CHAPTER TEN
A sudden movement beside me drew my attention to Grandmother, breaking my focus away from Rocco and the intense situation. She stayed next to me, leaving Mr. Belfiore to stand alone in front of Rocco and the man with him.
“How dare you come into my home and threaten me,” Grandfather growled. “I want you both to leave now, or I will call the police.”
My mind raced, trying to come up with a quick solution. Rocco couldn’t miss his grandfather’s funeral. And though I doubted my grandfather’s police threat, their fight had to stop.
I took a step forward, and Grandmother clasped my arm.
“You stay out of it. This is between them,” she whispered.
I frowned. “But it’s wrong.”
“Just wait.”
Chime. The doorbell sounded. But I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Rocco as his head lifted to me. The impact of his attention was always intense, filled with his charisma and beauty. But there was more there when his gaze bore down on me. It was electric and commanding. Without even saying anything, I could feel the visceral pull he had on me. Still, my feet remained planted as my heart raced in my chest. I couldn’t help but think about our conversation last night. I told him to move on without me. Yet here he was, with all he had on his plate, demanding. Demanding what? To take me back to live with him? Why when he had a way out of our arranged marriage?
The sound of heels on the marble floor drew all of our attention. Brenda, the family liaison, appeared in the foyer.
Mrs. Belfiore stepped forward, her hand reaching out to touch mine. I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Should I follow her? “Perhaps we can all go to the dining room and talk?” she suggested.
“Great idea, Constance,” Brenda chimed in, immediately assessing the tension in the air.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Mr. Belfiore grumbled. “The arranged marriage is over.”
“Contracts don’t end because you say so,” the man next to Rocco told him. “There was a clause for unforeseen circumstances in it, which Mr. Marini is well within his rights to act on as part of our legal agreement. We’re here to act on the issues raised by Mr. Belfiore.”
“Well, I see Mr. Marini has his lead lawyer, Gunnar Crane, with him,” Brenda said in an even voice. “I see no reason we can’t have a meeting. What do you say, Mr. Belfiore?”
“We have one more person joining us,” Rocco told her.
“We also have a funeral to attend,” Gunnar said in a harsh tone. “Forcing Rocco in this position is not only poor but indecent. He intends to leave with Adelina.”
Mr. Belfiore eyed him coolly and walked ahead.
My heart panged knowing that today may be the last time I see Rocco. I hated to hurt him, but then Percy’s voice echoed in my brain.
“He fucked you because you’re easy, but he never planned to keep you.”
I swallowed hard and averted my eyes as I passed him. Still, I could feel his magnetism, smell the faint trace of his cologne, and just those reminders brought back the memories of my head buried in his hot neck, the full weight of his firm, muscular body as he ground his cock deep inside, his soft moans and kisses that made me melt. But he was so much more than sex; he made me feel special, and I was happy. We were happy . My finger went to touch the engagement ring, and I realized I had removed it. My focus went to Rocco ahead of me. He was talking with his lawyers, but his head turned. His eyes flicked down to my fingers, still touching the empty space. It was too late to hide it. His expression turned sullen.
I lowered my head, my throat burned and closed. Grandmother touched my arm and I quickly followed her to the dining room.
“Only speak if you’re asked to,” Mrs. Belfiore told me. She was remarkably calm, and I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t yelling at Rocco and his lawyer like Grandfather was.
“Rocco can’t miss his grandfather’s funeral,” I murmured in annoyance.
“He made a choice, but don’t you worry. Your grandfather will settle this quickly. We have the law on our side.”
Her words were frustratingly ambiguous and instead of relaxing me, they soured my stomach, and I became more nauseous. I am just a pawn. I have no value except to be a pawn for every male I know… I rushed out of the room to the bathroom, and made it to the toilet before vomiting. After cleaning my mouth, I ran a towel under the tap and pressed it to my lips, hoping the sickness would pass. It wasn’t only nerves; I was also worried about my grandfather’s usual finality in his decisions, like the judge he’d been before retiring. He must have promised the Sterlings. And it was clear he didn’t like Rocco. However, it wasn’t only his personal beef with the Marinis. He believed, like Grandmother, Rocco would leave me one day. If he did, I’d end up with a man probably worse than Percy Sterling. None of my choices were secure, and the only thing I could do was remain strong.
I straightened my clothes and smoothed my hair before returning to the dining room. They were all seated at the table now, and Brenda was leading a discussion.
“…Rocco had the wedding planned, and it was on schedule. The death of his grandfather is a sudden tragedy that caused the delay.”
“A delay for the funeral, but Rocco asked for months,” Mr. Belfiore said in a sharp tone.
“And he expected us to let him live with our granddaughter in sin while he considered other options. We never agreed or would ever allow that for Adelina. His hesitation left us no other choice but to find a more suitable suitor. It’s well within our rights to make new plans.” He sent a hostile glare toward Rocco, who sat calmly across from him.
“Good, you’re back, Adelina. How do you feel about the changes?”
My cheeks warmed as all eyes went to me now seated by my grandmother. She touched my hand, and I knew what she wanted.
I lifted my head. “I…I agree with my grandparents.” My voice was even, but my pulse accelerated, rushing blood to my shredded heart that clogged my throat. It made it unbearable to breathe through the pain. I knew Rocco, and hearing me say I would leave him, hurt him deeply, and I never wanted to hurt him. Heck, it was a lie. And oh how I wish I could take it back. But what could I do? My family held all the cards, and wouldn’t take anything from me but full cooperation for all they’d done for me. Rocco may care, but the proud man I knew him to be wouldn’t allow himself to be backed into a corner. I gave him an out. Rocco could dissolve our arranged marriage contract and move on with his life.
“Too bad because I’m not backing down, so let’s all wait for the person I sent for to join us.” Rocco announced. He sounded confident and strong, but then he turned and our eyes connected. The pain reflecting back ached my heart, and I was sure out of everything that happened today, what I said hurt him the most.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my fingers digging into the chair to keep myself from rushing over to soothe his pain.
“Who?” Reginald huffed. “My home’s not a clubhouse.”
Chime. The doorbell rang.
Everyone held our breath around the table, except for Gunnar, who seemed to find it all entertaining. A few minutes later a man walked in, and my grandfather loudly gasped.
“Monte Renshaw? What the heck are you doing here?” The shock in his tone was hard to miss.
“Hello, Reg. Apparently, us Judges do house calls now,” he said with a nervous laugh.
Rocco rose and shook his hand, and Judge Renshaw asked him, “Are you sure about this?”
“I am,” he said confidently.
My grandfather rushed over to other men in suits that I soon recognized as his team of lawyers he used before when Rocco first came for our arranged marriage.
I touched my grandmother’s hand. “What’s going on?”
“That’s Judge Montgomery Renshaw. You’re getting married,” she said calmly.
My jaw dropped and my pulse sped up. “What? Right now? B-but how’s this happening?”
“I called Rocco last night,” she whispered, then walked over to stand by my grandfather.
All I could do was gape at her. She called Rocco?
“I’m not leaving this house without Adelina. If marrying her is the only way I can do that, then we will get married,” Rocco announced.
I touched my fluttering stomach, my heart swelled. Rocco’s marrying me? Was this possible?
Mr. Belfiore snorted. “This is ridiculous. I’m not putting up with this nonsense.”
“If you refuse, you will be in breach of your contract,” Gunnar told him. “And believe me, we will collect on everything you agreed to as collateral.”
“But we have the…the funeral to attend. We don’t have time for games,” Mr. Belfiore said, his voice losing steam, his protest weakening. He looked at Grandmother, who had on her usual steely expression. Knowing them as I did, he surrendered. They would get the money and power they craved at the cost of his relationship with his old buddy Hollis Sterling. Rocco would fulfill Mr. Marini’s dying wish. But why did Rocco intervene when he had a way out of all of this?
Rocco leaned over and whispered something in Judge Renshaw’s ear before stepping away from him.
“Reg, do you want to talk to me first?” Judge Renshaw asked my grandfather.
“There’s no need,” Mr. Belfiore said to him. “I will not stand in the way of the marriage.”
Things started happening fast around me. We all went into my grandfather’s office, where Rick and Zane followed Patricia’s directions in setting up my grandfather’s old podium from his judgeship so that Judge Renshaw could stand behind it to officiate our wedding.
As we stood waiting, Brenda came over to speak to me. “Since we already filed for a marriage license and are having the ceremony by an official within the sixty days, we’ll only need to sign the license with Judge Renshaw today, and you will be married.”
I sucked in air to attempt to calm myself. “Uh, yeah. Uhm, okay.” Oh my God. This is insane. She gestured for me to follow her over to my grandfather’s desk. There I picked up the pen and signed the license. It already had Rocco’s signature on it. Oh Rocco.
“Adelina,” Rocco said my name as I finished signing, speaking to me directly for the first time since he arrived.
I glanced up, and Rocco had extended his hand toward me.
A trickle of fear rose that he’d be upset by my siding with my grandparents. But I extended my trembling hand. He clasped it firmly, and sparks flared at his touch. My skin heated as my pulse rushed. He didn’t speak but walked, and I, at his side, went to stand in front of the judge. I glanced over at the books, diplomas, and honors on the wall. Even the sterile wooden beams of the ceiling, but it was impossible not to return my attention back to Rocco.
His gaze was on me, full of warmth and compassion.
My eyes watered. I dipped my head to try to claw back tears but failed.
He squeezed my hand.
“Dearly beloved….”
My heart thumped harder in my chest. Oh my God, this is really happening. Rocco’s marrying me before a funeral and without his family. It was absurd and impulsive. Crazy. But it was also the only way he could have me. He cut my grandfather off at the knees. But hadn’t my grandfather done the same to him?
“Do you take Adelina Tessa Belfiore to be your lawfully married wife?”
I held my breath.
“I do,” Rocco said without hesitation.
“Repeat after me. I, Rocco Luca Marini, take Adelina Tessa Belfiore to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and to love and to cherish until we part in death.”
My eyes were fixed and dazed on him as he repeated his vows. He made the sacred promise, and I couldn’t help but tear up at the feelings imbibed in those words. There was a power in them that touched that part of me raised in faith. I felt in my soul that it held a magic binding. We were bound together now in a way that could be to the end of our lives.
Then it came to my turn.
I swiped the tears from my eyes and straightened my spine. “I, Adelina Tessa Belfiore, take Rocco Luca Marini to be my husband….” I had already memorized the words, but the impact of the moment hit me harder.
“Do you have a symbol of your vow?” Judge Renshaw asked.
Rocco’s hand lifted mine. He held up a ring with two bands of diamonds, and placed it on my finger.
Someone tapped my shoulder, and I turned around to find Brenda holding out a gold band for Rocco.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
I flicked my eyes at him, my heart hammering in my throat. Then, slid the ring on his finger.
“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I pronounce you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride.”
I froze.
Rocco’s hand clasped my face and lifted my chin higher.
I blinked up at him, and his thumbs swiped my tears, his gaze boring in with a savage glint. It was too raw, too intimate.
My skin flushed and I shivered. He pressed his lips to mine, a soft brush like silk and chaste.
I blinked up at him with my lips parted in surprise. It was not the deep passionate kiss that I expected. Then again, we weren’t alone. Or is he upset?
His face was taut, and his eyes were darker as he drew away from me.
My eyes darted wildly, and I bobbed my head and chewed on my lip. What had I expected? Happiness? Love?
I lowered my head.
Then I felt his fingers brush my cheek.
“Mrs. Marini. We have a lot to talk about,” he whispered in an abrupt tone.
A flash of light and the sound of the shutters of a camera crossed my senses.
“Let me take a picture of the lovely couple,” Brenda’s voice sang. I looked over at her, smiling exorbitantly as her camera lifted again.
I plastered on a smile, and Rocco posed next to me along with my grandparents.
For better, for worse.
I’m married.