Chapter 15
Tristano
This woman is nearly hyperventilating at my side. What’s the big fucking deal? Just say I do and move on so we can get the hell out of here. I have so much work to do.
I notice her fingers shaking as she holds my hand, while the old lady in front of us reads us some bullshit about loving me through thick and thin.
Yeah right .
“Do you, Cipriana, take Tristano to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Her breath shakes, and I can feel everyone around us getting nervous that she’s going to do something crazy. Hell, I’m nervous she’s going to do something crazy. Like a lit firecracker.
The brief silence between officiant and Capri drums up tension in the musky room.
Someone open a window. Dammit, there are none.
“I do,” she exhales.
I’m shocked that her words weaken my chest a bit. I mean, I know it’s a bullshit arrangement concocted by the fucking Glove, but still. That hit me.
I squeeze her hand to tell her it’s alright. No idea why I did it, but it just happened.
“Do you, Tristano, take Cipriana to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“Yep,” I say, and receive a swift elbow to the gut, which makes everyone chuckle. “Yeah, I mean, I do .”
“Speak now if you’re being held against your will, handsome.” The old lady raises her eyebrows, playing to the mood of everyone.
More laughter erupts from my father and the others.
This is a fucking nightmare.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Capri turns to me, and I see the disdain in her face. Her eyes scan me so viciously, but it’s not all hate. They soften for a second – like she’s combatting heaven and hell in her mind. Good thing her lips are sent from the former.
I lean into that hate we share, and give her a passionate one-second kiss to remind her what we have under the fire.
When I pull away, her eyes take a second to reopen, lips parted.
“Woo!” My father claps like he just won a million bucks. “Welcome to the family, Rocco. Look at our kids. Look at ’em.” He laughs through a raspy cough.
“That was some kiss.” Rocco claps reluctantly.
Capri lets go of me, remembering her anger, wiping all of my horrid mafia grime off of that white dress.
Hard part’s over, I guess.
“C’mere, kid.” My father opens his arms for Capri, who reluctantly folds into a hug.
“What’s the matter? I know it’s not big chandeliers and high ceilings.
How about this – when things simmer down with the families, me and this big guy over here will throw you the big wedding you deserve.
” He pats her back and breaks the embrace.
“If I’m not around to see it, least I know it’ll be in the works, alright? ”
“Okay, Mister DeMatteo.” She smiles sadly.
My father talking about his death irks me to no end.
The old bastard’s too tough to die. He better be.
My lips tighten. Seeing him so happy is odd.
Usually he’s commanding the room or scheming.
But right now? He’s more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen him.
He’s like an old cat in its dying years – clinging to everything close to him.
Fuck, that thought hurt.
“Congratulations, Trino.” Rocco holds out his hand, doing his best to seem genuinely happy. We can relate.
“Thanks, Rocco. Your daughter is beautiful. I’m lucky to have her.” Whether I’m being sarcastic remains to be seen. I don’t let it show in my voice though. And I’m damn sure to say it low enough so Capri can’t hear.
We sign some papers and head outside with our copies. Fern the photographer hands over his old-style camera in exchange for a wad of cash – compliments of my father – and heads on his way, wishing us a long and happy life.
Yeah right. Another few days like the last, and I’ll be swimming across the Hudson to get free.
“Alright, lovebirds.” My father gets us into a huddle outside of the clerk’s office, far enough away where no one can hear.
It’s just us and the incessantly chirping insects.
“The Lucrazi search for big Rocco is still piping hot. We have to head further west for now. So give Daddy a hug, princess.” He tilts his head for Capri to say her goodbyes.
Capri bites her lip, taking cautious steps up to him. “It’s all going so fast.” She holds onto her father’s collar. “My wedding day was supposed to include a whole night dancing together.
“I know, Cips. Sorry it ended up this way. The cards weren’t in my favor this time around. Now look what I did.” His hands slap to his sides. “Screwed up your life too.”
She shakes her head and lets it fall on his chest as they embrace for a huge. “Stay safe, Daddy. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
My father struts up to me and grabs the back of my neck.
“I don’t know too much about any Chestnut or some dancer’s connection, but if what the stripper said is true, you best watch your back.
” He wags a finger in my face, then points it at Capri.
“This woman’s your wife now, capisce? You protect her with yours. ”
Capri sniffs, lifting her head. “That’s one thing your son is good at, Stanzo. I know I’ll be in good hands.”
I’m taken aback. Speechless, actually.
“Damn straight. Taught this guy everything I know.” Pop beats his chest. “So anyway, if that dancer said it’s between me and Rockstar Scatilli, you best believe the Lucrazis will come knocking on your doors, Tris.
Stay armed. Use those businesses as fucking military bunkers , you hear me?
I don’t want to be reading that my son got clipped in his own club. ”
Capri eyes me. It’s not fear in her eyes, but confusion.
Yeah, that’s right, you fool. I didn’t go in that back room for a private dance.
“Alright, c’mon, Rocco. Son, we’ll be in touch.”
“Careful out there, Pop. And go see a fucking doctor.”
He waves me away stubbornly, then puts both his hands over his mouth to blow Capri an exaggerated kiss. “You’re going to make a great wife, princess.”
We go our separate ways. As I sit in my car waiting for Capri, an odd sense of warmth comes over me. The wedding was bullshit – a forced annoyance. But my father… I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so happy.
Bastard using guilt to tie up all my assets. I glare at Capri tucking her sundress as she takes her seat next to me. She’s not even looking at me now. Wonder what the hell’s going through that prude head of hers.
She folds her arms and makes it a point to turn toward her window.
“Alright then.” I shove the car into drive and rev out of the parking lot.
The cloudy tension is driving me mad. Usually I’m alone to sift through my thoughts efficiently, tackling tasks in my mind minute-by-minute. Now? Everything is jumbled because of this thorn in my side.
“Thanks,” she says.
I grumble. “For?”
“Calming me back there, on the altar. And saying nice things to my father. It calmed him too.”
I look away sharply. She wasn’t supposed to hear that.
“Also, I’m sorry for running out of Star Dust and ruining your night.” She glances over at me tentatively.
I’m doing my best to take a deep breath. Not sure really how to compute this. “It’s fine.”
She scoffs and turns to me fully. “It’s fine ?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. What the fuck?”
“That’s all you have to say?” Her eyes narrow.
I shake my head.
“Have you ever put yourself in someone else’s shoes? Or are you just that dense? Sometimes I feel like I’m with Batman, and other times I’m with Forrest Gump. No, scratch that. Forrest Gump is a lovely gentleman. You, you’re like—”
“Let me guess, Jackie Junior.”
“ Shut up . Do you know how mortifying it was to introduce me as your woman and walk out on me, mid-dance? I mean, I know I’m not a great stripper or anything, but—”
“I thought you were hot up there,” I say matter-of-factly.
Her face flushes with as much heat as her tan skin will allow. It forces me to hide a smirk.
“No,” she pouts.
“No?”
“ No . You’re not sidestepping this one. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. Do you know what it took to even walk out of the house in those strings?”
“You seemed to be owning it just fine.”
“It’s called a brave face, asshole. Look at me .” She presents her prissy white sundress. “Do I look like the type to just strut on stage regularly?”
Here we go again with the emotional distress. I can see it building inside her like a temperature gauge.
“Are you even listening? News flash, Toretto – girl world is a catty zoo as it is. Throw some dim lights and naughty music on, and it’s literally hell.
Now imagine it being your first day in said hell.
You’re pranced in by Daddy devil himself, trying to make friends with the other demons despite your privileged entrance, maybe see if your demon parts can find a little nook to exist in.
Then bam , Daddy devil betrays you by picking someone else the first chance he gets. ”
“God you’re weird.”
“Well you married me, asshole .”
I roll my eyes.
“ Can you imagine the feeling? For just one freakin’ second, can you try to understand what I felt on that stage when you left?”
My fist tightens around the steering wheel. “Guess it’d be like my cousin dismissing my business ideas in front of the guys.”
“Yeah, sure. Except you’re almost naked and jiggling your ass back and forth. But yeah, you get the picture. It’s called being vulnerable, then being screwed over.”
I tilt my head to one side, considering. “Look. I can see it—”
“So then? Do you have anything else to s—”
“Yo. Listen. My thoughts are full of keeping your ass alive. I didn’t ask for any of this, remember? Yeah, I see your side, but do you understand that every move I make is to make my business flow while keeping this ticking time bomb in one piece?” I frame her with a finger.
“I already apologized for my part of it, because I knew right away , when your dad spoke about the dancer—I knew you were just trying to protect me. But if we’re going to be around each other, I need you to get outside of your own head for a second here and consider me . I didn’t ask for any of this either.”
My lips tighten.
“Well?” she eggs me, pinching my arm.
“Cut it out.” I flick her, and her mouth parts in mock shock.
“You struck me!”
“Oh shut up .”
“My arm might be broken.” She holds it exaggeratedly, pretending to melt in her seat.
My lips loosen into a smirk, and she bursts out laughing.
“You’re like all four seasons bottled up in an overflowing jar,” I say.
“Ooh, how poetic.”
“What’s it going to take to make you sit still and act normal?”
“You know.”
I huff. “I’m sorry, Capri, alright? I didn’t mean for you to feel dejected on stage.”
She pretends to faint, so I flick her in the leg.
“Ah!” She twitches, then starts slapping at my arm excitedly. “You apologized.”
“So then why are you hitting me?” I hold up one arm to block.
“Because I’m happy. The man who protects me isn’t the terminator. He has a heart somewhere deep down.”
“You really are bat-shit. You know that, right?” I put my arm down when she relaxes back into her seat.
“I have my moments, yes.”
The rest of the ride is lighter now that the air is cleared and the awful arranged wedding behind us. I’d still prefer if she’d quiet down, but less tension is good, I suppose.
When we get home, she hums like nothing’s wrong, which is a far cry away from this morning. But she still doesn’t understand the danger we’re in.
“So, what’s on the agenda today? Is celebration in order? You going to take me to dinner?”
I glare at her. “Have to play catch up thanks to your antics last night.”
“Mm. Thought we were past that. I see you hold onto grudges.” She snaps her tongue. “Not a good trait, mister. Not good at all. Ah!”
“What?”
“I just realized… I’m Mrs. DeMatteo now. Well, after a shit ton of paperwork, I will be.”
“We won’t be filing any more paperwork.” I point a finger threateningly at her. “Getting a marriage certificate was risky enough. My fucking father—” I growl.
“Be nice, Trino.” She frowns. “The man just wants what’s best for his kid. Wish my dad thought about that when he was doing what he loved.”
“My father taught me how to strangle someone properly when I was seven.” I stare at her deadpan. She can’t possibly be that dense.
“That’s all he knows!” she defends him, and I’m in shock.
“Fucking women. You see an old man on his last limb and become blind to what he really is.”
She shrugs. “He helped save my life. With his own hands and with what he taught you.”
“Every day here on is going to be danger, Capri.” I take a strong step up to her near the staircase. “You better get that through your head.”
She tenses.
Being this close is intoxicating. How does she smell so floral without perfume? Her skin is smooth and hairless. And despite her wackiness, I’m drawn to her.
“I won’t—I won’t run again, Trino,” she says quietly. “And you won’t make me look like a fool.”
Her submissiveness is backed by dominance. It’s hot and confusing all at once.
I glance at her lips that are slightly parted like she’s waiting for a kiss. All of a sudden, I can’t think of anything but tearing up that white dress and spreading her legs. I get a stripper in the night and an angel in the morning.
Fuck, she’s hot .
I grab her around the back to pull her close, and she gasps.
“You’re going to do what I say, Capri.”
“Not always.” She grins, and I lean in for a kiss.