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“Get on with it,” I reply, walking over to the entrance again to make sure the street is empty outside. When I’m satisfied we haven’t been followed, I bolt the door and then take Rory by the hand. “Let’s do this.”
The priest reads out the words and we reply in the right places. When I put the ring on Rory’s hand, I can feel how badly she’s trembling. Still wondering if this is a good idea, I’m guessing.
It’s not like she has much choice. At least married to me, I can keep her safe until I’m Don. After that, she can do whatever she wants as far as I’m concerned. As long as what she wants is to stay with me, of course.
The ceremony is over and done with in a couple of minutes. The entire time, I’m expecting Giovanni to burst in and spray the place with lead. I keep my hand hovering near my gun just in case but it’s not needed. No one comes in.
“Kiss the bride,” he says a minute later.
I turn to Rory, grab hold of her and let her know what marriage to me will be like. I grip her tight with both hands, sliding my tongue straight into her mouth. She goes rigid but then she starts to melt as the tip of my tongue touches hers. As our embrace deepens, I can feel her arousal growing. When I stop abruptly, she staggers like she might fall over. I keep hold of her, stroking her lower back as the priest finishes up.
“I’m acting as the two witnesses,” the priest says at the end, a smile on his face. I know why he’s grinning. Matteo has paid him a small fortune to make sure this is all nice and legal. “Well, me and Doris over there anyway. Between you and me, she doesn’t even know what day of the week it is.”
“We done?” I ask.
“You just sign a couple of things and you’re all set.”
He takes us over to a table set up near the altar. On top is the wedding certificate, looking freshly printed. “Your name here,” the priest says, handing Rory the pen.
She looks at the paper, her hand hovering above the dotted line. She seems on the verge of saying something but then she doesn’t. She swallows hard and then signs, her hand shaking slightly as she does so.
I take the pen from her, signing my name next to hers.
She looks at me after we’ve signed the rest of the paperwork. “Is that it?” she asks.
“I believe so. That it, Padre?”
The priest looks down at our signatures. “Congratulations,” he says. “All hitched.” He holds a hand out toward me.
I shake. His hand is sweaty, like it’s covered in grease. He turns to Rory. “Good luck, sweetie,” he says before picking up the papers and shoving them unceremoniously into a briefcase. “Enjoy married life.”
I walk over to the door and unbolt it to the sound of Beethoven coming from the organ. I look out. The street’s still empty. I wave Rory over and we walk out together.
“We’re married,” she says over and over as we head down to my car. It’s like she’s a stuck record. “We’re married. We’re married.”
“Get in,” I tell her, holding open her car door.
She does as I say, sitting bolt upright in the car, looking straight ahead of her.
“We’re married,” she says a final time as I climb in. “I can’t believe we’re actually married.”
I pull out my phone, calling Matteo. “Get it done,” I tell him when he answers.
Rory turns to look at me while I’m shoving my phone away. “Get what done?” she asks.
“You stuck to your side of the deal, I’m sticking to mine. Matteo’s going to release the scholarship money into your cousin’s account. Whatever college she applies to, she will get in.”
“She might not.”
That makes me chuckle. “You clearly don’t know me well at all if you think there’ll be a problem with admission.”
“Thank you.” There’s a half smile on her face as she says it.
“You’re welcome,” I reply. “You sound surprised though. Did you not think I would keep to my word?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“What then?”
