Page 266 of Fury
Like the groomsmen, Luciano wore a Santini black suit, black shirt, and black tie.
All the women in the bridal party had commented how calm she was. She couldn’t understand why she’d be anythingbutcalm.
Her heart was full of love, she was marrying the only man she’d ever truly loved, and she was surrounded by her close friends. Yes, she wished her mom and dad could have been there, but she didn’t dwell on things that could never be.
Luciano shifted his attention from Elsa to Slash. “You look stunning, mio angelo.”
“Grazie,” Slash replied.
Santini’s personal designer had created a fitted satin silk wedding gown that flared at the bottom with a simple train that flowed behind her. She wanted elegant and streamlined. And that’s exactly what she got.
“Does Carrera know you’re not in white?” Luciano asked Slash.
“No, it’s a surprise.”
“It’s perfect for you,” Elsa said.
Luciano sipped the bubbly. “For the record, I’m not getting married?—”
“Don’t say that, Lulu,” Elsa said. “That makes me sad.”
Luciano smiled. “But if I were to marry, I would hope my bride would wear black. You’re rocking that dress, Slash.”
She smiled. “I tried on a few white ones, but they weren’t me.” She glanced down at the Santini original. “This gown is exquisite. I mean, seriously stunning.”
“Thanks to you, I have my first designer line of clothing for women.” Luciano slid his gaze to his grandmother. “Elsa, you look beyond beautiful.”
Elsa beamed. “This Santini original is like nothing I’ve ever worn.”
The dress was perfect, but Slash would have been happy marrying Carrera in a simple black dress. What mattered most was the man. And the man she was marrying was theonlyone for her.
As she watched the city roll by, her heart felt at peace.
Even though work had been crazy busy, and she’d just returned yesterday from a BLACK OPS mission in London, she was totally in the moment. Marrying Carrera was her happily ever after, something she believed wouldneverhappen.
How wrong was I.
Slash glanced down at her engagement ring. She and Carrera had left Elsa’s solitaire stone unaltered. While Elsa had encouraged her to add a diamond halo, Slash liked the simplicity of it. She loved that the ring had once been Elsa’s, and now it was hers. A treasured family heirloom.
Also something Slash never believed she’d ever have again.
Family.
She moved the ring to her right ring finger. After the ceremony, she’d place it back on her left hand, paired with the simple, gold band.
The boat slowed, then stopped. The rumbling sound of the anchor being lowered into the river was her cue. She regarded Elsa, then Luciano.
And she smiled.
“It’s time,” Slash said.
“I never asked…” Luciano said, “are you changing your last name?”
“Carrera and I talked about that,” Slash replied.
“And?” Luciano asked.
“I’m doing something unconventional. I’m dropping Maynard, adding Santini, but I’m also adding May as my middle name.”
