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“I am,” Antonio says in a clear, unwavering voice.
“I am,” I also promise.If it’s safe for them. That’s up to you, God.
Father Aguiar gestures for us to face each other. Antonio reaches for my hands as the priest asks us each to give our final consent before God.
“Antonio, do you take Daniela for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish, until death do you part?”
Antonio reaches over and gently brushes a lock of disheveled hair off my forehead. “I do,” he says unequivocally. His sincerity makes my heart clench. While I might not be loved, I’m wanted.
Father Aguiar turns to me. “Daniela, do you take Antonio for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and obey until death do you part?”
I gaze into Antonio’s eyes, searching for the boy I fell in love with as a girl. The one who visited me in my dreams, lavishing me with sweet kisses—and later passionate ones. Each kiss sealed with a declaration of love. While I don’t see that boy now, I pretend. Because it’s the only way I can find the courage to promise my life to this man.
“I do.”
Almost before the words are out, Lucas presses the rings into our hands. The priest is still blessing the marriage when Antonio grabs my wrist and yanks me into the vestibule and out the side door to a waiting car. Cristiano is in the passenger seat.
“This is a well-protected vehicle,” he assures me. “You’ll be safe.
“Take her directly to my apartment at the lodge. Other than you,” he orders Cristiano, “no one in or out of the apartment. I don’t give a damn who it is.”
I reach for his arm and grasp tight. “Please be careful.” Even as I say the words, I know he’s not going to be careful. Antonio is out for vengeance, and men with that kind of hatred in their hearts are never careful. “Please don’t take any chances with your life.”
His brow furrows as he traces my jaw with his fingertip. “You’re a beautiful bride,” he murmurs. “Don’t give my men a hard time. They’re here to protect you,” he adds as he pulls away and shuts the car door. He taps the rear of the car, and we speed away.
When I turn around, Antonio’s on his way inside the church. There will be more death today. I’m sure of it.
By the time I turn to face the front, the privacy screen is raised before I’ve had the chance to ask a single question.
I look down at my tattered dress, covered in dust and soot.Somehow it seems apropos that I got married in a dirty dress.
For the remainder of the ride, I think about the four women who were with me in the room. Four lives lost because they were there to serve me.
I hold my hands near my mouth to catch the vomit as I retch.
73
Antonio
Daniela, my mother, and Cristiano—mere feet away from a deadly explosion. Whoever is responsible will be pleading for death before I’m finished with them.
Lucas is headed in my direction. He should be back at the villa, studying feeds and overseeing the lab analysis and the forensics as they come in. That’s what he does best, and he is the best. Cristiano should be running this operation on the ground, but I need him with Daniela.
“How the fuck could this have happened?” I bark when Lucas approaches. “We’ve had people on the church since the wedding announcement went out. We swept the entire place yesterday, twice, and again this morning.”
“We found what appears to be a small timer in what was left of the bridal bouquet,” he says, the venom reverberating in every word. “At least we think it was the bouquet, but we won’t know until we’ve done the forensics. It’s probably not the entire story, but it’s definitely a piece.”
“Have someone pick up the florist, the delivery driver, the cleaning staff, and anyone else who might have even glanced at that bouquet. Put them in separate interrogation rooms in the caves. I want you back at the villa, running those forensics.”
“We’re still collecting evidence here.”
“I’ll run the operation here. I don’t know a fucking thing about running forensics.”
“Cristiano can come back after he makes sure Daniela is tucked in. The lodge is impenetrable.”
“No. I don’t want that. If the bouquet was rigged, or if a bomb was detonated in the bride’s parlor, it was meant to kill her. It wasn’t a fucking warning,” I growl, the lust for revenge growing with each passing second.
“Maybe,” Lucas says carefully. “The explosion did a fair amount of damage, but all in all, it was contained. Bombs are notoriously finicky, even in the hands of an expert. Until we learn more, we won’t know if the damage was intentional or something gone awry. The one thing for sure is that whoever is behind it was willing to take a risk that it would kill her—and hundreds of other people too.”
