Cara
The grounds surrounding the Khazan mansion are like a pristine, manicured forest. Gravel paths snake through patches of flowers, shaped bushes, benches near bubbling fountains, at least one pool set beside a series of hot tubs, and a dock on the lake with several boats tied off.
I find a chair near the water. The smell of kelp and algal bloom blows in with the breeze and I let it comb through my hair. I stare at my finger, now ringless, and I feel strangely naked without it.
I want to wear my ring. I love my engagement ring, and the wedding ring means something to me even if it’s a symbol of a fake relationship.
It pisses me off to no end that he refuses to put his on, even if only to satisfy me.
“I thought you’d be jetting off somewhere warm and exciting by now,” a woman’s voice says nearby. I jump slightly and look back to see Helen coming toward me. She’s smiling, her hair pulled back in a chic bun, wearing white pants I could never pull off in a million years and a lightweight sweater, her arms wrapped around her midsection.
“Eros got me breakfast in bed and said that would be the closest thing to a honeymoon I’d be getting.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Sounds like my brother.”
“Your brother can be a very frustrating man, you know.”
Helen sits down in the chair beside mine. “Already having marital problems? It’s been, what, eight hours?”
I laugh sharply. “I know, I keep telling myself that, but Eros is-” I wave a hand in the air.
“Stubborn? Controlling?”
“And then some.” I let out a breath and force myself to relax. “I’m sorry, you don’t need to hear this. You’re his sister. I don’t want to put you in a position where you feel like you need to defend him or something.”
She barks a laugh. “Me, defend Eros? He’s a prick on the best of days. No, don’t worry, complain away. What’d he do?”
“He refuses to wear his wedding ring.”
“Ah,” she says softly. “Well, that sounds about right.” She touches her fingers to her cheek and watches the water lapping up against the shore. “Eros has been closed off for a long time now, ever since he took over the family. The way it happened-” She hesitates, glancing at me, and rushes forward. “-Things were ugly, and I think they affected him more than he lets on.”
“I’ve gathered that, but what does that have to do with wearing a ring?”
“It’s a symbol of affection. Eros never lets himself be sentimental, not if he can help it, I think because he’s been hurt by it in the past. Did you know he used to be close with his father?”
I shake my head, frowning. “He never talks about his dad.”
“Our dad died when I was ten and Eros was fourteen. Before that though, they were thick as thieves, the best of friends. I think Dad was grooming him for leadership in the family.”
“What happened to him? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Her face clouds. “We live in a violent family, Cara, but I don’t want you thinking we’re just a bunch of barbarians. It isn’t like that.”
A shiver of something uncomfortable runs down my spine. “I know you aren’t.”
“Father was murdered. He was the underboss of the family, the second-in-command to Uncle Vassilis. When Father died, a part of Eros died with him, and he shut himself down for a very long time. It took years for my brother to come back to himself, only for it to happen again after-” Again she stops herself, unwilling to go into detail.
I decide not to press. “That must’ve been hard on him. And on you too, watching it happen.”
“Those were very bad days, but we’re all slowly getting past them. Well, everyone except Sophia and Aunt Anissa, but it’s hard to blame them for that.”
I chew on my lip. Hard to blame them, since Eros usurped their power and most likely killed the head of their family.
“I can understand that, I guess,” I say softly, staring at the water. “Things aren’t very good with my own family.”
“Really? Why not?”
“It’s complicated. Things with Christopher, and how they were involved, and I just-” I pause and clear my throat. “I’m just saying, I know how family stuff can be draining, I just wish I understood how it all connected back to Eros not wearing my ring.”
She smiles sadly and adjusts her hair. “Eros is uncomfortable with all things symbolic, and what’s more symbolic than a ring? He can’t open himself up to anyone, does it really surprise you that he can’t wear a visible symbol of your relationship?”
“I wish he wouldn’t make everything so damn complicated. It’s just a stupid wedding ring, everyone married wears one.”
“You shouldn’t have married Eros Khazan if you wanted simple.” Helen laughs and stands. “Let me guess. He’s forcing you to wear your rings, but refuses to wear his?”
“Exactly.”
She helps me up and hold onto my arm as we stroll along the property beside the lake. “That’s my brother for you. Rules apply to everyone but him.”
“I just want to feel normal, that’s all. After what happened yesterday-”
Helen’s expression clouds. “That was shameful. I heard, everyone in the family heard.”
“It’s okay, really, it’s fine. We knew it might happen.”
“But someone from within our organization? It’s not right. Anissa and Sophia went too far.”
I frown and think back to Christopher in the car. “I’m not sure it was them though.”
“How can you be sure?” She shakes her head. “My aunt and my cousin have been out for blood for years now. You’re just the latest convenient excuse.”
“I really didn’t want to cause trouble.”
“If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been someone else.” She pats my wrist. “Don’t let it bother you. This is just how things are.”
I wish it could be otherwise, but I know she’s right.
Eros’s been warning me from the start that joining this family wouldn’t easy-and now I can see that he wasn’t making it up.