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“How do I look?”
Toby examines my outfit, stepping back and squinting. “Like a man who’s taking a formality mighty seriously,” he says, straightening my tie as the organ begins to play inside the church.
“Got to look like a genuine marriage to pass the commission’s tests.”
“Isn’t it a sin to marry a woman you don’t love? Are you going to hell for this?”
“Compared to everything else I’ve done, this is going bottom of the list of problems when I die.”
“I guess so. You make sure everyone thinks you’re in love with her. You inherit. I get a pay raise. Everyone wins. Except for Ernesto.”
“That’s the plan. Any news on Oswald?”
“Not yet, but we’ve got eyes everywhere. Maybe we got lucky, and he decided to haul ass someplace else.”
“I doubt it. My instincts tell me he’s still in Chicago. How many men are watching the church?”
“I’ve got three out front and three out back, all armed to the teeth. He’s not getting anywhere near this place. Relax.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about. I won’t have Bex hurt by him, not today.”
“So any other day is all right?”
I scowl at him. “Don’t make jokes. This is serious.”
“Sorry, boss, but relax. It’ll all be fine. Trust me. I got a good feeling about all of this.”
“That makes one of us.”
There’s a buzz from my phone. I reach into my jacket and pull it out. “She’s on the way,” I say. “We better go inside.”
“One piece of advice before we do.”
“What’s that?”
“Might want to do up your zipper.”
I reach down, doing myself up as I make my way up the steps. The church doors are open. I walk inside and look at the guests gathered in the pews. Representatives of the five families are here. The commission has sent two observers who are standing to one side, not smiling. No sign of Ernesto, which suits me. Hopefully, he won’t turn up at all.
Alicia is in the front row, looking excited on my behalf. She keeps grinning at me and waving.
I’m feeling a sensation that doesn’t hit me often. Nerves. I can’t shake the feeling that something will go wrong here.
I do my best to ignore that sensation. Like Toby said, the place is guarded. It’s a short ceremony, and the reception will be back at the house. We’re not in an exposed location for long, and it’s one of our churches. Nothing terrible is going to happen.
I stand by the altar with Toby. He nods to the priest. “Barry, how’s it going?”
The priest grins and gives him two thumbs up. “Good day for the Don’s son to get married. I’m doing his brother’s ceremony tomorrow. Maybe I won’t bother going home in between.”
The organ music grows louder, the Wedding March begins. I turn in time to see my father walking Bex down the aisle toward me. She’s beaming, and the sun is shining straight through the stained glass, making it look like she’s walking through a rainbow.
Toby slaps me on the shoulder. “Make it real,” he whispers in my ear.
I don’t need reminding. I’m in the zone. No one will ever believe this is a fake wedding. I’m not going to believe it, not until it’s done. This is real now, and I want to be with her forever. It’s not hard to get into the mindset when she looks this good. The dress clings to her in all the right places. My people have done a superb job of her hair and makeup.
As they walk toward me, someone appears in the doorway behind them. I glance that way in time to see Ernesto walking in with Detective Brody by his side. My hands curl into fists as I whisper in Toby’s ear. “Why’s he brought that fucker with him?”
“No idea.”
