves off and give nothing away. Sometimes that bled over to family and Lily. Sometimes it was just cold as hell.

She understood but that didn’t make it easier on her when she was just a little girl with no mom and dad and brothers who treated her like she was just another one of the boys. Then again, Lily had always appreciated her brothers involving her in the things they did as they grew up. Especially because the three DeLuca siblings were so far apart in age, yet Theo and Dino always kept Lily close in their own way.

Lily sighed, realizing something she hadn’t before. Keeping her close when she was younger had been Theo and Dino’s way of showing her their love. She’d always thought of herself and her brothers as orphans without parents, but that wasn’t entirely true. They had each other and her brothers had been the best guardians for her.

“I love you, Theo,” Lily said, wanting her brother to know.

Theo smiled but only said, “Yeah, I know.”

He didn’t have to say it back for her to know the truth. Theo loved her, otherwise, he wouldn’t be there sitting with her when he really didn’t need to be. He hadn’t needed to take time out of the day to make sure she was okay. It did give Lily a look into her older brother’s feelings about everything, however. Theo usually kept his emotions and opinions locked up tight. She certainly didn’t expect him to change that part.

“I have another surprise for you,” Theo said.

Lily arched a brow high. “Oh?”

“Yes, but you have to make it quick. It was hard enough getting her here, not to mention someone still has to get her back.”

Lily’s confusion jumped higher. Theo stood from the chair and fixed his slacks before walking across the room to open the door again. With a quick word to someone out in the hallway connecting the private back rooms of the church, Theo turned and opened the door a little wider.

Evelina Conti stood waiting with her head down and her hands clasped tightly together at her middle. She kept wringing her hands together as she glanced up at Lily with a small smile that quickly faded.

They hadn’t spoken since the night Lily left her friend’s house. She hadn’t even seen Evelina once because Riley wouldn’t allow his daughter to communicate with anyone outside of the Conti family and close friends. Evelina had been ripped from her spot in Lily’s wedding and replaced, even though Lily hadn’t wanted her to be.

Lily’s heart grew, happiness swelling inside.

Evelina had come.

She probably wouldn’t be able to stay if Theo’s words were any indication. She wouldn’t be able to stand with Lily like they had originally planned. She would miss the party and sending Lily off. But she had come.

Nothing else mattered but that.

“Eve?” Lily asked, stunned.

“Hey,” her friend said.

Theo cleared his throat, gaining Lily’s attention. “I’m going to step outside for a minute and see if I can find somebody to take Evelina back home that won’t send Riley into a fit. Try not to take too long, okay? I know it’s been a while and everything.”

Lily nodded quickly “It’s okay, Theo. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Theo stepped outside the room, letting Evelina pass by. Once the door was closed, Lily wasn’t sure if she should stand and greet her old friend or stay where she was. Evelina remained close to the door, avoiding Lily’s stare as she picked at her fingernails. A blanket of awkwardness covered the small room.

“Thanks for coming,” Lily said, breaking the silence.

Evelina flashed another small smile. “I really wanted to. I tried.”

“Your father?”

“Yes,” Evelina said, sighing. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

Lily hadn’t been expecting that. Between both of them, Lily should be the one apologizing to Evelina. After all, even if Evelina didn’t know, Lily’s brother had been the cause of Mia’s death. How would Evelina feel about Lily if she knew the truth?

“Whatever it is, don’t worry about it,” Lily said.

“I should have called or something.”

“It’s not important.”

Evelina shifted on her feet, looking terribly uncomfortable. “You look beautiful.”

Lily laughed. “I’m not even in my dress yet.”

“So?”

“Thanks.” Lily shrugged, waving at the chair beside her. “Sit, Eve.”

Evelina shook her head. “I can’t. Theo was right, I can’t stay for long. Chances are, Daddy will find out from someone that I came, anyway. I don’t want to be the next person on his shit-list.”

If Evelina wouldn’t come to her, than Lily would go to her friend. Standing from her chair, Lily crossed the space with open arms. Evelina welcomed the embrace with her own tight hug that felt amazing and awful at the same time. Guilt pounded at Lily’s insides. Knowing the secrets she did was a horrible feeling.

“I love you,” Evelina said.

“I love you, too.”

Evelina leaned back, wiping at Lily’s cheek with her thumb. “Christ, don’t cry. Your makeup is perfect.”

“I don’t care.”