19. Giovanni
NINETEEN
GIOVANNI
I n the hours following our swimming lessons, I made some business calls while Liana rested, then had everything set up for a sunset surprise.
The second we stepped onto the lower deck, Liana’s eyes landed on the scattered daffodil petals lining the candlelit path to our table. She gasped, taking it all in, until her eyes landed on the priest I had flown in.
Her awed expression was quickly replaced by one of disbelief.
“No, no, no…. No way…” She shook her head, her eyes glued on the man. “We never agreed on a date and time. Absolutely not.”
I’d never intended to marry a woman who would do anything I demand, but damn, I didn’t think I’d marry someone who’d sooner kill me or jump into an ocean to escape me. But there was an attraction between us, and I’d wanted this woman for the past eight years. So there was no way I’d pass up this opportunity. It was a good starting point to this marriage.
Right? Fucking right.
“Simple vows and a wedding band, wildflower. Nothing to be scared of,” I comforted her, although judging by the terror on Lia’s face, it was as if she’d only now discovered that I murdered her favorite person.
Romeo being Romeo had to say something. “Here we go. Should I get the life raft ready?”
I shot him a glare, tempted to strangle him. Unfortunately, I needed a best man, and he was all I had out here.
She scoffed, her bottom lip trembling slightly as she mumbled to herself. “…plenty of time. What’s the rush?”
“We don’t have time to waste,” I said, returning my attention to Liana. This woman was ruthless— dangerous , if her taking out half my men the other night was any indication—but at this moment, she looked as terrified as a lamb on its way to be slaughtered.
“I have places to be,” the priest grumbled impatiently. No wonder he was readily available. He clearly had no manners. “I don’t have time for cold feet.”
“As soon as this is through, one of my men will take you back to the mainland,” I told him, biting back the sharp reply sitting on my tongue. “Nobody has cold feet.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” Romeo muttered.
“My feet are freezing,” Liana hissed, her gaze set longingly on the ocean.
“What about the fee you promised?” the priest asked. “I was counting on that.”
A sardonic breath left me. Why was a supposedly pious man so desperate for cash? Something told me I wouldn’t have to dig deep to find the rot, but he wasn’t my concern tonight.
“You’ll have it as soon as you finish the ceremony.”
Seemingly appeased, his eyes flicked to the bride-to-be. “Will you be changing into a wedding dress?”
“No,” she answered at the same time I said, “She will.”
Her expression turned so dark I sensed Romeo wince at my side.
I cleared my throat. “There’s a dress waiting for you in there.”
I waved a hand behind the little bar area that stood next to a closed door.
Liana shot me a look, her golden eyes flashing. “I’m not a blushing bride, and I’m definitely not a virgin. What’s the point of a wedding dress?”
“I wanted you to have something to remember this day by.”
She folded her arms in front of her chest, pushing her boobs up. “Giovanni, I’m being forced into a marriage. Yet again . Why would I want to remember this?”
She stared right at me, stubbornness etched on every line of her face. It was freaking adorable. “Why are you acting like I’m a normal girl? I’m far from it. I’m not sweet or kind.”
“I don’t want a normal girl. I don’t want a sweet girl. I don’t want a perfect girl. I want you , Liana Volkov, because to me you are perfect.”
Fuck, I was coming on too strong.
“Why?”
“To protect you.” Our gazes locked, hers shimmering in gold and hazel, likely scheming how to become a widow before we even tied the knot.
“I can protect myself.”
“Put the dress on, darling,” I said, smiling brightly.
“You should know something about me, Giovanni,” she retorted, her tone frigid. “I don’t take orders from anyone, least of all a man.”
“It isn’t an order,” I assured her, ignoring her latter comment. “It’s an ask. The world will need convincing about the wedding, and we’ll give them that. With photos. Of you, in a wedding dress .”
A heartbeat passed before she turned on her heel and made for the door.
“Two minutes,” I drawled after her. “By the way, I don’t take orders either.”
She flipped me a middle finger over her shoulder, then shut the door behind her.
“With the bride’s reluctance, I will need additional compensation,” the priest remarked, smiling feebly. If I didn’t need the motherfucker, I’d throw him overboard. As it may.
“How much?” I asked in a chilled tone.
“A hundred thousand.”
I let out a sardonic breath. “Just to read a few paragraphs from scripture and proclaim us husband and wife?”
“It’s a valuable scripture.”
“Fine,” I gritted.
The door from the back of the cabin opened as we finished shaking on it and not a moment too soon because knowing Liana, she would have exploited the situation and bribed the priest ten times that amount to get out of this.
I turned to look at her and my breath caught. She was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. She stole my fucking breath eight years ago, but today… Today she was a woman who moved with grace and confidence.
I took in her long blonde hair, smooth skin, and ruby-red lips that refused to smile. Her palms smoothed down the soft fabric, and it was only then I noticed the tremor in her hand.
The dress was simple, Italian silk cascading from her bodice down to the skirts that drifted with each step she took.
“It’s not Chanel,” she said, but there was no bite to her tone.
My lips curved. “I’ve never met a woman so obsessed with Chanel.”
She shrugged. “It’s timeless.”
“And expensive.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you can’t afford me, then don’t marry me.”
I let out a chuckle. “I’ll make sure to maintain a fat bank account to ensure your needs are met.” I turned to the priest. “Let’s begin.”
“Are you sure about this?” She quirked a brow at me. “My last husband didn’t fare too well.”
Damn, she was cute. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“That makes one of us,” she argued. “However, let’s not forget one thing. Actually, several things.”
I scratched at the stubble on my cheek, waiting.
“I don’t want you in my business. It’s mine, and I’m the boss when it comes to it.” Ah, so she realized we never concluded these items last time.
“Deal.” For all I cared, she could run the Tijuana Cartel too.
“Amara…” I watched her struggle to form the words. “I want her to have free access to me.”
I nodded and rolled my hand like Anything else?
“José, my right-hand man, I want him.”
Red-hot jealousy shot through me. “Over my dead body. I agreed we’d take it slow, but damn if I’ll have another man touching what’s mine.”
She stilled, then let out a frustrated breath.
“For Christ’s sake, not in that way. I need his help to continue my…” Her eyes darted to the priest who was following our exchange with interest. “My business. Just that.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “That’s fair, considering I have my right hand with me.” Surprise flashed in her eyes, but before she could say anything else, I added, “Now, no more delays.”
She took a few more steps forward and stood next to me, my eyes on her. Even if I wanted to—and I didn’t—I couldn’t peel them away.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” she muttered.
“What way?”
“Like you’re planning our forever.”
I smiled at her perceptiveness, recognizing it was her most dangerous attribute. She saw too much.
“There’s nothing wrong with forever.” Before I could give her a chance to challenge those words, I told the priest, “You may start.”
His words filled the back of the deck as he started to talk about marriage and the value of vows. My brother shifted on his feet like he expected to burst into flames at the slightest movement.
“Would you like to say a few vows?” the priest offered.
Lia smiled sweetly, thunder flashing in her eyes as she shot me a glare. “Forgive me, I didn’t have a chance to write my own vows.”
Laughter traveled from my best man, which only deepened her scowl.
“I took the liberty of writing some for you.” I reached into the inside pocket of my jacket and pulled out a sheet of paper. “I think you’ll love them.”
She frowned as she unfolded the paper, scanning the vows that I jotted down for her while she was changing.
She snorted. “There’s no way in hell I’m saying any of this.”
“You’re welcome to make a few changes,” I smiled at her, raising my eyebrow, “but keep the gist of it intact.”
Lia’s eyes met mine and her cheeks turned crimson, probably because she was picturing what I’d written in there. It was the second time I’d seen her blush and I had to say, it was fucking addictive.
She cleared her throat, her frigid mask falling in place as she got herself together.
“How about I agree we have mutual respect for each other?”
Romeo stifled his laughter next to me.
I bent forward so that my lips were almost brushing her ear.
“I guess that will do. For now.”
The sound of her breath catching made me grin.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, her cheeks stained red.
“You might as well come to terms with it now that it’s the best case scenario for you.” I straightened, and my eyes flicked down to her breasts which were rising and falling quickly. “And don’t even think for a second that I’m wearing a ring.”
“That’s fine, wildflower. Everyone will already know who you belong to.”
The priest cut in, shifting on his feet uncomfortably, and I gave him a nod. “You may begin, Father.”
He wasted no time, probably eager to get the fuck off this boat.
“Do you, Giovanni Agosti Tijuana, take Liana Volkov”—the priest’s eyes whipped up, but when he met my cold gaze, he averted them—“as your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to be with you always, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
My answer came swiftly and firmly.
I’d known it was her I wanted all along. All her sorrows. All her nightmares. All her pain.
After all, I’d lingered in the shadows for years, hoping for the chance to claim her.
The priest turned toward Liana and she shifted, looking slightly uncomfortable under his unspoken scrutiny, and a warning growl vibrated in my throat. I refused to tolerate anyone—including this priest—making Liana uncomfortable.
“Do you, Liana Volkov”—he cleared his throat uncomfortably—“take Giovanni Agosti Tijuana as your lawfully wedded husband to live together in holy matrimony, to be with you always, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”
Liana let out a frustrated breath, then rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
The priest glanced at me, then her, before he said, “I need the words.”
Liana shot him a glare. “I do.”
Turning to Romeo, I retrieved two rings. Eternity diamonds sprinkled around a yellow-gold wedding band and a simple band to match, sans diamonds. I took Lia’s graceful hand into mine and slipped the ring onto her finger. I placed the other ring in her palm, then watched her slide it onto my finger.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest said. “You may kiss the bride.”
I turned to Lia and a look of slight terror shuttered her expression. Holding her gaze, I cupped her cheek gently, ignoring her tremors, and I pressed my warm lips to her cold ones.
Softly. Reassuringly. Tenderly.
My lips molded against hers, growing demanding, and she shivered just slightly before yanking her hand back and slapping me.
My eyes snapped open, and I pulled away from her. Barely.
We stood there, glaring at each other, but I couldn’t help reveling in the fact that she’d touched me. She. Fucking. Touched. Me. Willingly.
And fuck, it made me kind of stupidly giddy. She chose to touch me.