by G. K. DeRosa
There was something about the tone in his voice that made Celeste feel that he knew very well why she was here. She suddenly felt strange continuing this conversation. “Thanks Mr. Caccia, and I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for covering for me last time with Dante and the Council.”
He was silent for a moment. “Of course,” he said finally. “Marco cares for you deeply and I would do anything for my son.”
Celeste tittered uncomfortably, not knowing what to say in response. “Well thanks again and have a good night.” As she clicked the red End button, she looked up and saw Roman leaning in the doorway.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“That was weird,” she responded, knowing full well Roman’s vampire hearing had no doubt caught the entire conversation.
“I wonder why he wanted to see you,” said Roman suspiciously.
Celeste shrugged her shoulders. “He didn’t really say. Maybe he was just being polite?” Roman arched a skeptical brow. “I agree it was strange. I’ll have to ask Marco about it tomorrow. Right now, I just want to go to sleep.”
***
Celeste stood at the altar of the quaint old church in a strapless fuchsia gown that just grazed the top of her knees. Her blond curls were pinned up neatly in a fancy up do and adorned with a shimmering antique comb in the shape of a rose. She had both hands folded in front of her grasping the bouquet of fragrant white lilies to prevent herself from fidgeting. Nervous butterflies were fluttering in her belly as she waited anxiously for Aunt Maddie to appear at the arched entryway. Behind the priest, the light from the stained-glass windows was casting a beautiful rainbow of colors across the white marble altar, giving it a heavenly glow. She looked up across the aisle and her gaze met Maks’ eager ebony eyes. He looked so unbelievably happy—she was certain it was the first time she had ever seen such a gaping smile on his face. A feeling of warmth spread over her as she basked in the joyful atmosphere surrounding her.
Turning toward the rows of wooden pews decorated in white bows and baby’s breath, she caught Roman’s eyes on her. He was seated in the first row with Nico and Stellan on either side, all wearing dark suits that Stellan had magically conjured up in the last minute. The aqua blues of Roman’s irises were brilliant as he beamed at her and mouthed, “You look beautiful.” Celeste could feel her cheeks flush as a rush of heat coursed through her, making her heart race. Being up on the altar with Roman only a few feet away brought all kinds of thoughts to her mind—namely her in a white gown and him in a tux. She glanced down at the diamond band on her finger and smiled. Maybe Roman and I could get married one day too… No sooner had that thought crossed her mind when images of her vision of Marco in Astor sprang unwanted to the forefront. No, that was just a dream!
The blaring sounds of the pipe organ booming to life startled her out of her musings and back to the present as the familiar tune of the Wedding March filled the atrium. Across the chapel, the heavy metal doors opened and Celeste’s eyes fell upon her aunt. She looked absolutely radiant in an elegant vintage lace gown with early- morning sunlight beaming behind her like a halo. Celeste was powerless to hold back the tears that welled up beyond her control. She pulled the tissue out of the hidden pocket in her dress and dabbed at her eyes as her lips pulled into a contented smile. Looking up, she saw the expression of utter love and exhilaration on Maks’ face as her aunt walked slowly up the aisle. Celeste bit her lower lip to choke back the sob building at the back of her throat as her aunt finally reached the altar and took Maks’ hand.
The priest raised his hands and began in Latin, “In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.” Maddie and Maks kneeled on the pew in front of the altar and the sacred ceremony began.
When the doors of the chapel opened Celeste raced behind the newlyweds, eager to throw the rice she gripped in her hand. Outside, a crowd of spectators had gathered to see the bride. “Bacio, bacio!” they all chanted, hoping to get a kiss from the radiant bride and groom. Maks took his new wife by the waist and dipping her low, gave the audience exactly what they wanted. The crowd burst into applause at the passionate display as Celeste looked on laughing. Glancing over the group of strangers gathered, she suddenly noticed a familiar round face within the masses. She grabbed Roman’s hand and squeezed it, trying to get his attention. He had been clapping and chanting with the rest of the excited Italians.
“Marco’s dad is here,” she whispered with a slight head nod in the general direction.
Roman followed her gaze and found his face in the middle of the crowd. “I guess he doesn’t take no for an answer.”
Seconds later, Mr. Caccia was weaving through the enthusiastic onlookers to make his way to Celeste. Shoving Roman to the side with an exaggerated apology, he squeezed himself in between the two of them. “Why didn’t you tell me Maddie was getting married when we spoke yesterday? This is such a wonderful occasion.” Though he said the words, Celeste could tell he felt entirely the opposite. The genuine smile she had always associated with him didn’t quite reach his eyes today.
“How did you know this was where we’d be?” asked Celeste. She hadn’t even had a chance to tell Marco about the wedding.
Mr. Caccia winked at her. “This is my city, Celeste. There isn’t much that goes on here that I don’t know about.”
Celeste giggled politely, but she had a feeling that he was being absolutely sincere.
“What are you doing here?” snapped Maddie as she made her way over from the middle of the crowd. The spectators had begun to dissipate, and she had recognized Mr. Caccia from far.
Celeste always had her suspicions that something bad had happened between her aunt and Mr. Caccia, but even she was surprised by Maddie’s tone.
“My apologies,” he said politely. “I certainly did not mean to intrude on your happy day. I simply wanted to extend my best wishes to the bride and groom.”
“I bet,” she responded sarcastically.
Maks had joined the circle midway through the conversation and grunted at Mr. Caccia’s insincere congratulations. “If you don’t mind, we have a celebratory luncheon to get to,” Maks said icily.
“Of course,” he replied. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you on your special day. I merely need a moment with Celeste.”
Roman gave her a questioning glance, and she nodded back in confirmation. “I’ll meet you at the car in a second,” she said. He stalked away with a grimace.
As soon as Roman left, Mr. Caccia took Celeste by the arm. “Everything go as planned with Alek?” he whispered.
She furrowed her brows at him. “How did you know about that?” She knew that he and Dante were close, but she didn’t think he would tell him about this mission.
“Who do you think brokered the deal with Alek?” he retorted.
“You?”
“I told you this is my city, and I know everything that goes on here.”
“How did you get him to agree, and how do you even know him?” she asked, pulling her arm out of his grasp. She had found Mr. Caccia’s behavior very peculiar lately, and she wanted nothing more right now than to get away from him.
“I have my ways.”
Celeste had a feeling she wasn’t going to get any real answers, and she was anxious to get back to her aunt and the celebrating. “Everything went fine,” she answered finally. “Alek gave me the potion so we’re all set.”
“Good,” he said. “I want you to know that I will always look out for you, Celeste. You can trust me and come to me for anything.”
“Thank you. And I hate to be rude, but I really need to get going. They’re all waiting for me.”
“Of course, I understand.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Have a safe journey back home, and I hope to see you here again soon with Marco.”
Celeste smiled uncomfortably and walked away. As she headed toward the parking lot to meet the others, she glanced back and caught Mr. Caccia’s gaze still intent on her. It made her skin crawl.
; The long drive out to the Tuscan countryside was well worth it when Celeste finally stepped out of the cramped vehicle. Stretching her legs, she took a look around her at the gently rolling hills and landscape highlighted with radiant yellows and oranges of the setting sun. There were miles upon miles of vineyards dotting the lush hillsides surrounding the quaint stone cottage they stood in front of. Maddie and Maks waved them in from the door of the restaurant as a man spoke to the couple, animatedly waving his hands in the air. As Celeste neared, the plump Italian man turned to her with a bow, removing his tall chef’s hat.
“Benvenuti! Welcome to my restaurant.” He flashed them a toothy grin and extended his hand. “I am Stefano, and your wish is my command—when it comes to the food that is.” He chuckled loudly at his own joke and led the group through the eatery and out back to a florid terrace. They were seated at a white linen circular table with a spectacular view overlooking much of the beautiful verdant landscape they had seen upon their arrival.
“This place is amazing,” said Celeste, finally tearing her eyes away from the scenery to admire the bright fuchsia bougainvillea climbing the trellis surrounding the patio.
“Maks and I found it when we first moved to Rome and fell in love with it right away,” said Maddie. “When Maks proposed, I knew this would be the perfect place to celebrate.”
A few waiters dressed in white suits appeared from the kitchen and began lighting the candles on the table and the lanterns around the terrace. The soft glow of the candlelight along with the vivid hues of the setting sun created the perfect romantic atmosphere. Once the servers had left, Maks pulled chilled champagne out of the ice bucket and began to pour.
“Thank you all for being here with us today,” said Maddie raising her glass. “This day couldn’t have been more perfect.”
“Cheers to the bride and groom!” everyone shouted happily.
As the multiple course meal began and everyone lapsed into hushed conversations, Roman leaned over to Celeste. “Are you all right?”
She hadn’t said much since her conversation with Mr. Caccia, not wanting to ruin her aunt’s special day with her supernatural drama, but apparently the expression on her face had given her away. “I just can’t get what Marco’s dad said out of my head. I knew it was too weird that Alek was helping us, and now to find out that it was Mr. Caccia who arranged it all. What could he have over Alek that would give him that much power?”
Roman frowned. He had been thinking the exact same thing, but hadn’t wanted to bring it up. “Whatever it is, we’ll find out.” He put his arm around Celeste’s bare shoulders and rubbed her arm lightly.
“Celeste, will you come with me to the ladies’ room?” asked Aunt Maddie as she rose from the table.
“Sure,” she replied. They were in between the fourth and fifth course of pasta and Celeste wasn’t sure she’d even be able to stand up with all the food she had so far eaten.
As soon as they were inside the bathroom, Aunt Maddie turned to Celeste with a fiery look in her eye. “What did Mr. Caccia want?”
Celeste was surprised by her venom-laced tone and said nothing for a moment. “It’s nothing important, Aunt Maddie. We can talk about it another day. This is your special day and I don’t want some silly drama to spoil it.”
“It’s not silly. Now tell me what he said.” Her aunt gave her the same look her father used to give her when he meant business, so she conceded with a sigh and recounted the conversation.
Once she finished, Celeste looked up and saw Maddie’s face was as red as a tomato from the caprese salad. “Ugh! That man really makes my blood boil. I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up at my wedding to tell you that,” she shouted.
“Aren’t you surprised that he was the one that arranged the deal?” asked Celeste.
“Not really.”
“Are you ever going to tell me why you hate him so much?”
“Yes,” Maddie replied with a long exhale. “You deserve to know the truth. I should have told you when I found out when you were here last.”
Aunt Maddie led Celeste out of the bathroom and then to a quiet table at the rear of the restaurant. Through the back doors, Celeste could see Roman, Maks, Nico, and Stellan taking celebratory shots of Russian vodka and smoking cigars on the patio. At least someone’s having fun.
“I guess I should start with my dad, Dieter—your grandpa,” began Aunt Maddie. “He and Mr. Caccia were really close, as were all of the Wilders and Caccias back through the decades. It was common back then that hunter families joined together to strengthen the bloodline. Well, my dad was all about strengthening the bloodline. He and Mr. Caccia decided when we were just infants that I should marry his oldest son, Matteo.”
“Marco’s brother, Matteo? The one who’s married to Clara?” Celeste interrupted.
“Yup, that’s the one.”
“So obviously you didn’t listen to your dad,” began Celeste.
“No way! We weren’t living in the 18th century where my dad had a right to sell me off like cattle. And anyway, I was in love with Maks.”
“Okay, so now I understand why there’s hatred between you and Mr. Caccia, but what does that have to do with me?”
Aunt Maddie looked down at her hands as she fidgeted nervously. “I’m really sorry, Celeste. This is all my fault. I swear I never knew anything about this until a few months ago when I found you at the Caccia’s home.”
“Found out about what?”
“I guess when I reneged on the arrangement with Matteo, my dad thought he could make it up to Gianpaolo by offering his granddaughter instead,” she explained, finally lifting her gaze to meet Celeste’s.
Celeste scrunched her brows trying to make sense of it all. “But Matteo’s way older than I am—and already married. I don’t get it.”
“The agreement is for you to marry Marco.”
Celeste’s eyes shot open as she leapt to her feet, bumping the table on her way up and knocking down a few glasses. “What?” she yelled. Roman’s head spun toward her, having heard the outburst from all the way outside. She signaled to him that everything was okay and sat back down trying to get a hold of her herself. “My grandpa, whom I barely knew, arranged for me to marry Marco? How is this even happening?”
“I’m really sorry, Celeste, and I hate to be the one to lay all of this on you. I know it’s completely unfair. But I’m guessing that’s why Mr. Caccia has been so involved in your life as of late.”
“Well, this is just ridiculous. There’s no way I’m marrying Marco because of some deal that was made when I was just a baby. And did my dad know about this? Did he want me to marry Marco too?”
“I have no idea,” Aunt Maddie answered. “Like I said, I just found out a few months ago. If he did know, your dad never said a word about it to me.”
“Well, sorry, but grandpa is gone so the only person that can enforce this now is Mr. Caccia, and I certainly don’t plan on letting that happen.” Celeste ran her hands over her face and took a deep breath. “Wait until Marco hears about this.”
“I’m pretty sure he already knows, Celeste.”
“What? No way! He couldn’t have known all this time and never said anything to me. He wouldn’t do that.”
Aunt Maddie shrugged. “Gianpaolo made it seem like he did.”
Flashes of her dream raced across her mind again along with a picture montage of all of Marco’s flirty advances since they had first met. “No,” she said again. “It can’t be.”
Watching Roman stroll into the restaurant and straight toward her put a stop to the fleeting thoughts. “Everything okay over here?” he asked, taking hold of her hand.
“Yup, just some girl talk. We’ll be right out. I know I’ve stolen the bride away for too long,” she answered with a forced smile.
Roman glanced down at her one more time, and she caught the troubled look in his eyes. He always knew when she was lying. He released her hand and continued on to the men’s room.
�
��You’re going to have to tell him,” said Maddie once he was out of sight.
“I know.”
“And don’t think I haven’t noticed that sparkling new ring on your finger. It looks suspiciously similar to my wedding band,” she said with a mischievous smirk.
Celeste twirled it around her knuckle as she gazed at the shimmering diamonds. “It’s just a promise ring.”
“Ah, I see…”
“Don’t give me that face, Aunt Maddie. I know I’m way too young to even be thinking about marriage. But I’ll tell you one thing for sure, I’m certainly not going to marry someone just because a bunch of old guys decided it was best for the hunter bloodlines.” With that she stood up, and taking Maddie’s arm went to join the party outside where soft music was already filling the warm summer air.
Chapter 10
As soon as Celeste heard the rumble of Roman’s car pulling out of her driveway back in Oak Bluffs, she wrapped her hand around the Wilder key and concentrated on Astor. Moments later, she stood in front of the fountain in the middle of the square. Since the moment she left Rome, the prominent thought in her mind was talking to Marco about this marriage arrangement. There was no way he could have known about it. He wouldn’t do that to me. As soon as they had stepped through the portal and back to Stellan’s, Celeste checked Brazen’s guard schedule and noticed that Marco was on duty. She needed to see him now.
Marching up the steps to the police station, Celeste’s blood was boiling. She didn’t want to believe that Marco could have been lying to her this entire time, but she also couldn’t shake what Aunt Maddie had said. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage building inside of her. After passing through the security check, descending thousands of feet into the earth and traversing seemingly interminable corridors, she positioned herself in front of Brazen’s cell door. The guard stationed outside gave her a polite smile and she recognized him as Milena’s son, Dmitri, the same guy she had met the other day.
Celeste flashed her badge across the scanner on the door and it slowly creaked open. Inside, she made out Brazen’s dark figure slumped in the corner of the cell, but she ignored him. She knew that her first thought should have been the opportunity to kill Brazen, but she couldn’t concentrate on that until she had settled things with Marco.