Chapter 22 Liana
LIANA
While we walk out to the ceremony hall, I can’t help but feel like I’m taking my last steps as the woman I once was to become a woman I never thought I’d be. Will this turn out to be my biggest regret?
We stop in front of the closed doors that will eventually open to my new life. My new life with Massimo Bonetti.
“You ready, Liana?” Teo asks, holding out his arm for me to weave mine through.
I let out a slow and controlled breath, hoping it’ll calm the nerves that have been spurring in my stomach since Massimo first propositioned me.
“I am,” I say.
“You know, you still have time to back out,” Enzo says, standing on the other side of me. “Or if there’s something stopping you from bailing on this wedding, I can always object when it comes time.”
“I’m pretty sure most weddings have gotten rid of that part of the ceremony,” I mutter.
Enzo furrows his brow. “They have?”
“Why do you think there wasn’t one at yours or Izzy’s weddings?”
“Because I assumed everyone knew if they objected, they’d get killed, so no need to put people’s lives in danger.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “No, that tradition has been dwindling, and while I appreciate the offer, I don’t need you to object. I promise, this is exactly where I want to be.”
Enzo takes my arm and weaves it through his. “I don’t—”
“Enzo,” Izzy hisses. “What did I tell you about today?”
“Hey, someone needs to look out for Liana, so—”
Izzy steps toward Enzo, holding up her fingers. “I will drag you out of here by your ear.”
He holds up his hand. “Alright, alright, alright. I’ll keep my mouth shut, damn.”
“I don’t believe you, so keep in mind, my fingers are ready and willing to yank you out of that room at any sign of you acting up.”
The wedding planner comes up from behind us. Her blonde hair is pulled tightly in a low bun, looking professional as ever. “Are you ready, Liana?”
I give her a smile. “I am.”
“Perfect. I’ll give you the go ahead once we’re ready for you.”
“Ladies, follow me, and I’ll have the three of you enter from the side.”
“I still can’t believe you guys didn’t want them to walk down the aisle,” I mutter to my cousins.
“Really? Because there was no way I was going to let Lux walk down with one of Massimo’s brothers,” Teo grumbles.
“Yeah, fuck that. Amalia is perfectly capable of walking in on her own,” Enzo says.
“You realize how insane you both sound, right?”
“Yes, and I don’t care,” Teo says at the same time Enzo says, “And your point is?”
I shake my head at these two overly possessive men. “I love you guys, but I’m so happy I don’t have to deal with men like you.”
They laugh.
“You’re funny, Liana,” Enzo says at the same time Teo mumbles, “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
“What’s that supposed to mea—”
The French doors swing open, and my breath is stolen when I take in the sight before me.
An array of white and dusty-blue florals line the aisle. Extravagant crystal chandeliers hang high from the ceilings. And Massimo stands at the altar in a navy-blue suit with a matching floral arch behind him.
It’s stunning.
I don’t think I could’ve planned a better wedding if I tried, and it annoys me how much thought he put into this.
Enzo, Teo, and I start walking down the aisle while the violinists play.
Every seat is filled, and it surprises me how many people from my guest list came. I guess Massimo was right when he said people would drop everything to be here.
When I get to the altar, Teo and Enzo hand me off to Massimo, whose smile broadened with each step I took toward him.
“Are you ready, Mrs. Bonetti?” he whispers to me, then takes my hands and stands across from me.
I glance at Father Barone and give him a courteous smile. It’s been several years since I’ve seen him. The last time I think I saw him was at my parents’ funeral.
“As ready as ever, Mr. Bonetti,” I say with tight lips.
Massimo never takes his eyes off me while Father Barone runs through the ceremony, and each time I make eye contact with him, I get thrown back to the other day when he had me pressed up against the wall in his room.
The way the heat from his lips danced across mine.
It’s like he had me in some sort of spell, captivated by his attention.
I was going to let him kiss me. Had that message not interrupted the moment, pulling me out and reminding me of where I was, I would’ve.
What is going on with me? Is it just this physical attraction that I have to Massimo?
Or is something more happening here? Regardless, I have to stay strong.
Remember who this man is and how I ended up in this situation.
I have to keep telling myself that. I will not give into him.
Massimo squeezes my hands, and I snap my gaze back to his, crinkling my brow.
“It’s your turn.”
Turn?
I glance over at Father Barone who says, “It’s your turn to repeat your vows after me.”
My face blanches. I missed the entire ceremony? How are we already to the vows? My heart picks up pace as realization dawns on me that our marriage is about to become permanent.
“I, Liana DiMaggio, take thee, Massimo Bonetti, to be my wedded husband …” Father Barone says, then nods to me with an encouraging smile.
“I-I, Liana DiMaggio, take thee, Massimo Bonetti, to be my wedded husband …”
I move my gaze back to Massimo and recite the rest of my vows after Father Barone, then before I know it, he’s saying the words I’m not sure I’m ready to hear.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
My eyes widen when a smirk tugs at Massimo’s lips. Pulling me into him, he wraps one arm around my lower back, then cups my neck with the other. My head instinctively angles itself, preparing for what’s to happen.
He bends down and takes my lips in his. A spark lights within me that I try to put out, but when my mouth parts for him, I lose all sense of well-being and fall into the desire that is Massimo Bonetti.
The kiss is sweet but sensuous, stealing my breath when he pulls away from me.
I lick my lips, my focus stuck on his and how much I hate that they’re not still on mine.
Swallowing deeply, I slide my shaky gaze up to his, and he has an annoyingly smug look on his face. It snaps me right out of the daze, reminding me of the disdain I have for this man.
“There was your one kiss that was written into the contract,” I mumble through a clenched smile over the cheers of the room. “Don’t try it again.”
“Once again, your words don’t match what your body’s telling me,” he says, taking my hand in his and turning us to face the crowd. “I think I’ll start listening to that instead.”
I ignore him, not wanting to make a scene in front of everyone. Besides, it doesn’t matter what he says. While my body might be starting to crave his touch, my brain never will. I’ll be sure of that.