Page 20 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
“I haven’t thought that far,” I say to Vince. “I just hope we’ll get along.”
“If you can get along with our parents for as long as you have, you can get along with anyone.”
I roll my eyes. That isn’t true. Prime example—Ras.
There is no situation, no possible scenario in which I’d get along with him.
CHAPTER5
RAS
“How are we doing?”I ask the two guards stationed at the gate of Dem’s property. We’re about an hour from Mari’s wedding ceremony, and I’m doing one last round to make sure everyone’s keeping their eyes peeled.
We’re still being careful these days. Dem’s claim as our new leader has been accepted by anyone who’s worth a damn, but the only time a don has no enemies is when he’s dead. It’s my job to make sure nothing ruins these two weddings, and I’m taking that seriously. We expanded the perimeter a few days ago, added more cameras, and put more men on the security detail.
“All good,” the older guard says while he peels an apple with his pocketknife. “Enjoy the party, boss.”
“Send a message if anything comes up.” I pop my head into the security booth and do a quick scan of the cameras, just in case.
Mari deserves to enjoy this. The poor kid’s been through a lot recently.
As have the rest of us.
It took a lot to get to the top of the clan, but now that we’re here, the view’s damn nice, even if I’m still getting used to it.
Dem and I operated in exile on Ibiza for over a decade under the old don—that motherfucker Sal. If I’d gone to his funeral, I would have spit on his grave. He fucked with us for a long time, but he got what he deserved.
Now Dem is in his rightful place.
Dem and I go way, way back. When his and Mari’s parents died, they came to live with my family. He’s always been around, but we only became close friends a few years after we graduated high school.
If I had to describe my life to someone in one word, it would be “unexpected.” I was born into a high-ranking Casalesi family, my father an area capo who often had the don’s ear. Everyone told me I’d take my father’s position one day. Their expectations were like a living, breathing thing growing up, sucking all the air out of a room.
No wonder meeting that asshole Nunzio in high school did a number on me. Try believing you’re destined for leadership when every week you get your ass kicked by a kid who’s twice your size and has a vendetta.
My gaze drops to the scar on my arm. Even all these years later, there’s an annoying twinge in my chest at the memory of how I got it and who gave it to me.
I tug my shirtsleeve over it and start walking back to the house.
Whatever I have now, I owe to Dem.
He dragged me out of a dark fucking place after what happened with Nunzio and Sara. Nothing quite like having the woman you love dump you for the guy who made your life hell for years.
If Dem hadn’t hounded me to help him, I don’t know where I would have ended up. But he refused to give up on me. He gave me something to live for.
Now, I’ll do anything for him.
The wedding ceremony’s sweet and simple. Mari glows with happiness, and Napoletano actually cracks a smile. It looks weird on him.
When they kiss, everyone cheers, and some kind of daytime fireworks explode, making colorful patterns in the sky. We watch as they disappear against the backdrop of the setting sun, and everything feels just right.
It’s only when everyone gets up from their seats that I finally spot Gemma.
My breath catches.
She’s a vision in a blue silk dress. The way the fabric falls over her body reminds me of those flawless Roman statues. The ones you want to look at for hours from every angle.
She’s walking with Cleo toward the bar, that perfect ass swaying with every step.
