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I shrug.
“Oh my God!” I hear someone squeal. “You look like a doll, a perfect little bride doll!”
When I look up the stairs, my heart seems to come to a halt, locked in a vise as I stare at a vision of beauty.
Bianca wears a white dress, a veil flowing down her back as her sister fusses at the material, pulling it and pinning it in different places, making it fit Bianca like a glove. My mouth waters, my mind going hazy, my fingertips hot, my ears cold, my entire being focused on the sweet angel standing at the top of the stairs.
“I only have to pin it a little here and there, and the seamstress is already on the way. You don’t mind wearing my dress, right?” Angelica stands.
Bianca’s gaze lands on me at that moment, kicking my heart into gear as it beats only for her.
“No!” Angelica turns Bianca around and steps in front of her. “You can’t see her in this dress! I was just using the stairs to pin the train. I thought you were all in the office. Go get changed.” She shoos Bianca down the hallway, the train disappearing last as I stare after her.
I’m dumbstruck. It’s not as if I’m known for my speaking skills or for saying much of anything. But right this second, I couldn’t put a sentence together if my life depended on it. All I can think, all I cansee, is Bianca swathed in white with a smile on her lips as she meets my gaze. She’s a sweet breath of heaven in my frigid hell.
Gilly snaps his fingers in front of my face. “You awake in there?”
Antonio smacks his hand away. “Give him a second.”
Gilly snickers then stows it as Bianca reappears in street clothes, Angelica on her heels as they hurry down the stairs.
The moment Bianca gets close to me, I open my arms. She runs into them, and I catch her, squeezing her to my chest as I kiss her crown.
“So beautiful” is all I can manage to say.
She laughs. “You liked it? I couldn’t tell from the way you were staring.”
“I loved it.”
“Good.” Antonio claps his hands. “The wedding is on as soon as we return. Now let’s get to the meeting, get it over with, and get you two married.”
I look down into Bianca’s luminous blue eyes. “But I haven’t asked you properly.”
“You don’t have to.” She gets on her tiptoes and kisses me. “Yes. A million times yes, Fernando. I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”
“If I’ll have you?” I can’t keep the surprise from my tone. “I’ve never wanted anything more.” I pick her up and spin her around, sending Antonio and Gilly scattering.
She laughs and wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly as I pull her close.
“I love you, sweetness. So much.”
“I love you, too. Both of you. My Fernando and the Butcher. Forever,” she whispers.
I kiss her hard, tonguing her and tasting her, not caring who’s watching. She’s mine, and I can’t seem to process it, to analyze, to do anything except revel in it.
When I finally pull away, she gasps in a breath, and Angelica starts clapping. Antonio and Gilly join in, and when I finally put Bianca on her feet, they’re all laughing and smiling.
My chest swells with pride, my heart pounding. This is it. Bianca and I will be wed. But first, we’ll have to run the gauntlet of the murderous families of the underworld, including the Frangiones.
“Let’s get this done.” I take her hand and lead her out into the night, her light the only thing I need to guide my way.
22
BIANCA
Itry to keep my composure. The last thing I want anyone to think is that I’m weak or that I’m not cut out to be the Butcher’s wife. I wasn’t sure how everyone would respond when we’d gotten back to the Palermo home. Fernando might have crossed some lines, but I’m the one who took it to another level.
There had been a time when Fernando could have returned me pure and ready to become a bride to one of the Frangione brothers. Not that I think he would have, but I made sure there was no going back, and in that, I know I was selfish.
