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I make the appropriate noises when it’s my turn, then slide the ring I purchased onto her finger. I hold out my hand for her to slip the wedding band onto mine. When he pronounces us husband and wife, I close the distance to her and raise the veil over her eyes. Her green gaze holds mine. Her eyes are clear, and her lips part as I lower my head to hers. I brush my mouth over the scar on her cheek, and she shivers. A noise escapes the back of her throat, and every cell in my body shifts into high alert. I drag my lips down to hers and kiss her firmly. Her mouth trembles under mine, and sensations unlike anything I’ve ever experienced course through my veins. Ownership, possession, wanting to protect her from the world, to hold and to cherish her, to show her every possible joy, to shield her from hurt, to ensure I give her everything she needs. To love her, to keep her happy, to satisfy all of her desires, to teach her just how good it can be between us. To show her what it means to be desired by me. To be mine. Only mine.
I raise my head and glance at her through half-closed eyelids. Her own are heavy with lust, her cheeks flushed with color. She’s staring at me as if she’s only now realizing what she agreed to do, and she’s unable to wrap her head around it, unable to comprehend exactly what it means to be married to me. If I’m being honest, that expression of surprise gladdens me. Best to keep her a little off-kilter. At least, until she develops feelings for me.
"You okay?" I tuck a strand of hair that’s come loose behind her ear.
She draws in a sharp breath, her gaze still fixed on mine.
"Via?" I whisper my knuckles across her cheek, and she blinks. Then nods.
"I’m good."
"Good." I allow my lips to twist in a smile as I lower my hand and twine my fingers with hers.
We walk forward, and her friend Jeanne is the first one to rush forward to congratulate us. She throws her arms around Via and congratulates her as Adrian shakes my hand.
"You did it, man."
"It’s your turn next." I bump his shoulder with my fist.
He chuckles without comment, then steps back as my other brothers surround us.
An hour later, I glance to my right where my wife is sipping prosecco from her flute. She laughs at something her friend Penny says. She hasn’t said a word to me since that exchange right after I kissed her. Clearly, she’s avoiding me. Perhaps she’s still reconciling herself with the change in her status. The ceremony was mercifully short, at least. Now, we just need to get through this dinner.
Given the choice, I’d have returned home with her, but no way would my brothers allow us to leave without partaking in the feast. Karma mentioned to me that Nonna’s old chef, Gino, had pulled it together specifically for us. So, I led Via to the dining room, made sure she was seated, and took the chair next to her. All of which was accomplished without her so much as meeting my eyes. She can avoid me all she likes, but both she and I know we’ll have to talk soon. There’s time for that, though.
For now, I glance around the table. To my right is Adrian. My other brothers and their wives sit in the other chairs. On one end, Solene and Declan sit next to each other. There’s enough space between them that they don’t touch. They’re not looking at each other, and not talking to the people next to them. They seem to be focused on staring straight forward, as if trying to avoid each other’s eyes. That should be an interesting relationship.
Olivia’s mother congratulated both of us, but opted not to stay for dinner. Not that I’m complaining. Besides, she’s in mourning, which was obvious to me as soon as I saw her dressed all in black. I don’t regret what I did to Diego, but it stands to reason that his mother’s pissed-off at me. Although if she is, she didn’t let on when she came face-to-face with me. Either she silently agrees with what I did and recognizes it was the only way to save her daughter from the unimaginable fate her brother intended for her, or she knows how to hide her true feelings. Either way, I admit, I wasn’t too sad when she left with Olivia’s aunt, uncle, and cousins right after the wedding.
As for Solene, I doubt she has forgiven me, but she’s here for Olivia, and that’s what matters.
The staff serves us our starters, tops off our flutes, and steps back.
Michael rises to his feet. He raises his flute, and everyone quiets down. "I am truly happy to have our entire family together today. We have been through a lot in the last few months, and my heart is full seeing my entire family in my home, at my table." He glances around the space, until his gaze alights on me. "I want to start by wishing Massimo and Olivia the very best in the journey they are starting together. May you find happiness and discover the joys of a true partnership."
"Hear, hear," Christian raises his glass.
"I also want to, once more, welcome Jeanne, Elsa, Theresa, and Aurora to our family. You have all been a welcome addition to the lives of my brothers and have changed the energy of this family to one of hope, joy, and anticipation for the future. You’ve given all of us a reason to come home safely at the end of the day, and for that, I’ll always be thankful to you."
Jeanne smiles, Elsa chuckles, Theresa nods. Aurora tilts her head in Michael’s direction. She’s a doctor, and we relied on her father, and then on her to nurse us through various wounds at the time when we were more actively engaged in the traditionalCosa Nostrabusiness. As my brothers married, the realization that we couldn’t continue to risk our lives, and that of our loved ones, dawned on us. Which is why we’re in the process of legalizing our businesses—something that's taking longer than expected, given the vast number of enterprises we’re involved in. The intricacies of this switch have kept me busy, but I hope we’ll see the end of it very soon. It’s a shift that I’m glad to make, and I’m confident it will prove to be seamless.
"I also want to toast my wife, Karma. You’re the most incredible woman I have ever met. I’m lucky to have you in my life and I can’t wait for our childto arrive so we can be a family."
He bends down to kiss her lips. He deepens the kiss to choruses of "ooh," and "get a room, guys."
They continue kissing, and Luca throws a roll at Michael’s head. It misses, barely—which is intentional, as Luca is the best shot I know—and Michael straightens with a smirk on his face.
Karma leans back in her seat, her features slightly paler than usual. The pregnancy has been hard on her, and Michael has seldom left her side since she announced her pregnancy.
Michael glances around the table again, and his features sober. "I also want to take a moment to remember those who are not with us anymore: our brother, Xander and Nonna.”
"Xander?" Olivia turns to me. "Couldn’t he make it today?’
I shake my head. "Xander was Christian and Axel’s triplet. He died in a car bomb explosion rigged by our father."
She gasps. "Oh, my god, that’s awful. I had no idea." She places her palm over my hand, and her touch travels straight down my arm, down my waist, to my groin.Fuck.At this rate, I’m going to throw her down and rut into her in front of everyone, and while that picture is highly appealing, it’s not how I want to start our marriage. Not that I don’t want to consummate our relationship, but it has to be when she’s ready for it. I draw in a breath and her scent, that elixir of jasmine and roses, fills my senses. My cock throbs, and goddamn, she better be ready to consummate this marriage soon. There’s no telling how long I’ll be able to hold out.
I pull my hand out from under hers, then raise my glass. "I’d like to propose a toast."
