Page 124 of When She Unravels
“Not ideal, but it will do,” I say.
Ras moves to the bar cart, pours whiskey into two glasses, and hands one to me. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’m getting married in two hours,” I say.
He smirks. “Cin cin.”
We clink our glasses and drink.
My biggest regret is that I can’t give Vale the wedding she deserves, which is why I told her that she’ll have two—one now while her sister is here with us, and another once I take my place as don. I want to see her on the steps of the basilica in Naples where my parents got married.
There’s a photo of that day resting on my nightstand. I move to look at it again. Most of our family photos burned in the fire, but over the years, Ras’s father helped me find a few.
Whenever I see this particular photo, I’m struck with how normal my parents look. It’s cropped closely on them, with just the basilica’s entrance in the background and none of the guests in sight. My mother is in a white lace dress with a high neck, and my father is in a finely tailored suit. Beautiful, yes. But normal. Without knowing anything about the couple, it would be easy to imagine them as a common Italian family, instead of a don and donna of thesistema.
Their love for each other humanized them.
After falling for Vale, I think I finally see them as humans too. Flawed and imperfect, but capable of immense love.
When the time comes, we leave the bedroom and make our way to the gardens where the ceremony will take place. We’ll get married under an arbor that Mari created a few years ago.
“It looks nice,” I say to Ras, scanning the space.
“I wish I could take the credit, but it’s mostly Gemma’s work.”
My brow arches. “You two are finally getting along?”
“Like oil and water,” he says, glancing away and sliding his hands into his pockets.
I snicker. “You think I haven’t noticed you eyeing her whenever she’s not looking? Too bad she’s engaged.”
His response never makes it out of his mouth. The violin begins to play, and the ceremony starts.
My sister comes out first, followed by Gemma, both of them in pretty blue dresses. They each give me warm smiles and take their places opposite Ras.
When Vale appears at the end of the walkway, my heart jumps into my throat. There’s a tremble in my hands, and I clench my fists by my side and force myself to breathe.
My God,this woman.
She floats down the walkway, her shoulders bared, and a bouquet in her arms. That dress on her is a wet dream, and I’m already considering how quickly I’ll be able to peel it off her.
Mine.The word echoes in my head up until she stops before me and lifts her eyes to meet mine.
The garden, our friends, even the ground I stand on disappear. Everything but her blanks out. Inside those eyes is a promise of a future I never thought I’d have, and when her full lips quirk into a breathless smile, I grin and lift my face up to the azure sky.
I hope you’re watching me right now.
* * *
A FEW DAYS LATER
Vale’s hair is bundled up in a towel as she steps out of the shower. I had intended on joining her there, but then I opened my goddamn mouth. I’ve spent the last few days in bed, thoroughly indulging my obsession with my wife. The plan was to continue to do that until dinner, but I’ve managed to piss her off and ruin the mood.
Her gaze finds me standing by the balcony, and she exhales a frustrated breath. “Did you really think I’d let you ship me off somewheredaysafter our wedding, Damiano? That’s not how this is going to work.” She stomps to the makeup vanity—a new addition to the room since she moved in—and huffs as she lowers into a chair. “I can’t believe you.”
I should have known she would react this way. Ras still hasn’t given the order to cut Sal off. I wanted to wait until after our wedding before causing all hell to break loose. Putting that gold band on her finger became my priority as soon as she said she’d marry me, but now that she’s finally mine, the fear of losing her is unlike any fear I’ve felt before.
Raking my fingers through my hair, I walk over to stand behind her. “I want to make sure you’re safe.”
