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“I, Teagan, take you, Elio, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part,” Teagan repeats after me, her words soft and hesitant.
Is she second-guessing herself? It’s a little too late for that.
I slide the wedding band onto her fingers, feeling her trembling hand. She’s shaking like a leaf and our marriage hasn’t even started yet. I know that I’m an asshole, but have I truly given her a reason to be this frightened? She licks her lips as she moves a little closer to me, her hand reaching for mine, the wedding band ready to be placed on my finger. Her gaze catches mine, and I see the question in her eyes.
Am I going to hurt her?
Fuck. Why the hell does she make me want to protect her? Why the fuck have I got that instinct in me? I shouldn’t, not after what her family did to me. Her father scarred me, left me with permanent marks, ones that run deeper than the flesh of my skin. That bastard got off lightly where I’m concerned, and I won’t stop until I get revenge.
I have to keep repeating that to myself. If I don’t, Teagan is going to live a life of luxury and I’m going to be a man without a cause.
I hold my hand steady for her, and she continues to tremble as she slides the band onto my ring finger. I feel a heated gaze on me. Someone’s glaring at me. I raise my head and see Jade staring. The woman has been on a motherfucking crusade since going with Teagan to select the wedding dress. I don’t know what the fuck her problem is, but she’s continuously warning me about hurting my own bride.
“I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Gallo. You may kiss your bride,” the priest says. His monotone voice hasn’t once changed throughout the entire ceremony.
I step forward, Teagan’s entire frame freezing as I reach for her veil and lift it over her head. The second it’s clear, I pull her into me, bend my head, and kiss her. This isn’t like the previous time we kissed, this is chaste and filled with promise. Tonight, I’m making her mine.
When I pull back, she’s looking up at me with those big doe gray eyes, that question still there, but this time it’s almost begging.Don’t hurt me.
I take her hand. I’m not even going to touch that, not now. I have no fucking idea what I’m going to do with her. One thing is for sure, I’m going to fuck her. I need to get her out of my system so that I can get my head straight. We walk down the aisle to the church exit, listening to a chorus of ‘“Evviva gli sposi,”from the guests, including my nonna, who is waiting at the church doors for us. (Long live the bride and groom.)
It’s been weeks since I last saw her. She’s no doubt ready to tear me a new one. My nonna would go head-to-head with the Devil if she was angry enough. She’s old school, and she knows all about this life. My nonno was the man who started the Gallo Famiglia. He’s the one who built this from the ground up, with Nonna right by his side.
“Bambina, mi hai nascosto questa bellezza. Perché?”Nonna asks as she pulls me in for a hug, kissing both of my cheeks, her frail hands holding on to me. (Child, you have been hiding this beauty from me. Why?)
“Nonna, la incontri adesso. Non spaventarla,”I say as I smile at her. (Nonna, you’re meeting her now. Don’t scare her off.)
“Sciocchezze, ora presentami la mia nuova bellissima nipote,”she says with a smile, patting me on my cheek. I swear the woman thinks I’m twelve still. (Nonsense, now introduce me to my new beautiful granddaughter.)
“Nonna, this is Teagan,” I say as I turn her toward my bride. “Teagan, this is my grandmother.”
Teagan flashes a bright smile. “It’s so lovely to meet you,” she says softly.
Nonna reaches for her and pulls her into her arms. “And you,bella, and you.” She turns to me, her eyes flashing with warning.“Prenditi cura di lei, Elio, trattala bene. Non farle del male o che Dio mi aiuti,”Nonna hisses at me.
Christ, that’s both me and Rocco that she’s warned about hurting our wives. What the fuck? Then again, looking at who her son was, she probably can’t be sure. Our father was a fucking bastard who hurt his daughter.
“Let us celebrate,” Nonna says. “There’s food for everyone.”
That’s Nonna, ready to feed the five thousand.
I keep a hold of Teagan’s hand and walk out of the church. I want to keep her close to me, for today at least. I don’t trust anyone around her. I grit my teeth. Fuck, the possessiveness I’m feeling is new. I’ve never felt this toward another woman before.
What the fuck is going on?
FOURTEEN
ELIO
Iwatch as Lorenzo dances with my wife. Both of his hands are at her waist as she holds his shoulders, while they sway gently to the music. The only reason I’m not ripping his hands off her is because she’s watching me. Her gaze is focused on me.
“She’s uncomfortable,” Rocco remarks.
“She is.”
Teagan has been uncomfortable throughout this entire day. She’s unlike any other woman I have come across. In this world, the women and their mothers live for weddings. They’ll have everything planned out from the very beginning and would be ecstatic on their actual wedding day. But not Teagan. No, she’s angry, she’s uncomfortable, and she’s hurting. Those steely gray eyes of hers are conveying every emotion as she sways with Lorenzo.
“Are you not going to dance with your new bride?” Dario grins as he stands beside Rocco and me.
