Guarded (Calavera Hotels #3)

38. Ariella

Chapter 38

Ariella

WEDDING DAY

“ O mg, I’m gonna cry. You look absolutely stunning.” Sergio says.

He steps back so I can look in the mirror. I take a deep breath and look at the masterpiece he’s created on my face. The red blush highlights my high cheekbones. Pastel pink eye shadow with winged liner makes my eyes look bigger and rounder.

“You ready to get the dress on, Mama?” Sergio asks from behind me.

I nod, and he exits the room leaving me with the white satin Vera Wang dress hanging up. The dress was everything I had dreamed of. A sleeveless bodice with a plunging sweetheart neckline.

I pull it on and reach back to zip it up. When a knock on the door sounds, I hold the loose bodice up to my chest.

“Who is it?” I ask.

We still had a few hours until the church service began. Genesis opens the door quickly, shutting it behind her. She halts when she sees me.

“Gen,” I say in relief. I haven’t seen her since the night she threatened Alma. She was my maid of honor.

“Here. Let me help.” She smiles.

I turn around so she can zip up the back of my dress. Her fingers fumble, and her cold touch gives me goosebumps.

“I’m scared,” I whisper.

“I know you are, but we’ll get through this, “ she reassures me. Moving to face me, she grabs both my hands.

“You’re my soulmate bitch.” She says. I swallow the lump in my throat and laugh.

“Don’t make me cry today. I didn’t think you’d come.” I admit.

“Not even this hideous dress would keep me from being here for you today.” She scoffs, looking down at her dress.

The bridesmaid’s dresses were a soft pink, but I made Genesis wear a flamingo pink to stand out as my bridesmaid.

Her clothing palette leaned more towards natural tones, so this was dedication on her end. Just then, Cooper barges in, Sergio and Thalia behind her with a bottle of Don Julio.

“Let’s get this party started!” Cooper says.

“Did you seriously bring a bottle of tequila into the church?” I ask Thalia, my eyes widening.

“We listen, and we don’t judge,” Sergio says.

“?Cálmate! Bridezilla! Un tragito.” Thalia says, lowering her voice.

Cooper hands us each a shotglass, and Thalia fills them up.

“Un Brindis.” Thalia begin. “I wish you nothing but love and happiness in life, Prima. But also remember si por pendeja te caes, por chingona te levantas!” If you’re dumb enough to fall, be badass enough to get up.

Thalia’s best advice yet. We all hold our glasses up and then throw them back in unison.

“Hijo de su-” Genesis grimaces.

I stick out my tongue at the strong taste.

“?Viva La Puteria!” Sergio yells.

Cooper hisses, and Thalia seems unbothered.

My phone rings, and I ignore it. Probably Axel for the tenth time, calling to make sure I don’t get cold feet. If it’s that important, he can walk his psycho ass from the other end of the church and talk to me. The ringing starts again, but this time, it’s from Thalia’s phone. She pulls hers out to check the caller ID.

“Oh shit.” She says.

“What?” I ask nervously when she looks up at me.

“You might want to go outside, Prima.”

“Why?” I ask, skeptical about what’s happening.

“Nero’s waiting for you,” she says.

My mouth falls open in disbelief. Cooper cheers from behind me, and I rush to the window. Sure enough, Nero’s parking his bike at the bottom of the cathedral steps.

“When I tell you that man is so fine!” Sergio exclaims from behind me.

I look to Thalia, who is watching me intently. She’s the only one in this room who knows the cost of my actions.

“Go Prima. If you want him. Go.”

My heart races violently inside my chest. The sight of him after the last month brings instant relief. He came for me.

I rush out of the room, through the vast hallway, and out the church doors. Nero’s walking up the steps in an all black t-shirt and jeans. His leather vest, now embedded with the president’s patch, fit snugly around his broad shoulders.

My heart drops again when I see Guapo running up the steps beside him. Stopping halfway up, Nero stops when he sees me. Guapo runs until he reaches me, and I drop to pull him into my arms.

“Guapo. Baby. I’m so sorry.” I say, kissing him.

Tears fill my eyes at the realization that I sacrificed him. I was no better than Nero refusing to fight for him. Nero makes it up the steps. He’s speechless as he stares at me.

“Nero. What are you doing here?” my voice trembles.

“Ari.” He says, his voice low. His eyes roam over mine.

“Guapo missed you.” He says nervously.

“And you?” I ask.

I’ll never get over how overbearing his presence is. The way his dark eyes take the breath right out of my lungs. Every time he’s near, I feel this unexplainable pull just to be closer. My whole being calls to him like a beach calls the waves to shore.

“I came to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” He says.

“On the day of my wedding?” I reply, holding back tears. Was this really happening? Was the love of my life standing here quoting the Godfather outside my wedding?

“Come with me, Princess?”

I step toward him before hearing my brother’s voice from the Cathedral doors.

“Ariella!” Adan screams. I look back behind me.

“Ari- wait. I need you to know something. I love you.” Nero says, knocking the very breath out of my lungs. I look at Guapo standing ten toes down next to him. The loves of my life.

“Let me talk to my brother,” I say. Turning, I run up the steps until I’m face to face with Adan.

“What’s going on?” he says, looking down at Nero and then back to me.

When I look back, I see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be happy and loved.

“I’ll never be happy with that man in there, Adan. Please. Don’t make me do it. If you’ve ever loved me, let me do this one thing for me.” I wrap my arms around him and cry.

The way I did when we were little. When Axel was being insufferable. He pulls away his eyes, staring into mine. Reaching out, he wipes a tear from my face.

“Go.” He says.

One word, but it’s everything I need at that moment.

I fly down the stairs and meet Nero on the back of his bike. He’s already strapped Guapo into the sling. I wrap my arms around him, and he takes off.

We fly down the road. A large squad of cop cars rushes toward us. I think they’re coming for me for a moment, but then they rush past us in the opposite direction.

My veil flies behind us as I cling tightly to Nero. We don’t stop until we reach the clubhouse. Nero kills the engine and gets off the bike. Guapo runs to Ofelia, who waves from the door. The entire front porch is decorated with pink carnations.

A large sign reads, “Welcome Home, Barbie.”

“What’s going on?” I ask, looking from the sign back to Nero.

“Ari. I’m so sorry about the way things happened. You were right. I didn’t fight for you.” He grabs my hand in his. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about everything. And I want to be like those Grey wolves you told me about. You said they mated for life.”

My chin trembles even as I attempt to lock my jaw.

“Don’t be cheesy. You know I love it.” I cry out, my broken heart beating itself whole again.

“Ari. I love you. I’m sorry it took me so long to say it. Everything I have ever wanted is right here. You are my forever. I want to heal with you and show up every day as the best version of myself to make this work.”

I look away, staring down at the dirtied bottom of my dress. Nero moves forward and cups my face in his palm.

“Anything you want, Princess. I’ll give it to you.” He says.

I look at the people behind him, at Guapo, and back to the dress.

“Marry me. Right now. I love this dress. And I want this groom.” I say, staring into his eyes.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” A rare, all-consuming smile stretches across his face.

I let out a small yelp when he lifts me into his arms. Walking us to the clubhouse, his foot flies into the front door.

The men inside cheer as he carries me bridal style over the threshold. Nero shouts above the chaos, holding me tight into him.

“Any of you fuckers ordained? We’re having a wedding tonight!”