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"Have you slept with him?" I ask.
My mother draws in a breath, but doesn’t say anything. Considering she was a virgin, which is why my brother chose her for the arranged marriage proposition.... Let's just say, virginity is still highly-prized in our clan. Thankfully, though, no one has that expectation of me.
"Have you slept with Massimo?" Solene shoots back.
"Eh?" Heat sears my cheeks. I’m not shy about the fact that I’ve slept with men in the past. That I have a healthy sexual appetite. That I enjoy sex—in fact, more than enjoyed the explosive encounter with Massimo the night we met. But I’ll be damned, if I am going to admit that to my sister and mother.
"None of your business," I snap.
One side of Solene’s lips twists in a smile. "Exactly."
"You are so annoying." I throw up my hands. "I’m just looking out for you."
"As I am for you," Mamma retorts.
"I have a dress for the bride. One in which I guarantee she’s going to look ah-ma-zing!" a new voice singsongs from the doorway.
I turn to find someone who looks familiar walking in. I think I saw her at Solene’s engagement. Her dress hints at her pregnant stomach and she’s holding a garment bag that says: Karma’s Creations. Oh, that‘s right. The bridesmaid dresses. And I thought she might be Massimo’s woman.
"Hi. Karma, right? We got our bridesmaids’ gowns for Jeanne’s wedding from you." I smile.
"Correct on all accounts. I’m also Michael Sovrano’s wife. I took the liberty of creating a wedding dress for you. This here is an original Karma Creation, and I’d be honored if you wore it.”
35
Olivia
At least the wedding isn’t in a church or at City Hall—two logical venues, both of which I wanted to avoid. He seems to have understood that; Karma told me that the wedding would take place in their conservatory. The same place where I had walked in on Solene’s engagement party.
And yes, the wedding is real, but if I pretend I’m playing a role in a movie, I’ll be able to get through this with more ease. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. I’m filling a role; that’s all there is to it. I’m not getting married to the man who’s occupied my dreams, my every waking thought, and who I had masturbated to almost every night since meeting him. Nope. Of course not. I rub my palms down the satin of the dress I am wearing.
Karma Sovrano insisted that I accept the dress. I refused, of course, and told her I was happy with what I had on, but she was so persuasive. She told me it had become a bit of a tradition in the Sovrano household for her to design the wedding dress of the bride. She did it for most of the weddings of Michael’s brothers, and she said she would be so grateful if I accepted the dress from her. She was so humble, so sincere, I couldn’t turn her down.
Also, she’s the Don’s wife. Not that she used her position to get me to agree, but I was conscious of the fact that my family is now at the mercy of theCosa Nostra,and I don’t want to upset that balance in any way.
She’s my future sister-in-law, and while I can be stubborn, I'm not dumb. I’m marrying into the Sovrano family, after all. And believe it or not, my mother's words made an impact. She was trying to tell me that I need to start this relationship on the right footing, by giving it the kind of respect it deserves. And while I’m not a romantic, by any stretch of the imagination, this is probably the only time in my life I’m going to get married, because neither theCosa Nostranor theCamorrabelieve in divorce.
I have to admit, I didn’t want to appear at my ceremony looking less than stellar. And when Karma revealed the dress, I couldn’t deny, it was beautiful. I saw the dress and immediately knew I wanted to wear it. And when I saw myself in the mirror, a shiver had skimmed through me. A simple sheath made of a liquid, metallic material that made it seem like the dress had been poured over me and then sewed to my curves, it hugged me in a warm embrace without restricting my movements. It shifted and slithered over my skin and across my thighs, and as I moved, little flickers of static electricity ran under my skin. I looked beautiful, elegant, sophisticated. I looked like I was ready for the starring role in my own life. I had to wear that dress. I thanked Karma, and when I finished getting dressed, she accompanied me down to the waiting car driven by Adrian. My sister and mother followed in another car.
We drove to the Don’s house, and now I wait in the room just up the corridor. Soon, I'll walk down the aisle.
Solene and Karma are speaking quietly in one corner of the room. I decided not to have any bridesmaids or have my mother walk me down the aisle. I’d rather get through this as quickly and as painlessly as possible. The door opens and Penny and Jeanne walk in.
Penny breaks into a run and comes over to stand in front of me. Her fingers are squeezed together, and she takes me in with a dreamy expression on her face. "You look so beautiful." Her voice is choked. She takes my hand and squeezes it. "I can’t believe you’re getting married," she gushes.
"Me neither," I drawl.
"I’m the only one left unmarried. Can you believe that?" She purses her lips.
Jeanne draws abreast. She scans me from head to toe. "Wow, that’s some dress."
"Thanks to Karma," I jerk my chin in Karma’s direction.
"I thought I spotted Karma’s trademark touch." She shoots a smile in her sister-in-law’s direction. Jeanne is married to Luca, Massimo’s brother, which makes us—
"Shit, we’re going to be family," I exclaim.
"Y-e-p." She smiles widely. "How cool is that?"
