Chapter Fifty-eight
Ciro
I stand at the end of the aisle with my hands folded in front of me, doing everything I can to keep my composure. The room is packed with people, from friends and family, to business partners and acquaintances. It is bigger and more crowded than our first wedding, and I like it. I’m not one to care about the amount of people who show up at my wedding, but she made me want it this way. If I can get the world to witness how she’s mine, I will do it everyday.
As I wait for my wife to come out those doors, I take one last glance around to see the life I’ve fought to get. This empire I rule over, that I would willingly give up now if she asked me to. I’ve always wanted my birthright, but now that I have Vida, nothing in this world could make me give her up.
The strings begin to play, filling the air with a sound of soft, melodic notes. My heart pounds in time with the music, each second stretching into an eternity.
And then . . . I see her.
Vida steps into view and the world around me ceases to exist.
God! I’m not a man who believes in an almighty, but at this very moment, I thank God for taking his time to make a being so perfect that I could call mine.
Her dress is mesmerizing, hugging her curves in a way that leaves no doubt she’s carrying our child. The fabric shimmers under the lights, flowing around her like a living thing. The gown has long, elegant sleeves, and a plunging neckline that manages to be both daring and graceful. The fabric has no choice but to worship her body and I can totally relate. Her belly shows even more and I think I might fall to my knees right here. She’s glowing and radiant in a way that makes her look almost unworldly. Thank God she’s mine.
Her dark skin shimmers under the lights, and her hair is styled in soft waves that frame her face. She isn’t wearing a veil and honestly, she doesn’t need one. She’s a queen, unapologetically and audaciously so, walking toward me with a grace that makes my chest ache.
She smiles at everyone she passes, her friends and family, even the Browns and fucking Vladimir. She glows as she acknowledges each person, her joy lighting up the space in a way that makes me proud. I did this. I gave her the moment she wanted where she could feel like she is the center of the universe, because she is the center of mine.
And then her eyes find mine, and she smiles at me. The second our eyes connect, I feel the air leave my lungs, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I don’t care if anyone sees me fall apart.
She is everything. My chaos. My calm. The essence for my existence.
“Hi Mr. Ballera,” she giggles as she reaches me.
“Hi Mrs. Ballera,” I chuckle as I reach for her hand.
I’ve touched this woman a million times, felt every part of her body, yet her touch still sends a bolt of electricity through me, weakening my knees.
As we turn to face each other, the officiant begins to speak, but I barely hear him. My focus is on Vida, on the way her lips curve into a soft smile, the way her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and the way her hand grips mine like she never wants to let go.
She’s nervous in a way that shows how confident she is, and me? Fuck! I just want to kiss her already!
When it is time for her vows, she steps closer, her brown eyes meeting my blue eyes with an intensity that makes my chest tighten.
“Ciro Ballera,” she begins, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “I hate you.”
As her words sink in, I think I’ll die. She hates me?!
“For making me love you more than life,” she adds, chuckling. The crowd joins her, their soft laughter filling the air as my heart tries to beat in a normal rhythm again.
I will make her pay for doing that. I don’t care if we’re at the altar, God will be my witness.
Her hands tighten around mine, and she continues.
“I love you, baby. I love all of you. The parts the world gets to see and the parts I have just for me. I promise to stand by you, rule by you, and burn by you. I promise to be all the chaos you need and the calm that follows. You, my love, are everything I never thought I needed and I would do it all over again if it meant I get to stand here, watching you love me.” Her voice breaks slightly, but she pushes through. “With these crimson vows, I make my Balleran oath.”
She found the words I had engraved on her new ring.
‘ With these Crimson Vows’
There is a moment of silence as the crowd stays completely captivated by her words. I swallow hard, my chest tight with emotion. I don’t realize a tear has slipped down my cheek until I feel her thumb brush it away.
For the first time since I moved in with Grandfather, I don’t care about control. I don’t care about appearances. I don’t care about emotions or judgments. All I care about is her.
I take a shaky breath as it becomes my turn. I lace our fingers together, lifting her hand slightly as I speak.
“Vida,” I begin, my voice low and rough. “You are chaos. Only your mere existence turns my life upside down, and for that, I will live everyday thanking you. I wanted to break you when I saw you. I saw so much you hid and I wanted to break it out of you. Then you walked in and shattered me in all the shameless ways.”
I chuckle and watch as her smile grows and a glint of mischief shines in her eyes. Yeah, she knows what she’s done to me.
“I wish I could remember the moment I fell in love with you, chaos. I wish I knew when I stopped and started to breathe in your air, or when I slept with you filling my dreams. I wish I knew when it began so I could tell you.”
I step closer, my free hand cupping her face. “You are my calm in the storm, and you are the storm itself, and I love you for both. I love you for every sharp edge and soft curve, every fiery word and quiet moment. I love you for everything and just because.”
My voice drops even lower as I continue. “And I promise you this, I will spend the rest of my life loving you, protecting you, and reminding you every single day that you are the reason my world makes sense. I will give you everything and give up everything for you. With these crimson vows, I make my Balleran oath.”
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant finally says after we exchange rings.
I don’t wait, I can’t wait. I pull her to me, my hands framing her face as I kiss her with everything I have. The crowd erupts into cheers, but I can barely hear them.
In this moment, all I know is Vida . . . just her.
My chaos. My wife.
I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve spoken with in the last hour. Every single person has talked about work related things. Father and Franchesco save me every time. I don’t have the energy to talk about work.
I keep zoning out each time I see her. She’s currently standing across the room, glowing like a goddess with the rest of the girls. They’re all laughing, so carefree. Vida’s eyes sparkle with joy and every time she catches me looking, her smile does something to me. She is the only thing that matters in this room, in this world, and I can’t wait for the part of the night where I get to take that gown off of her.
“Boss,” Cito calls, dragging me out of my thoughts as his hand grips my shoulder. “We need to talk.”
“What is it?” I ask, knowing him calling me so formally in a setting like this only means trouble.
“Raphael escaped,” he says, scanning the room.
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my eyes dart back to Vida. She is still laughing, even harder than before, her hand on her mouth as she shakes her head at whatever she finds so funny.
“When?” I ask, my eyes not leaving her.
“During a transfer,” Cito replies. “There was an accident on the road. That’s all we know.”
“When was this and what time is it now?” I ask, my gaze still fixed on her.
“Yesterday afternoon and it’s a few minutes past five. Why?” he asks.
“Because it’s Raphael,” I growl. “He wouldn’t waste any time before coming for my wife.”
The second the words are out of my mouth, I’m taking my first step towards my wife. My steps quicken as I move through the crowd, my heart pounding with every stride. The sense of urgency is suffocating, making each step feel too slow.
I can feel it, the seconds that pass were only bringing us closer to the havoc that is coming.
Then it happens.
A gunshot rings out, shattering the peace of the room that was filled with laughter and happiness.
Deafening screams erupt as the guests dive to the floor in panic. The music stops immediately, and my men instantly pull out their weapons, their eyes scanning the whole room.
Another shot follows, and then I see him.
Raphael.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
He fills the air with the sound of his palms hitting together, walking in like he owns the place. A few fingers missing, the image making me swell with pride.
“A party without me?” he calls out, his voice dripping with mockery. “How rude.”
He’s dressed neatly, like he had planned for a grand entrance. His eyes move around the room with an evil blunt, before finally landing on Vida.
My eyes follow his, instantly finding her frozen in place. The color is gone from her face, and for a moment, she looks like she’s seen the devil.
Cito raises his gun, aiming directly at Raphael. “Don’t move!”
Raphael just smirks, completely unbothered.
“Already? Where’s the fun in that?” he asks, taking another step forward with his eyes still fixed on Vida. “You didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did you, princess?”
With his words, everyone turns to look at her. No one says a word as he takes another step, his smile dark.
“And you killed my cousin too. Impressive.” He nods.
I scan the room, looking for threats, my gaze landing on a server who is moving too precisely, his hand slipping under his jacket.
Not one of my men.
Without hesitation, I pull my gun and fire. I watch him go down. My single shot sets off a chain reaction.
Raphael’s men, hidden amongst the guests and workers, reveal themselves, pulling out weapons and shouting orders as gunfire breaks out.
The guests scream and scatter, ducking under tables or bolting for the exits. My men move into action, returning fire while trying to secure the room.
“Carmela,” I yell to my sister, the one person I know would lay her life down for my wife. “Keep her alive and safe!”
She grabs Vida, pulling her toward the nearest exit. And just as I thought, Vida resists.
This damn woman!
“No! Ciro! I’m not going to leave you!” she yells.
“Fuck! Get out of here, chaos!” I bark, my voice leaving no room for argument.
“Move! Now!” Isabella orders her sister as Carmela pulls them both in a safer direction.
We both know this building like the palm of our hands. It was Grandfather’s house and we learnt every single part of the house on days he was having a bad day.
Vida’s wide, terrified eyes meet mine for one brief second before she disappears around the corner. The words I love you formed on her lips, and then she is gone.
I love you too, chaos.
I take a quick breath and hold onto my gun tightly, turning it towards the bastard who dared ruin my wife’s dream wedding!
I duck behind a pillar, returning fire as one of Raphael’s men takes aim at me. The smell of gunpowder fills the air, mixing with the metallic smell of blood.
“Cover the exits!” I bark at my men, looking around for Cito and Franchesco. “No one gets in or out unless they’re ours!”
“I will go down, Ballera, but I will take you with me!” Raphael shouts.
“I will enjoy killing you,” I say, aiming my gun at him.