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“Pia is unable to speak,” I explain.
“That will make saying the vows challenging, will it not?”
I shoot Father Angelo a look. “Make it work, Father. Ok?”
He quickly nods. “Yes, yes. Of course. Please, come closer.” He situates himself behind the dais as Pia and I take our places before him.
I grab Pia’s hands. Can’t have her running away again. I also just want to feel her skin against mine.
Father Angelo begins the ceremony, but I only half listen as I stare intently into Pia’s eyes. She meets my gaze head-on, not showing any fear. I’m impressed. She’s still an enigma, and I’m not sure I’ll fully understand her, but I want to spend the rest of my life figuring that out.
Once Father Angelo asks me if I agree to marry Pia, I confidently say, “I do,” squeezing her hands for good measure.
Pia’s lips part again. God, what she’s doing to me.
Next, Father Angelo asks her if she agrees to marry me, and Pia slowly nods.
“I’ll take that as an I do,” Father Angelo mutters. “All right. With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
I cup Pia’s face between my hands before leaning down and pressing my lips against hers. This time, the kiss isn’t as gentle as it was in the car. It’s more firm, more exacting, more passionate. I’m claiming her with a kiss, right here in this church, making her my wife. I want her to know she’s mine completely.
Pia responds to the kiss tentatively. I can tell she has no experience, but that just excites me more. She’s all for me. Only me.
When Father Angelo clears his throat, I pull back but ignore him. If I want to kiss my wife, I’m going to kiss my wife. But I also need to get her out of here without wasting any more time.
I hold my hand out to Pia, who looks dazed from our kiss. It makes me smirk. “Ready to go home?”
CHAPTER5
Pia
Istare at Dario’s outstretched hand and think about his question. I know he means his own home. There’s no way I’m ever going back to my father’s mansion. No way will I ever step foot into that tower again.
But am I ready to go to Dario’s home?
I know I agreed to marry him. It’s insane. But what other choice did I have? It was either return to my father and be locked up or marry Lorenzo or go off on my own and still end up back in my father’s clutches. By marrying me, Dario shows he wants to protect me. And despite my hesitation, I feel safe with him. But still … it’s not like I really have a choice.
I slip my hand into Dario’s, feeling the warmth of his palm, the callouses on his hand, the size of his fingers as they wrap around mine. How can I feel this way about a man I just met? It really is insane.
But if Dario gives me a chance to live my life outside of a tower, I’ll take it. I want so desperately to experience freedom, and this is my opportunity to do it.
Dario’s lips quirk, making me blush. His entire presence lights me up like I’m alive for the first time in my life. “Good. Let’s go.” He gives the nod to the priest. “Thanks again, Father. Always appreciate your help.”
He nods in return. “And, you know, you need to keep me out of any other business dealings you have going on. I’m not interested.”
“I understand. We’ll only contact you when we need a priest. Otherwise, my men and I will leave you alone.” Dario turns back to me before gently tugging on my arm, signally me to follow him down the aisle and out of the church.
I point back in the direction of the church and shrug my shoulders.
“Are you asking about Father Angelo?”
I nod.
“He works for us from time to time but prefers to stay out of the more … shady business, you could say.”
Shady business?I sign. Dario lifts an eyebrow. I huff. I know he can’t understand me. Living in a world where most people cannot understand you is tough. I faced ridicule from my father for so long that it would be nice to have someone I could truly talk to. I point to his pocket, which holds his phone, and motion for it.
He hands it over, and I type as fast as I can. When Dario first gave me the phone, I had no idea how to type with it, but I learned my letters, and I know how to write. That’s another thing my father gave me—an education. It might not be the best, but I have it.
