Epilogue One-Angel
EPILOGUE ONE-ANGEL
I t takes an hour and a half to clean up the garage and make it like nothing bad ever happened there.
Nico and Luc stayed behind to get Margaret O’Doyle’s full story, but I heard enough to agree she’s not a hundred percent to blame.
But some of it is her fault, and she needs to be punished. Liam, her kid brother, is just out of high school. He’s young, but apparently gifted with computers and technology.
He’s going to work for us as payment for his sister’s misdeeds. She fucked up by not coming to us when Ghost started making demands.
But I get it.
She thought Chen was behind everything, when really, she was being manipulated by her lover. Giovanna was actually Giovanna DeMarco, the daughter of a former mafia hitman who ran to China after giving up his crew to the feds.
Snitching ain’t good for anyone in this business.
Apparently, old man DeMarco led his daughter to believe his family had betrayed him by giving territory to the Vipers.
That was her beef.
She thought we bamboozled her father and got him sent up the river.
But that’s not how it went down.
The DeMarcos were already losing ground when Nico, Luc, and I were up and coming. Sure, we took over their business, but that was after he ratted out his players and ran off.
I had to hand it to her though, I never suspected Ghost was a woman, much less Giovanna.
When I think about how she kidnapped my woman, I get so mad.
It’s more than anger. More than rage. Fury is the only word to describe it.
I wish I was the one to end that bitch’s life. But I can’t say I’m not proud of my Koukla for her fast thinking. Proud and terrified.
If we hadn’t gotten there, Buffy might have bitten her as well. And that is not something I want to dwell on.
Seems my Little Doll is a snake charmer, and I don’t just mean Buffy. She’s charmed the fuck out of me, and I am hers.
Solely and completely hers.
I just need to get this ring on her finger.
“Stop fidgeting, bro,” Nico says, grinning as he fixes the collar of my tux.
Giselle likes me dressed up. So, instead of running away to Vegas like I wanted, we’re all dressed up like a bunch of fucking penguins, waiting in this enormous old church for my Koukla to walk down the aisle.
“Is it hot in here?” I mutter.
The AC is on, but I am starting to sweat.
“Take it easy. Maria said she is on her way,” Luc tells me.
I grunt and nod my head. I look around the church. It’s nowhere near full, but that is because of me. My one stipulation was that the crowd be small for security purposes.
I don’t have much family left. Just Nico and Luc and their wives, and the baby. But they are all in the wedding party, so they aren’t sitting down.
I wonder if Delia is pleased with the gift I sent her. My new mother-in-law is something else.
She loves saying things like there’s an Angel at my table whenever I visit. I have to admit, I don’t mind it.
I can see where my Koukla gets her big heart from.
Anyway, I had a diamond pendant shaped like angel wings made just for her. A special thank you gift for welcoming me into her family with open arms.
For my father-in-law, I sent him a set of engraved golf clubs. I don’t play, but I thought he might like them along with a lifetime membership to that country club he likes to frequent in Fort Lauderdale.
I know I don’t have to buy their approval. Hell, it’s not like I would just leave my Koukla if they didn’t like me. But I want them to like me, so I am making an effort.
Three dozen of my men are serving as security, and they are strategically placed inside and outside the church.
Giselle’s family takes up six rows on the bride’s side. And that’s just her immediate family.
Her mother and father are with her, as well as her sister, Resa.
Her jerk of a boyfriend, Dan, is sitting with the rest of their family. I’m not a fan of Dan’s and I plan on letting him know real soon.
The little prick squirms when I glare at him.
Good. He should know who the fuck I am and what I’ll do if he steps out of line.
But I’m not thinking about that right now.
I breathe in deep, letting the different smells around the altar filter in. I smell incense and flowers, but beneath that is that apple pie cinnamon goodness I associate with my bride.
She’s here, but I can’t see her yet.
I feel a sense of warmth surrounding me, and I think of Yia Yia.
Would she be happy now? Proud of me?
I think she would be. Giselle has the same spunk and spontaneity my grandmother had. Also, the same loyalty and zest for life. I think Yia Yia would have liked her very much.
On my side of the aisle are our newest business partners, the men of Volkov Industries. Adrik Volkov sits front and center with his wife and teenage daughter. His wife is holding their youngest on her lap.
Behind them are his brother, Marat Volkov, and his family. Followed by Josef Aziz, the head of Sigma International, who I have known for years. And next to him are Andres Ramirez and his wife and children.
They are a huge fucking family, and I am not sure if they are necessarily my friends yet. But Nico and Adrik hit it off like birds of a feather after their first meeting.
After lending aid when my Koukla was in trouble, I figured inviting them was good business. And who knows? Maybe we can all be friends in the end.
Giselle seems to think it’s a good idea, and I know enough to listen when my woman talks. Adrik nods his head at me.
I watch as he turns to say something to his wife, and she smiles brightly at him. They are still so in love after years of marriage and my chest squeezes.
I want that. With Giselle. I want it so fucking bad I can taste it. She told me she loved me the day of the rescue, and she’s said it every day since. But I can’t get enough of hearing it.
She is so perfect. I can’t believe she’s mine.
My Koukla.
But then the organ plays, and my attention is diverted to the back of the church.
One by one, the wedding party walks down the aisle. Everyone is smiling, and the girls look teary-eyed. I can’t smile back.
I’m too nervous.
There is a pause in the proceedings, and I frown.
Where is she?
I make a move to go look for her, but Nico has his hand on my shoulder.
“Easy,” he whispers.
I’m glad he has a grip on me, cause that’s when I see her, and I swear I almost fall down on my fucking knees.
This woman.
Giselle is wearing a strapless ballgown, and she looks like a princess in a fairytale.
She’s beautiful. Breathtaking. She sparkles from head to toe.
Her hair is pulled back from her face with lacy little combs, allowing me a perfect view of her smooth skin and those gorgeous eyes of hers. But it’s that mouth that has me meeting her at the bottom of the stairs, drawing me in.
She’s wearing gloss. It’s nice, but I like her better bare and she knows it.
Her eyes dance with mischief as her parents step back, grinning at us when I take Giselle’s hand and pull her towards me, claiming her lips in a kiss I know shouldn’t happen just yet.
But I’m Angel Fury and I don’t follow the same rules as other people. And because she’s mine, my Koukla doesn’t push me away, she pulls me closer, opening her lips for me, and claims me back in front of everyone right then and there.
And it feels fucking divine. Like this is why I was born. To be hers.
“Excuse me? Guys, we need to do the ceremony first,” Preacher butts in, but I don’t stop kissing my bride until I am ready.
“You ready?” she asks, and I know her pretty smile is all for me.
“I love you, Koukla. I’ve been ready for this since the moment I saw you.”