Chapter 36 Cortez
Chapter thirty-six
Cortez
Two Months Later
The suite is thick with quiet tension as the cufflinks glint sharply between my fingers. I inhale slowly, breathing in the distinct scent of legacy. The scent of tailored suits, expensive leather, and raw power. The godfathers are here.
“You clean up nice, Brother,” Elio says with a hint of pride. His polished shoes echo across the marble floor as he walks towards me. Whiskey in one hand, he raises the other and smooths down the front of my black tailored tuxedo.
“Indeed,” Ezra booms from across the room. He’s leaning casually beside a window, smoke in one hand and the other in his pocket. He angles his head, and the plentiful streaks of silver hair on his head glint momentarily in the morning sun.
The air of authority the two men carry is unmistakable.
I nod firmly, eyes darting between both of them. “Thank you...Boss.”
“You carry the weight well, Cortez. I’m proud of you,” Elio declares, and my heart skips a beat.
Hearing this from him…seeing the glimmer of approval in both of their faces…
sends a wave of pride through me. I not only achieved a feat in the mafia, but I also got the most beautiful thing out of it. Selene.
“Marriage is beautiful, I can assure you that. But it changes men,” Ezra imparts, pushing off the window. “Sometimes it changes a lot of things, Cortez. Are you still staying in this life?”
The room pauses. My jaw clenches, but I already have my answer. “Yes.”
***
I stand in the vast outdoor space of one of my resort hotels in New York, underneath the towering floral arch, drinking in the sight of the event. Just like Selene wanted, the arch is drenched in only pink roses. White and gold themes capture my attention as the courtyard stretches beautifully.
The columns are wrapped in white silk that catches the golden glow from the chandeliers hanging from the olive trees.
A familiar wave of calm washes over me as I flit my eyes across the crowd.
Ezra, his wife, and their kids are present, taking the front row seat on one side.
My brother sits beside his pregnant wife, Aria, in the opposite row, hands on her belly.
Their two sons are clad in suits and are also seated beside them.
Maria and Aliyah follow behind, Aliyah patting her mother’s back while Maria constantly dabs her own eyes with a tissue. Selene had really wanted them to be here.
Some of my men are scattered around the chairs and of course, armed guards blend seamlessly into every corner of the space. No corner is left unprotected. I have too much to lose now.
Beside me, Alej is dressed in a crisp black suit, his hands stiff at his sides. I can see respect and pride in his eyes; I hope one day he finds what I did. A woman to call home.
On my other side, Nana, the matron of honor, stands lovingly in a bright emerald-green dress. Jasmine stands somewhere behind her in the same dress as the bridesmaid.
Luca is here, too, somewhere beyond view, ready to walk his sister down the aisle. The doctor had said it was okay for him to be here.
Then the orchestra morphs into a tune so soft and swirling that it pricks my heart. Anticipation coils in my guts as the crowd blurs out, and all I’m expecting is her.
Then, she appears.
Like an angel, she walks slowly in a white fitted gown that melts against her curves like butter. The way her bump protrudes, round and beautiful, from her dress almost brings tears to my eyes. She’s walking down the aisle with a life we both created.
Her hair is styled in a beautiful slick updo, a few tendrils framing her flushed face. Fuck! She looks ethereal. Mine.
My heart is heavy with endless joy as I hold her gaze softly. Her arm is looped with Luca’s as they walk down the aisle, her white gown bouncing off her feet. I can tell she’s nervous from how her fingers tighten against the bouquet of flowers.
But when she finally reaches me, everything stills. I conjure all my emotions into a smile, taking her hands softly into mine.
“You look so beautiful,” I whisper, my thumb grazing the back of her palm. She smiles.
The priest starts speaking, but his words don’t linger. All I hear is her breathing. All I see is the heaviness in her eyes that mirrors the one in my heart.
This woman—fierce and beautiful—broke through every defense, every violent habit, every scar. She healed me in ways even I didn’t know were possible, and here I am…accepting the one thing I thought would be my downfall.
When her fingers squeeze mine, I’m jerked back to reality.
“Vows.” The priest smiles.
I nod, releasing a thick breath. “I was never meant for this.” My voice comes out raspy, the emotions in my chest finding expression in my words.
“The first time I saw you, I knew my life would never be the same. That’s why, for the longest time, I tried to fight you…
hate you. But fuck, anything I did against you felt worse than losing. ”
“You destroyed every wall I built. Damn near drove me insane with your sass.”
The crowd burst into laughter. A faint chuckle slips past her mouth.
“You ruined every plan for control I had. And I’m so fucking grateful…because all of it led me to you. To love. I love you, Selene Donatelli,” I declare as my eyes fall to her tummy, “both of you.”
Her eyes water, but before a tear drops, my thumb catches it.
“My turn,” she whispers, voice cracking.
“The first time I saw you I knew you’d be trouble.”
I smile, returning my hand to hold her other one. The crowd laughs.
“You were dangerous, cold, strict…everything I swore to fight against.” Her fingers tighten around mine, eyes staring into my soul.
“Yet I couldn’t resist you. Then, I saw the cracks. And somehow, beneath all those layers, beneath all that trouble, you became my safe space. I choose you, Cortez Donatelli. Always. I love you.”
We exchange rings, and as soon as the priest formally pronounces us husband and wife, I pull her toward me, crushing my mouth onto hers. Her lips tremble against mine, arms wrapping around my neck as mine drop to her tummy.
The coos and applause fade to nothing. And the only word that comes to my mind again is Mine.
***
Four Months Later
The soft beeping of machines floats away as Selene’s ragged screams tear through the air. She grips my hand even tighter, from where I stand beside her, her nails digging into my skin. But I don’t feel anything.
Right here in the confines of the white sterile walls, and echoes of the medical personnel, there are only two things I wish for: to take Selene’s pain away and have our baby in my arms as soon as possible.
“Breathe, baby, just breathe,” I whisper, chest tightening as I take in the look of pain on her face.
“Don’t you fucking tell me what to do!” she hisses, thrashing her head against the pillow as another contraction hits. Fuck. I nod, brushing away beads of sweat from her forehead.
“I’m sorry.” My voice comes out as a strained whisper as I cup her hands firmly. “I’m here for you, Princessa.”
I glance at the doctors who are monitoring the beeping machine and the trail of IV lines that flow into her other wrist.
“Almost there,” the female doctor whispers. And just as another contraction hits, they all scramble to take their positions.
“We’ll need you to push, Mrs. Donatelli,” the doctor’s voice grows urgent. “On the count of three. One, two, three. Push.”
Selene groans, face contorting into one of agony as she pushes.
Wiping another trail of sweat, I trail my thumb over the back of her palm. “Deep breaths, baby, I’m right here.”
Her scream tears through the air. Fuck. Years of going to battle, and I’ve never felt so powerless.
“Push!” The doctor orders again.
She pulses off the bed, her eyes shutting from what I can only tell to be exhaustion.
“I love you, baby.”
As I continue to whisper my love into her ears, her grip on my hand tightens, and she roars until there’s a beat of silence.
My heart stops.
Then a sharp cry pierces the air. My wife falls back into the bed, breathing heavily as the doctor holds our baby in her arms.
“It’s a girl,” the doctor smiles. I suck in a sharp breath, my heart rate skyrocketing. A girl! All those months we’d starved ourselves of knowing the baby’s gender, and she's finally here! Finally, I have what I’ve been praying for!
My heart feels heavy as I watch them wrap her before bringing her to us, laying our tiny bundle of joy on Selene’s chest.
“She’s beautiful,” Selene whispers, cradling her gently in her arms. Her soft cries feel like music to my ears.
“Just like you.” My hand trembles out of pure joy as I stroke her cheek lovingly. Her tiny fists curl, melting everything in my heart.
Fuck. I wrap my hands over Selene’s, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. I’ve been through things—wars, betrayals, hell. But nothing has ever undone me like this moment.
“She’s got your eyes and hair color,” Selene breathes, tears lacing her eyes. “She already has you wrapped around her fingers,” she says as she smiles.
“Fuck yes, she does,” I rasp, unable to take my eyes off the beauty that we made. “And I’d have it no other way.”
My veins pulse with excitement as she gently hands our baby to me. Bringing her to my chest, I press a kiss to the crown of her head. Her cries still.
I turn to Selene just in time to catch a lone tear slipping from her eye. Gently, I trail my thumb over her cheek, and she leans into my palm.
When I got her back, I thought it was the height of my joy, but this…this is just the beginning. And I’ll burn the world to protect them both.
“Thank you for giving me a perfect beginning. I love you, Selene Donatelli.”