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‘I know so.’ Dante tried hard to quell my fears.
‘You haven’t asked me…’
‘Asked you?’ he questioned.
‘Why this colour dress?’
Dante stepped closer to me so he could speak in a softer tone and still be heard. ‘I haven’t asked, because I already know. You feel that this is your last opportunity to make a decision in your own right.’
I shrugged and nodded at him. We had always been close and once again he proved just how close.
‘I know you’re putting your own dreams on hold and marrying for the sake of our family. But I swear to you, Sera, that in a few years’ time, I’ll get you out of this loveless marriage and that one day you’ll get to live your own life.’
‘Promise me there’s to be no more blood, Dante. We’ve already lost Zeno and it’s enough.’
‘I can’t promise anything.’
‘Then I don’t want your pledge. As it stands, I’m committing to this marriage to give us a fresh start in this fucked up community we were born into. I do not want Mia to have to do the same thing and I will not lose another brother… Do you understand me?’
I understood he wasn’t happy with my refusal of his offer of help when he exhaled loudly.
’Now ask the question again,’ I demanded.
‘Are you ready, ladies?’ Dante showed his maturity by shrugging off my rebuff and offering me his arm.
‘Yes,’ I answered with as much confidence in my tone as I could muster. Behind me Mia squealed and rushed to my side. I held out my bouquet for her to carry and gathered up my train, holding it like I’d been shown, before I inhaled a deep breath and placed my hand on Dante’s proffered arm.
‘Then let’s go and show them all just what the Giordanos are capable of.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SALVATORE
I’d longsince finished greeting the guests with what I knew would generally be regarded as a surly looking nod of my head.
I wasn’t a man who took part in idle chat or passed the time of day with made up pleasantries. But the upside of what I knew most people perceived as my rudeness, had been that those arriving at the local church had disappeared quickly inside, leaving me outside with my two most loyal soldiers and my younger sister Gi.
Rotating my wrist, I checked the time on my Omega. The celebration was scheduled to start in five minutes and according to tradition, I knew I should have followed the priest inside to wait for my bride. But the demon inside me didn’t feel comfortable inside the building, and no way could I partake in mindless talk with the priest who’d been chosen to preside over our wedding, so I’d made my excuses and stayed put.
My men had also informed me that the Giordanos were just outside of the village piazza, waiting for me to take my place so they could enter the church ahead of their daughter, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to stay and witness the expression on Alessandro Giordano’s face as he comprehended for the first time, just who he’d lost his daughter to.
Out of the corner of my eye I watched Bruno hold a finger to his ear as he listened to the information he was being given. I knew it could only really mean one thing, so in response to the fact she was on her way and her family would now have to pass me to enter the church, I cast my eyes down the length of my body and checked the charcoal grey three-piece suit I was wearing. Shaking my legs gently, I watched the expensive material fall back into place and pulled the bottom of my waistcoat back into position. Then slowly, I removed the dark glasses I’d been wearing and placed them in my top pocket, hidden behind the blood red pocket square I’d deliberately chosen to match my family’s garnet on my finger.
‘They’re on the move, boss.’
I answered him with a nod of my head.
‘Gi.’ Without turning around, I called out to my thirteen-year-old sister.
‘Yes,’ she replied.
‘Go and wait inside, please, my bride is on her way.’
‘I bet she’s excited,’ she offered, and I couldn’t help the wry smile I felt spread over my face.
‘I bet.’ I curbed the sarcasm that threatened my tone and agreed with my sister. ‘I can’t wait to see the excitement on her face when she gets here.’ I heard Gi’s feet move quickly over the worn flagstones at the church entrance. ‘And I really can’t wait to see her excitement when I get her alone later.’ I spoke out loud, but I knew the words that matched the repetitive thought I’d been having for far longer than I wanted to remember, could only be heard by me.
In truth, Gi could have stayed, but I didn’t want her around for any altercation that might take place in the next few minutes. I knew that neither Alessandro nor Alessio would be happy to see me here, waiting to marry their much-loved daughter and sister. Having only had my grandmother present in my life when I was growing up, I knew I didn’t understand a lot about the complexities of family life, but even a bastard like me recognised love when he felt it. My sister Giovanna had offered me nothing but unconditional love since the second I’d arrived in her life, although I hadn’t a clue why. She’d accepted me as her eldest brother so easily, and it felt undeservedly good. There was no way I was going to threaten losing her affection and replacing it with the condemnation I normally received. Pain, I found easier to fathom out, I recognised varying degrees, and I couldn’t wait to see the depth of it once again in place on Giordano’s face.
