Page 100 of Vow

Kim raised a brow at that statement when she glanced up at her son, but Andino only winked. She patted his cheek, and said, “I better go find your father. You’ve got all of an hour before you need to be down at the altar. Got it?”

“No worries. I don’t need a reminder.”

Andino said goodbye to his mother. She went one way down the hallway, and he went the other. It took him another ten minutes before he was on the other side of the church where the bride-to-be and her family had been situated for the day.

He could hear the cheerful laughter of Kev and Darren Calabrese before he even opened the hallway door. That sound alone was enough to send Andino’s rage spiking higher—he could not despise those two men more than he did—but he tampered the emotion down. He remained a blank slate as he pulled open the door to find the brothers sharing a drink in the hallway, and clinking beer bottles.

“Andino, what are you doing down this way?” Kev asked.

Entirely too happy.

Andino lifted the box in his hands. “I thought Ginevra might like a gift.”

Darren cocked a brow. “Bad luck to see the bride—”

“I’m not superstitious, but thanks for your concern.”

The younger of the two narrowed his gaze at Andino. “Well, I’m sure you’ll have more than enough time to spend with Ginevra after the wedding, Andino.”

“And right now when I give her this gift.”

Darren didn’t look like he was willing to back down. Neither was Andino, really. Darren was smart like that where Kev, on the other hand, was a fucking idiot. Maybe he felt something wasn’t right—he would be correct—but it didn’t matter.

Andino was going to do what he was going to do whether either of them liked it or not. He didn’t need their fucking permission to give Ginevra her wedding gift.

Kev laughed, and slapped his brother on the back. “Relax, brother. This is a good day, huh? We’ve been waiting for this. Let him have a moment.” Then, to Andino, Kev added, “We’ll give you a few. Siena is helping Ginevra finish getting ready. We have to check on the other two girls, anyway.”

Andino nodded. “I appreciate it.”

Kev grinned in that way of his as he passed Andino by. This stupid fuck thought he was about to get everything he wanted. All the things his father had never been able to achieve as a Cosa Nostra boss was suddenly at the tips of Kev’s fingers, and he was craving it something bad.

Andino had news for him … it was never going to happen.

It didn’t matter.

Kev would learn soon enough.

Once the brothers were out of the hallway, Andino gave one last look over his shoulder before he headed for the bridal suite. Rapping on the door with two knuckles, he stepped back and waited for someone to open the door. No one did, but he did hear footsteps come closer to the door.

He knocked again.

“Jesus Christ, Kev,” he heard Siena snap behind the doorway, “just give her a few minutes, okay?”

Andino raised a brow. “It’s me, actually.”

“Oh.” Slowly, the door was opened. Siena popped her head through the crack, and gave Andino a look before her gaze dropped down at the box in his hands. She looked ready for the day all dressed up in her silk and chiffon pale blue gown that would match Ginevra’s other two sisters’ dresses as well. “What do you need?”

“A minute with Ginevra.” Andino smiled. “And you.”

Siena cleared her throat. “Now’s not the best—”

“I really don’t have time for this, Siena.”

“Just … give me a second, okay?”

Andino sighed. “Fine, but hurry. We’re running out of daylight.”

Not really, but he was running short on time.