20. Emilia
“You’re sure this is okay?” Stepping back from the mirror, I run my hands over the front of the black sheath dress Giulia insisted I buy for tonight when we went shopping earlier. Sure, we had no fewer than three armed men shadowing us the entire time, but I wanted something special.
Luca steps up behind me, his hands on my hips, his lips grazing my neck before meeting my gaze in the glass. “You look incredible. You’re stunning. Anyone would be happy to have you as their daughter-in-law.”
He kisses my neck again before chuckling against my skin, and his hot breath somehow makes me shiver. “I can’t say the same about your parents and me.”
“They’re going to come around.” Reaching behind me, I cup the back of his neck, then turn my face toward his for a kiss. I still see the concern etched in the lines between his eyebrows. “Neither of them dropped dead when we called to tell them about the engagement, right? And they did agree to come here for dinner tonight. That’s a big deal.” So big. Huge. Terrifying.
The lines smooth out. “You’re right. I hate to think of anything putting a shadow over this, is all.”
“I love you for that.” I love him for so many things, but that is definitely one of them. “There are no fairy tales. Nothing is ever totally perfect.”
“Except for you,” he insists, kissing the tip of my nose.
“You never miss an opportunity, do you?” I ask with a smile.
“Not if I can help it.” His hands tighten with urgency, and he pulls me close, grinding against me a little and releases a low growl. “Speaking of opportunities…”
“Don’t even think about messing up my makeup,” I warn, and I’m not really kidding. I want to look perfect tonight. It doesn’t help that I’m a little more anxious about my parents than I want him to know. If just one hair of my wig is out of place—I don’t think they could handle seeing me without it—they’ll immediately assume something is wrong. I know how their imaginations can run wild, especially Mom’s. I won’t give them the opportunity to get the wrong idea.
“You expect me to spend all night wanting you but keeping my hands off you?” he questions, staring at my mouth while he grinds against my ass. “When you look like a goddess?”
“You’re just going to have to wait.” After giving him a light, teasing little kiss, I add, “Anticipation makes it better, right?”
“So does bending you over this dresser and fucking the shit out of you here right now.” He doesn’t, though, stepping back and straightening out the front of his slacks before adjusting his tie and his cuffs. “I got a text from Guilia. Your mom and dad got here a few minutes ago.”
“And you only told me now?” I squeal.
Suddenly, my stomach is churning, my hands are shaking, and I wish I had more time before we had to do this. I’m glad to see Mom and Dad, but I’m not looking forward to watching my parents silently judge everything and everyone around them.
Keeping the two halves of my family separate won’t work forever. They’re going to be spending time together eventually, so we might as well get them used to it now. Because at the end of the day, nothing is going to change the fact that Luca and I are meant to be. God knows we’ve been through enough, but we keep fighting our way out of it together.
One thing is for sure. I’m not going to leave them up there without me for long. “I guess we’d better get moving,” I announce in a shaky voice.
Luca takes my left hand, where I feel the pressure of my ring. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, much more beautiful than anything I ever dreamed of owning. Isabella almost wept with joy when we came back from the Hamptons, and she saw it on my finger. I wish I could say the same for my own mother, but I’m afraid the best I can hope for as we leave the house and make the short walk up to the mansion is for her to be on her best behavior.
As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. The champagne has already been popped, and my parents are holding flutes, deep in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Santoro when we enter the dining room. The table is set spectacularly with china, sparkling crystal, flowers, and candles. Something I didn’t expect are the wrapped gifts stacked on the credenza and several bottles of champagne waiting on ice along with wine Rocco specially chose from the cellar in the basement. It’s an intimate engagement party, but no less stunning.
“The happy couple!” Isabella chirps when she spots us. “We were showing your parents around.” Well, she sounds happy. I hope that means nobody has insulted her yet.
“Look at you.” Mom’s eyes shine with tears as she approaches, arms spread wide. “Glowing. You look radiant.”
“Thank you. And thank you for coming,” I whisper in her ear while we hug. “Thank you for doing this.”
Dad kisses my forehead once she lets me go. “This is quite the showplace. I’m very impressed.”
“And you haven’t seen all of it yet. If you”re interested, I’d love to show you around the wine cellar.” Rocco is downright jovial, and I want to think the rosy color in his cheeks isn’t entirely from champagne. A quick look at Luca reveals his relief at how healthy and vibrant Rocco seems tonight. Granted, this could be an act for my parents’ sake, but considering how worried Luca has been for him, it”s encouraging.
Rocco takes my hand and wears what seems to be a genuine smile. “Emilia, sweetheart. You look very lovely. You should know before you came in, your mother and my wife were already deciding the date of the wedding.” He winks broadly, chuckling.
“We did no such thing!” Isabella chides him with a gentle, playful slap against his shoulder. “We were only talking about the best times of year. And if the kids are going to be married anywhere half decent, we need to plan ahead. You can’t simply call up and arrange for a wedding the following weekend.”
“We haven’t thought about any of that yet,” I inform everyone, giggling nervously at the attention but more at how well things are going. I can’t help it. Everything feels too perfect.
Should I be waiting for the other shoe to drop?
Maybe all of the shoes have already dropped. Maybe that’s how I need to think about it. We’ve been through all the bad stuff and cleared all the hurdles. It’s nothing but smooth sailing from here.
“Well, you better start thinking about it,” Mom insists. “There are so many things to be done. Trust me. You’ll think you have all your bases covered until you realize how much you never thought of until it’s too late.”
Luca and I exchange a nervous glance. “How does Vegas sound to you?” he asks, and I have to laugh when Mom groans and Isabella mutters something sharp in Italian.
“Sister!” Guilia tears into the room like the whirlwind she is, wearing the cute, silver strapless dress she bought today. “I told you you’d look like a million bucks in this!” When she whirls her finger overhead, I give her a twirl before introducing her to my parents, who seem instantly taken with her. How could they not be? She ought to be the family ambassador. Nobody could resist her warmth and charm.
It isn’t long before the room is full, and even Dante seems to be in a decent mood. I would like to believe that’s because he’s warming up to me, but I get the feeling it’s more about putting on a show for the civilians. For him, it’s all about image. I guess that’s the sort of thing you have to worry about when you’re the underboss. All I know is he was with Luca when they came on the run to stop Craig before he killed me. The bruises around my throat are gone, but the memory remains.
Guilia and our moms are discussing wedding dress designers by the time we take our seats for dinner. Isabella agreed to have it catered and served by hired staff so she could enjoy another miraculous event. “I don’t need anything over the top,” I insist, but it seems like my opinion is the one that means the least. Since when is the bride the last person anybody consults?
Not that I would complain, especially when Mom and Isabella are hitting it off so well. Dad is discussing golf with Rocco until Dante pipes up with something or other about football. Suddenly, the conversation moves in an even more animated direction. Nico and Francesco chime in occasionally with an opinion, though I get the feeling they’re more interested in the people who bet money on the games than the games themselves. Still, they’re on their best behavior along with everybody else.
“I’m starting to think this might actually work,” I whisper to Luca. We’re the only people at the table not involved in the conversations. We may as well be on our own.
“Don’t say that too loud,” he warns with a playful twinkle in his eyes. “You might jinx it.”
“We deserve this.” I mean it with all my heart and believe it with every bit of me. It’s time for us to move into a happy future together.
By the time the almost overflowing platters have been placed on the table, and the room is full of the aromas of garlic, tomatoes, beef, and sausage, the staff has filled our wine glasses. Rocco holds his glass and stands at the head of a table. “I want to thank everyone for being here tonight,” he begins in his gruff voice. “These are the moments that make everything worthwhile… having the family together, planning for the future, and celebrating the happy moments. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend most of my life with a true partner by my side. Someone who has created a beautiful life for me and our children.”
Rocco’s gaze softens when it rests on his wife before he turns his attention to us. “Luca, I truly believe you have found such a partner in Emilia. I hope you two can be even half as happy as we’ve been together.”
How far we’ve come. I don’t think anybody would ever have imagined him delivering such a lovely, heartfelt toast only months ago, back when he wanted me dead. I understand it wasn’t personal, though I still wouldn’t consider him my best friend. But we’ve come a long way.
It’s obvious Luca is touched as he raises his glass to his father. “Thank you, Papa,” he murmurs while I blink back grateful tears. This entire night is a dream come true. Having everybody here to celebrate us and help us plan for the future.
Just when I think Rocco is about to end the toast so we can eat, he continues. “While I do not wish to overshadow the happy couple’s engagement party, I can’t let the night go by without announcing that Luca is not the only Santoro son engaged to be wed.” He looks around the table, smiling wide.
Wait a second. Why did I never hear anything about this? I look at Luca, ready to ask why the hell he never told me his brother is engaged, but he seems just as confused and surprised as I am. His mouth hangs open as he looks from Rocco to Dante and back again.
I notice the way Rocco’s gaze brushes over my parents before he continues. “I am so happy to tell you the business problems we’ve been having lately have come to a resolution. It’s over. Our family and the Vitali family are no longer at odds. As of this morning, we hope to move forward in an era of peace and prosperity.”
Mom can’t stifle a gasp. I have no doubt she’s heard all about the war on the news—at least, the parts that made the news.
I find Luca’s hand under the table and squeeze it tight, but he doesn’t react. Instead, he asks Rocco, “What did you do? When did this happen?”
“Is this for real?” Nico murmurs, sitting on Luca’s other side.
Rocco is beaming as he claps a hand down on Dante’s shoulder. “Family, before the year’s end, Dante will be married to Giorgio Vitali’s daughter, and our families will be united.”
I don’t know who looks more shocked. Luca, whose mouth still hangs open. Isabella, who’s clutching her pearls in mute surprise? Guilia, whose eyes are bulging as she stares at Dante?
Or Dante himself, who very much looks like this is the first time he’s heard about any of this?
* * *
“I can’t believe it.”Luca’s mind is still miles away when he joins me in bed hours after the party ends. Here I am, naked and ready for him, but for once, something looms larger in his mind. “He went behind our backs and arranged a marriage. I never thought I’d feel sorry for Dante.”
“Tell me the truth.” I hook a leg over his hip, grinning playfully. “You liked watching your brother sputter and stutter like he did.”
He can’t help himself. A laugh bursts out of him, and I have to join in. I mean, the guy was determined to kill me, and he didn’t bother hiding his feelings even as I stood in front of him. I’m not exactly going to weep over his arranged marriage.
Besides, it means ending the war. Life for us is never going to be normal—not by any definition I was raised with—but now, it can settle into a regular rhythm. We’ll still be guarded, but we can come and go more freely without the fear of a Vitali assassin lying in wait. Guilia just about exploded with excitement at the idea of having her life back.
“Everything is falling into place.” I use my fingertips to brush a strand of hair away from his forehead, then run my hand down his cheek. The feel of his skin never fails to electrify me. My core warms instantly, and my body wiggles closer to his without my meaning to. “We’re going to have a beautiful wedding and a beautiful honeymoon. A beautiful life.”
Any remaining tension flows from him under the spell of my touch until he’s stirring against my hip and pulling me against him with a sexy growl. “How could we not, when you’re part of it?” he asks with equal parts affection and desire in his voice.
Soon, all thoughts of the family fade into the background until it’s just us. The way it was always meant to be.
THE END.