𝐾 𝐴 𝐿 𝐸 𝑁

Chapter |12| A Wedding Of Nightmares

K A L E N ' S P. O. V

I'm getting married. In 12 fucking hours.

My suit still hangs on the door, just plain haunting me as though to foreshadow something darker than our union.

This is not a good day for a wedding.

The pouring rain outside is forecast of that, as are the grey clouds that indicate a storm coming in. I've texted Tessa a hundred times and she still hasn't responded.

We had a talk yesterday. Probably the most terrifying conversation I've ever been apart of and I was involved with my dad in trying to shake down an Australian gang leader.

Ever since that night, where I came home covered in blood, bruises, and dirt, there was always this tension between us. My work acted as an unspeakable reminder that we weren't okay.

I don't like killing. I don't like violence. I don't like seeing Tessa's face fall every time I leave the house or the cold distance she places between us when I slide into bed.

We ignore it. Because we're both scared of the consequences.

Now it's too late to talk and I don't want to  condemn her to a life time of fear and misery.

I grab the slab of paper and the pen I brought to the church. My fingers itch to write everything my heart possibly can, but I'm in a time schedule and the wedding is in an hour.

The course of an hour is about to dictate how the rest of my life goes.

Tessa,

I love you. That will be always be true, but I understand that sometimes love isn't enough. For us to work, we need to be able to communicate and accept every part of ourselves. Even the darkness.

Yes, I work for the mafia. Yes, I've killed and sinned in the worst ways possible. Yes, I am not a good man.

I thought loving you would be enough, but you also need stability, hope, security. I want ti give you it all, so I'm resigning. I've already told my dad, he's not happy of course, but he accepts.

Whether it's enough or not, I won't be the same man I was before. I think I've always wanted to lead a different life to my brothers and father. You just gave me the courage to do it.

I love you. And I do want to marry you, but under the right conditions as they are now.

These are my vows to you:

I will never make you fear losing me again.

I promise to always come home in time for dinner.

I will never lie to you, hurt you, or cause you pain ever again.

I will follow you anywhere Tess.

And I will love you until my dying breath.

I send the letter with Kai, who retuned disgruntled and sporting a fresh bruise near his eye. "One of Tessa's cousins fucking punched me." The idiot touches the wound. "Ow."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "Well did you fuck, then never call her again?"

He cringes. "Twice."

"I thought I told you anyone releated to Tess was off bounds." I don't wanna create animosity between our families, especially when I was trying to win over Tessa's mother.

"She was hot. I was drunk. It's like asking violinist not to play in a room surrounded by them. Sex is my fucking art, you can't oppress me into not committing it." This time I really do roll my eyes.