Free Thin Lies (Donati Bloodlines #1) by Bethany-Kris Page A

yell at me, George, just because
you can’t find the stupid ticket for your dry-cleaning. I know where you sleep,
you fucking pig. Keep it up.”
    “Oh,
my God,” Emma groaned, rubbing at her temples.
    A
headache began to throb there all of the sudden. This was exactly why Emma kept
a distance between herself and her parents. Sometimes, their nonsense was
overwhelming. How the two had stayed married for almost three decades, she
didn’t know.
    Her
mother was pushy and spoiled. Her father was a bastard with a superiority
complex. Yet, the two seemingly adored one another.
    “Sweet
Jesus, George, you are hopeless. Utterly hopeless,” Minnie said, sighing. “I
will go get your suit and bring it to you. Thank you for ruining this day for
me. I was so looking forward to this.”
    For
her .
    Emma
didn’t miss her mother’s words. She wished they weren’t true, but she knew they
were. Her mother had pushed and wanted this dress shopping day far more than
Emma. Minnie had her hand in planning the wedding from afar. Minnie was looking
forward to it all.
    Emma
was ready to cut tail and run.
    As
fast as she fucking could.
    If
only …  
    “Emma,
dear, we’ll have to cut this short,” Minnie said, drawing Emma from her
thoughts.
    Relief
flooded Emma.
    The
headache ebbed away.
    “No
problem, Mom,” Emma replied.
    “Dinner
tonight?”
    The
hopefulness on her mother’s face kept Emma from refusing. Despite the
strangeness around her parents and their sometimes difficult personalities, she
did love her mother … and even her father.
    “Sure,”
Emma said. “At your home or somewhere else?”
    “I’ll
wrangle George into getting us a table at the Grand.”
    “Perfect.”
    “You
know,” her mother started to say, glancing around at the gowns in bags and the
others hanging off the wall. “Emma, you could try a few on just by yourself. I
know you’re not exactly excited for—”
    “Not
even a little bit.”
    Minnie
nodded. “I know. But you have a duty, as your father has explained so much that
my ears hurt just hearing the damned word. Nonetheless, you could, Emmy. Try on
a few alone. Maybe you’ll find something in here that you like—something to
make all of this worth it. Hmm?”
    Emma
doubted it.
    She
still agreed to appease her mother.
    Once
Minnie was gone again, it was just Emma alone in the private sitting room. She
wondered where the lady that was helping her get in and out of the dresses had
gone. More than anything, Emma suddenly wanted to rip the one she was currently
wearing off. Just getting another glimpse at it in the mirror was enough to
make her sick.
    The
chiffon … silk … crystals …  
    Emma
blinked.
    A
church, an aisle, and flower petals filled her vision. Quiet music, a waiting
priest, and a man with his hand out, waiting to take hers.
    A
man she didn’t want.
    Emma
didn’t realize she was having a panic attack until her throat tightened to the
point where she couldn’t breathe. She turned away from the mirror, unable to
look at the dress or herself for another second for fear of throwing up the breakfast
and lunch she had eaten.
    Jesus.
    Where
was that goddamn woman?
    She
needed the dress off right now.
    Right
the hell now .
    Slipping
on the too long skirt of the gown, Emma stumbled off the slightly raised
platform. She managed to catch herself, but not before a sob caught in the back
of her throat. Tears welled in her eyes without her permission, promising a
breakdown was close by.
    Damn
it.
    She
had done so well.
    She’d
not cried yet.
    It
wouldn’t do any good.
    Hot
tears escaped as she fumbled with the back of the corset on the dress,
desperately trying to find the ties to undo them even a little bit.
    Just
enough to take a breath.
    She
only needed the one .
    How
was she supposed to get married if she couldn’t even wear a wedding dress
without having a panic attack?
    Emma
was fucked.
    She
knew it.

 

     
    Calisto
     
    “ Zio ,”
Calisto greeted respectfully the moment he