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Chapter 4
Violet
As I waited for the wedding ceremony to begin, my mind drifted over to every moment I had spent with Zahn. Our tour of Milan had ended before it started as I drifted off to sleep in his arms. He had tucked me into my hotel room bed and had left the sweetest note.
Piccolo fiore,
I look forward to every moment with you. But for now, rest. When you awake, eat, and see your father, for he has greatly missed you. I will see you tomorrow, beautiful.
~Zahn
How could a girl not just completely melt to his charms? I didn’t fully know why he was so taken with me, but I wasn’t stupid enough not to enjoy every moment. As the music started to play, I stood next to my father, a large smile on my face. My eyes kept landing on Zahn as he kept staring at me. Forcing myself to look away, I turned my attention back to my dad. He rubbed his hands on his pants as he mumbled, “Never thought I’d be this nervous.”
I patted his shoulder before taking his hand in mine and letting him know he wasn’t alone. When the church doors opened and Isabella stepped out, I could feel him relax. She looked stunning in the all-white gown with her hair pulled up off her shoulders and the lace veil down over her face.
As she stepped up to the altar, I released his hand as he moved close to her. He pulled back the veil, revealing her tearful but happy face. A sense of bliss came over me, and my eyes looked at Zahn again. It was like the entire room disappeared, and only Zahn and I existed.
Was it crazy that I wanted this with him? I barely knew him, yet I felt like I’d known him forever. When I looked at him, it was as if I were looking at the other half of my soul. Everyone here watched my father marry the love of his life, yet I could barely take my eyes off Zahn. He was everything I ever wanted but never knew I needed. I struggled to imagine a day without him in my life.
This was crazy. I just met the man a few days ago. There was no way he felt the same way. I pulled my attention away from him and forced myself to listen to the priest. When it was time, I handed the rings to my father. The look on his face was such utter joy that I couldn’t help but smile in return.
I watched as they kneeled for the silent blessing, their hands connected. I snuck a glance at Zahn and found he had his head bowed, but he watched me too. The mass seemed to take forever when all I wanted to do was be close to Zahn.
“Please stand,” the priest said, closing the bible in his hands as soon as he was done with the prayer. “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Luca Romano Altieri. You may now kiss the bride.”
I watched as my Dad and Isabella finally kissed, and I felt their joy and love from where I stood. I realized I was feeling a bit of jealousy. I’d only ever had my dad, and he’d finally found someone to complete his life. It left me feeling scared and lost.
If truth be told, I didn’t have anything back at my apartment. I had a job I hated, a plant I couldn’t keep alive, and the occasional night out with work acquaintances. What if I stayed in Italy like Zahn wanted me to. I could find an apartment here, a job, maybe build a life near people I cared about.
As I followed my dad and Isabella down the aisle, I walked deep in thought, contemplating what I should do. Right as I reached the end of the aisle, I felt strong arms sweep me into a solid chest. His scent filled my senses. I sighed happily as I felt his lips on my neck.
“I’ve been dying to have you in my arms throughout the ceremony.” Zahn’s husky voice caused a shiver to move through me. “I already told Luca you’re riding with me. I promised to have you at the reception in time.”
I giggled at the grumpiness I heard in his voice. “However, did Dad get you to agree to that?” His lips continued to nip and lick my neck, making it hard to think.
“I’m not sure. I think it was desperation to get his approval of us.” He suddenly spun me around as a gasp escaped my lips. It was quickly cut off as he captured my mouth in a kiss that left me breathless and weak in the knees. “Let’s get out of here, piccolo fiore. I have an hour to be alone with you.”
After a quick exit from the church, Zahn had me sitting on his lap inside his car. “Rafe, take us to the reception. We’ll be staying back here until it’s time.” After his instructions, Zahn immediately closed the privacy screen. “No one can see us or hear us, my sweet flower.”
With a naughty giggle on my lips, he captured them in a bruising kiss. After several long minutes, I pulled away from his lips breathlessly. “I wish to talk to you. Since we have landed in Milan, you’ve mentioned several times that you wished for me to stay. Do you mean that, Zahn?”
“Yes, ever since I saw you at the airport, piccolo fiore, my soul called to you. It knew before my mind did that it had found its missing half. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t have a return flight. In truth, I do not wish to fly without you. I’ve been thinking much about staying here to be closer to Dad and Isabella. They’re my only family, and I hate being so far from them, and now that I’ve met you… be honest with me. Is the family business what I think it is? Dad wouldn’t tell me anything until I spoke with you.”
Zahn leaned close to my ear. His warm breath and occasional kiss on my ear sent a shiver through me. “The Vaneti family is what Americans would call a mafia family. We maintain both legal and illegal ventures. I will be taking over for my father. Does this change how you see me, piccolo fiore? Can you see yourself with a simple criminal?”
“There is nothing simple about you that I would bet my life on.”
“No! You must never wager with something so important, Violet. You matter more than you can know.” He held me tight to his being. The idea that I would be put at risk already worried him. She’d never met any man like him before. How could she leave him to return to a life that didn’t bring her any sort of joy?
“I’m sorry. I won’t ever do that. To answer you, my Zahn, I cannot see myself with a simple criminal, but I can see myself with you. We have much more to discuss, but not now. Now I wish to tell you that I want to stay here with my family, with you.”
The smile that lit up his face could make the angels themselves sing in happiness. He struck me as a man that did not smile much. I made a vow to make him smile at least once every day. “Truly?” his voice conveyed his hope and his fear.
I moved to straddle him as I grasped his handsome face. “Truly.” Placing a kiss on his lips that said everything I was still nervous about putting into words, I felt the smile become even wider before he took control of our kiss. A moan escaped as I melted into him. Just as we started to get lost in each other, Rafe knocked on the window.
With a groan, Zahn pulled away from me and lowered the privacy window just enough for Rafe to say, “Five minutes, boss.”
That gave me just enough time to make myself presentable and touch up my makeup. “How do I look?”
Zahn smiled as he kissed my temple, “So beautiful.” I couldn’t stop the blush that turned my cheeks pink. This man’s charm would be the death of me.
Once inside, Zahn’s hand held mine firmly in his as he took his place in the receiving line with his father and mine. Isabella smiled happily as she looked at the two of us. “This makes me happy. I want to know the woman my dear Luca has loved unconditionally. I want us to be friends, and maybe Zahn can keep you here where you belong, with family.”
I looked at Zahn as he kept our hands clasped, our fingers entwined as he’d done on the plane. He was deep in conversation with my Dad and his, yet he refused to let go. I leaned close to Isabella and whispered, “I think I want that as well, but I barely know him. I…”
“I’ve known Zahn for a very long time. His mother and I were dear friends. He is a good man in a business where strength and power are everything. He never thought he’d deserved love and happiness. With you, I see him happy.”
“Really?” I’m almost afraid to hope that this is more than just a passing fling. I so desperately want it to be everything.
“Really,” he whispers in my ear before placing a tender kiss upon my temple. All it took was that one word, and I knew the best was yet to come.
*~*~*~*
Zahn
They both chuckled knowingly when I told my father and Luca that I would be walking Violet to the dance floor and not anyone else. I hadn’t had the opportunity to say to them my intention to make Violet my wife, but I knew this would be agreeable to them both. After the ceremony, I refused to let her leave my side. I knew who would be in attendance, and not a single man would have a chance to steal my little flower away.
I watched as the DJ headed towards the dance floor, and after announcing us as Zahn Vaneti and Violet Altieri, my heart pounded as a realization came crashing down on me. She may not realize it or think she’s ready for it, but my heart belongs to her alone. We may have been announced separately, but soon it would be Mr. and Mrs. Vaneti.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, her back to my chest as we watched Luca and Isabella dance their first dance to Luther Vandross. There was no one more romantic than Luther singing about love. I held Violet close and softly sang the words to “Here and Now” into her ear. She closed her eyes as she leaned into me as everyone in the room faded away. It was just the two of us, moving as one to the words of Luther.
I thought I had it all before Violet walked into my life and sat down next to me, but I realized I had nothing. I was a shell of a man, but now, with Violet, I felt like I could see the future with clearer eyes than I ever had before.
“I love you,” she whispered as the song came to an end. “I know it’s fast, but I have to say it. I love you Zahn Vaneti.”
“I love you too, piccolo fiore. I have since the moment our hands joined on that plane.”
She turned around in my arms as I pulled her even closer to me. I smiled as I looked deep into her eyes. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her thumb stroked the back of my neck, brushing the skin just under my hair. Our bodies swayed to the beat of whatever song played right then, and I found myself willingly drowning in her beautiful eyes. As the song came to a short end, I grabbed her face and covered her mouth with mine. The moment’s sweet, slow, and everything it should be.
