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“I know. But the alliance between the Società and Fratellanza is still in its infancy. Apart from our soldiers, it’s best that the only people attending from our side of the family are our siblings.” I had three brothers and one sister, and they had come to L.A. with me today.
Alessio was twenty-six years old and just one year younger than me. He was just as good a shot and fighter as me and could take care of himself. Even Camillo, at eighteen years of age, was initiated into the Fratellanza and knew how to defend himself.
I couldn’t help worrying, though, about my two youngest siblings, Danio and Debi. “I know Danio is fifteen already and next year will be initiated into the Fratellanza, but I can’t stop thinking of him as a kid, especially as he’s still in high school.”
“I know,” frowned Alessio. “I’d feel better if he and Debi had been able to stay home in Chicago today, but it would have looked odd if they didn’t attend the wedding.”
Debi was the baby of the family. She was fourteen and her four older brothers were determined to keep her as innocent as possible, for as long as possible. Our whole lives revolved around keeping her safe from the dangers of our world. With both our parents dead, it would have looked strange if my siblings had not attended the wedding today—it would look as though we didn’t trust the Società Mafia.
Although both sides knew the other didn’t trust them, neither would say it outright and we had to try and keep up appearances if this alliance was to succeed. Lately the Russian Bratva had been causing a lot of difficulties for both us and the Società. An alliance would strengthen us in the fight against the Russians and be to our mutual benefit.
My thoughts drifted to my bride. I hoped that Juliana would not have to be prompted to make her vows today. If she showed any defiance, she would be sorry tonight—her family would no longer be able to protect her.
I looked across at Alessio who had nervous energy bounding off him. “Is everything in place?” I checked with him quietly.
“Yes, everything is arranged and confirmed. I’ve made extensive contingency plans involving security, escape, and exfiltration options, should the need arise.”
My brother, Alessio, wasn’t convinced about the proposed alliance between the Fratellanza and the Società. He said that I didn’t always think things through, but I preferred to think of it as being unpredictable to our enemies. And the proposed alliance, with a rival Mafia family whom we were known to despise, had definitely taken the Russians by surprise.
Alessio liked to consider things from all angles, while I was more erratic in my tactics. He liked control, while I thrived on chaos. Which is probably why our partnership as Capo and Consigliere had been so successful and had propelled the e hadn’t to
I looked around the church. Debi was sitting in the pews, in between Danio and Camillo. She gave me a little wave and I winked back at her. She looked really pretty in her dress today and she was very excited about the wedding. At least that made one of us.
There were noises at the other end of the church, and then the music started, and the large wooden doors opened. I looked up expectantly, waiting for my bride to appear.
A flower girl, who looked to be about four or five years old, proceeded down the aisle, scattering rose petals as she went along. Another girl, whom I recognized from the engagement party as Juliana’s sister, was a bridesmaid and she followed closely behind, making sure to keep the flower girl on track when the young child quickly started to lose concentration.
Then Juliana appeared on the arm of her father. Her white lace dress emphasized her innocence and made her seem even more fragile than when I’d met her the first time. Even with the veil over her face, I could see her bright blue eyes as she made her way down the aisle and came closer to me.
She gripped her father’s arm tightly, and I could see her knuckles were white. She was holding on for dear life. As she walked toward me, she kept her eyes straight ahead and avoided my gaze.
When they reached the altar, her father lifted her veil and revealed her face to me. I held out my hand, and Cecilio placed Juliana’s hand in mine.
As I closed my fingers firmly around hers, her eyes darted to mine. She quickly looked away, but I didn’t miss the anxiety in her features nor the icy coldness of her hand in mine.
The Catholic priest began the wedding service, and I looked across at Juliana again. She continued to avoid meeting my gaze, filling me with an irrational anger.
After addressing the congregation, the priest turned to Juliana and me. “Marco and Juliana, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?” An inappropriate question given the circumstances, but even the Mafia couldn’t change the words required by the Catholic religion.
“I have,” I said, and turned to Juliana.
She kept her eyes forward and her voice quiet as she replied, “I have.” I felt a swell of satisfaction that I hadn’t needed to force the words out of her.
“Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his church?”
We both replied, “I am.”
“Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of holy matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his church,” decreed the priest.
As I turned toward Juliana, I saw out of the corner of my eye the little flower girl running behind us and Jessica going to grab her.
In that split second, a gunshot rang out across the church.
I saw Jessica fall to the ground.
And at once all hell broke loose.
I automatically drew my gun knowing that my brothers and soldiers would be doing the same. We never went anywhere without our weapons, not even to a wedding. I could see the Società soldiers brandishing their own guns.
