Bound by Betrayal by Elle Maldonado

Author:Elle Maldonado [Maldonado, Elle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

22

“Leni, girl! Come here.”

One of my favorite faces beamed at me the moment our eyes connected. She threw her arms around my neck as I hugged her tightly. Leni and Silas had been on a month-long trip to Greece and the Philippines before I left Philly. I was happy that she’d found love and fulfillment, and Silas couldn’t have been more perfect for her brand of beautiful chaos.

We’d once thought our attraction to each other could have been more—we were part of the same world, the sex was goddamn good, and our chemistry and friendship had felt so natural. What more could we have needed? It wasn’t until we fizzled out that we realized that we could go longer stretches without sleeping together or hanging out the way we once used to. In hindsight, it was easy to see how and why we came together and then quickly fell apart.

Leni would always have a piece my heart and my loyalty in the same ways as Derek. She and Silas were family.

“You look beautiful as always.”

“Kai, look at you.” She patted my lapels and whistled her approval. “Now, I have to admit, I’m surprised Amalia hasn’t murdered you yet,” she teased, stepping to the side and letting Silas through.

“You owe me $50, love.”

I peered around him, a look of mock indignation on my face. “You bet him money that I wasn’t going to make it?”

“Hey, I’ve known Amalia longer than you. She must like you, at least a little bit, since you’re still standing without so much as a scratch on that pretty face.”

When Silas clapped my back, it was a reminder that Leni’s comment was half true. Sharp nails had carved my back last night, but no matter how much they stung, I was ready for her again tonight.

“Kai bear, are you ready for today?” Despite the nickname, Leni’s expression was etched with concern.

Parts of me would never be ready for today's events, of getting married and having such an extravagant wedding to someone I didn’t love…

I paused for a beat. Feeling those words out in my thoughts.

Marriage was never on my radar. That was Derek’s thing, oddly enough. But what I had once thought would be the worst three years of my life had turned into something…something else.

“I’ll be fine. And I thought I told you never to call me that again.”

“You know that’s not going to happen.” She laughed and twisted around, eyes roaming the courtyard. “Where is my baby?”

“Eva was getting her up and ready from a nap. She’ll be happy to see you.”

Leni suddenly took Silas’s hand, and with a nod, motioned to a young boy sitting by the fountain. He was looking aimlessly at the water, light brown hair hanging over his face.

As if he knew she was pointing him out, the boy raised his head, and while it had been a few years, I would never forget that face. Silas waved him over, and after a moment’s hesitation, he was at their side, leaning into Leni.

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