Page 28 of Deathless & Divided

Lily scoffed. “Paid the church off, probably.”

“Ah, the smell of old money, bribery, and religion first thing in the morning,” Abriella said in a long sigh. “Smells like home, girls.”

Evelina laughed under her breath. “Just like home.”

“And the mob,” Lily added bitterly.

“Is that all it is for you?” her best friend asked.

Lily didn’t know how to properly answer Evelina’s question. “Partly, but it’s about me, too. Why let me just begin my life away from all this and then drag me back into it?”

Evelina shrugged. “Maybe Dino and Theo never really let you go; you just thought they did.”

“Dino picked the date,” Lily added. “I couldn’t even pick my own wedding date, he had to.”

“Why?” Abriella asked.

“I don’t know. It’s a little less than a month before the start of his trial.”

Evelina’s gaze widened. “That’s like … That puts the wedding almost two months from today.”

“Yep,” Lily mumbled.

“Shit.”

“Yep.”

“They’re not wasting time, then,” Abriella said softly.

“Nope,” Lily replied, sadness twisting at her insides.

“Damian didn’t want a little more time or something?” Evelina asked.

Lily shrugged. “How the hell should I know?”

“Pardon?”

“I haven’t seen him since the dinner at the boss’s. He’s not been around, he’s not asked for me, and we’ve not spoken otherwise. I have no idea what Damian wants but I can bet it isn’t me.”

“What if he did?” Abriella asked.

Lily snorted indelicately. “He doesn’t.”

“I didn’t ask that. I asked about if he might, what would you do if that were the case?”

“Nothing,” Lily said honestly. “I would do nothing.”

Evelina watched Lily like she was a deer ready to bolt over the rim of her cup. “You’re already doing nothing, babe.”

“Talk to me when this is you, Eve. Let me know how you feel then.”

“I will. It’s bound to happen. And I expect you to let me bitch, moan, and cry my goddamn eyes out because I’m not marrying the man I want. Simple as that.”

Lily felt thunderstruck at her friend’s blatant statement. “I will.”

“Good. Carry on with your bitching and moaning.”

“I’m not crying,” Lily pointed out.