Page 173 of Shades of Loyalty
I bite back a smile, tears threatening.
The, the priest turns to me. “Do you, Jennifer Welsh, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” I breathe. “My heart doesn’t give me another option.”
A few people laugh softly, mostly Katya. But I don’t care.
This isus.
And then it’s time.
Vows.
The vows that I’ve spent weeks writing, not knowing how to write down my feelings into words.
Daniel’s hand tightens in mine, and he turns to face me fully, voice a little deeper, a little rougher—like this is hard for him. Like the words are fighting their way out of his chest.
I’m sure they do.
“I never thought I’d end up here,” he starts, smiling gently. “With someone who drives me absolutely insane… and still makes me feel like I’ve finally got a home.”
He blinks once. “You’re it for me. That’s all there is. You’re my beginning, and you’ll be my end. I’ll protect you with everything I am—even the broken, fucked-up parts.”
He swallows. “You’re mine now. And I’m yours. Always.”
I don’t realize I’ve been crying until I start speaking and my voice catches.
“I didn’t think I could ever trust someone again. Not after everything.”
I squeeze his hand. Most people don’t know what I’m talking about, but he does. And that’s more than enough for me.
“But you saw me. You saw me even when I didn’t want to be seen. Literally.” Both of us laugh. “You held me together when everything else was falling apart. So, yeah. I’m yours. Fully. Completely. Forever. And you? You’restuck with me now, Daniel Caruso. For life. Just like I’ve been stuck with you after… We met.”
I don’t mention more. Most people here are in the mafia scene, but Mary, Enzo, my mom?
Surely, I don’t need to say anything other thanmy mother will have a heart attackif she’s gonna find out why Daniel could fly her here so easily.
I am not even surewhathe told her.
His thumb brushes a tear off my cheek, and I almost lose it.
Almost.
But then the priest says the words that seal it.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
And Daniel doesn’t waste a damn second.
The kiss is heated. Hot. Way too touchy and sloppy to be happening in a church.
But I can tell he doesn’t care.
And judging by the giggles from Victoria and Katya in the background, they couldn’t care any less, either.
His hands slide to my waist, then lower, like he’s forgottenexactlywhere we are. Like we’re already alone.
I try to pull back—trybeing the key word. He follows instantly, mouth chasing mine, catching another kiss before I can breathe.
