Epilogue
Jude
Two months later
While Chicago is known for its winds, Kent is known for its cloudy, mournful skies.
But not today.
Today, there isn’t a cloud in sight—the sun shines in full force as if blessing the day ahead and the vows Mina and I are about to exchange before God and our family in the very same garden where I once spent countless afternoons simply walking by her side.
The brat showed up at my house two months ago, looking like sin incarnate, asking me to marry her.
I silenced that proposal with a kiss and then fucked her for seven days straight just to make up for lost time.
If anyone was going to get on one knee and ask her hand in marriage, it was me.
One morning—after leaving her blissfully asleep in an orgasm-induced coma—I slipped out of bed and headed to the best jeweler in town. I didn’t hesitate—I picked the biggest, most expensive diamond ring they had and placed it on her finger before she even woke up.
Call me petty, I don’t care. But there was no way the ring my Mina would wear on her finger to celebrate our love would be the same size—or, God forbid, smaller—than the one Felix gave her.
Fuck him, and fuck that.
Not that Mina even cares for such things.
No. My girl only cares that, from this moment on, we’ll never be apart again.
“We’re going to have to put up with that stupid-ass grin on your face for a while, aren’t we?” Remus mutters behind me as I straighten my bow tie in front of the full-length mirror placed in Victor’s office for this very purpose.
“Best get used to it,” I retort without missing a beat.
“So there’s really nothing either Remus or I can say to wipe that shit-eating grin off your face?” Rolo asks, his reflection appearing in the mirror as he steps up beside me.
“You can try,” I reply smugly.
“Felix is here.”
My smile falters for a fraction of a second, but then I remember—I got the girl. Not him.
“I’d hate to kill you,” I say coolly. “You being family and all… but don’t test me. Especially on my wedding day.”
Remus and Rolo share a look before bursting into laughter.
“You’re too damn easy to wind up,” Rolo chuckles. “Yeah, the cunt showed up, but only to pay his respects to my uncle and drop off a wedding gift. No way would he have the balls to stay for the ceremony.”
These fuckers.
“Lucky! Enzo!” I shout. “Come get your buddies! Grab their leashes and take them out for a walk so they can grab some fresh air, why don’t ya?”
“You’ll have to grow thicker skin than that if you want to be part of this family, Romano,” Remus tsks, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
But I don’t have time to reply with a witty comeback since that’s when Lucky approaches us, Remus’ usual dead eyes flickering instantly to life.
“Come with me, little man. Tell me more about this nun that’s giving you a hard time. I just might have something in my bag of tricks to sort her out.”
“Sweet!” Lucky cheers, punching the air excitedly.
And as I watch Rolo and Enzo trail behind the unlikely pair, whispering their own secrets to each other, I don’t know if sending them away, where no one can keep tabs on them, was such a smart move on my part.
“That friendship right there is going to bite us in the ass someday. I’m sure of it,” Gio chuckles, lifting his glass of champagne in the air as he watches the psycho twins leave the room to further attempt to corrupt our own set of twins.
“We’ll deal with it when the time comes. Today is all about our Jude and Mina,” my father smiles, stepping closer to me. “How do you feel, son?”
“Nervous. Anxious. Excited. Take your pick. I feel them all,” I admit, still restlessly fighting my bow tie.
“Here. Let me give it a try,” he offers.
I turn to face him, only to gawk a little when I see him sporting the world’s biggest smile.
Which on my father—a man who hardly ever smiles—is peculiar to see, to say the least.
“What?” he asks when my stare becomes too much.
“Nothing. It’s just I’m not used to you smiling like that. So…unreservedly.”
“Well, get used to it.” He laughs. “It’s not every day that your firstborn gets married.”
“So you’re still cool with it? Me staying here in London with Mina, I mean?” I ask a bit apprehensively as my father fixes my bow tie.
When Mina and I finally wrestled our way out of bed and started working on what she called ‘the logistics,’ it quickly became clear to us that Kent Manor was where we were meant to build our lives. Not just because of Victor’s declining health, but because Mina would be stepping into the leadership role of the Firm before the year’s end.
As for me? Aside from my family in Chicago, there was nothing tying me there.
Nothing except for my oath.
When I took the omertà, I swore to put the Outfit above all else—above God, above family. Moving across the pond to stand beside Mina as she led the London Firm was a decision that, on paper, put that vow into question.
“If you’re asking me that as your Capo dei Capi because you’re still worried about any blowback coming my way, don’t be,” my father replies. “As I told you before, the Outfit has many allies—none more important than the Cranes. Don’t think of it as turning your back on your own famiglia to join hers. Think of it as you being my proxy here in England and combining the two together.”
“Is that how you’re going to spin it to the other famiglias? ” I ask with an arched brow.
“It is.” He chuckles. “How’s my speech sounding so far?”
“Believable.”
“Good,” he says, patting my tie into place and meeting my gaze. “Now, if that question was directed at your father—namely me—then I’ll admit, I was a little saddened you two didn’t decide to stay in the States with us. Mina would’ve been a hell of an addition to what’s already a chaotic and messy family. That being said, as long as you’re happy—truly happy—then, son, you and Mina could’ve moved to the damn moon, and I’d still sleep easy at night,” he says with conviction. “All a father ever wants is for his children to be happy—doesn’t matter how, when, where, or with who. Your happiness is all that matters to me. Nothing else.”
He then pulls me into a fierce hug, so tight that he almost manages to suck out all the air in my lungs.
“I love you, Jude. With all my heart. I’m so proud of you. So damn proud of you, son, for going after what is truly important in a man’s life—his wife’s heart.”
“Thank you, Papà,” I choke out, emotion thick in my throat.
My father pulls away, steps back, and discreetly wipes the tears from his eyes. “I think I might take your earlier advice and get some air with the twins. I’ll meet you outside, son.” With that, he turns and walks out the door.
“Pay up,” Dom orders, extending his hand toward Gio.
“Damn it,” Gio grumbles, pulling out his wallet and slapping a wad of cash into Dom’s palm. “I should’ve known he’d cry like a baby today. Stronzo. ”
Dom counts the bills before tucking them into his breast pocket with a smirk. “Let’s see how well you hold up in a few minutes. I’ve got a bet with the twins that by the time Jude and Mina say their ‘I do’s,’ you’ll be eyes deep in tissues.”
“Which twins?”
“Both sets of ‘em,” Dom gloats.
“Little shits.” Gio laughs.
“And you, kid? Need me to spot you a few tissues now, or are you good to go?” Dom teases.
“Isn’t that what this pocket square handkerchief is for?” I gesture to my tuxedo.
“Even I know that one’s just for show,” Dom scoffs, shaking his head before shoving a tissue into my front pocket.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Not a problem. I want today to be perfect,” Dom states, with unconditional love plastered all over his face.
I place my hand on his shoulder and then Gio’s. “It already is. Not only am I marrying the woman of my dreams, but I get to do so with the people I love most in this world watching—my family.”
Tears well up in Dom’s eyes while Gio’s happy-go-lucky expression falters as if fighting back the oncoming swell of tears that threaten to come out. I know he loses the battle the minute he pulls away and starts rushing out the door like someone set fire to his ass.
“Make sure the twins pay up. I’m done,” he says, his voice trembling as he sniffs. “I’m going to see if Vince needs a shoulder to cry on. Or ask him if he wouldn’t mind lending me his.”
I’m still watching Gio leave when Dom thumps his chest against mine, gives me a quick hug, and then bolts for the door, too.
“Wait for me!” Dom calls out, rushing after him, completely bypassing Stella and Marcello as they step into the room.
“Why are all our dads crying all of a sudden?” Stella says, staring over her shoulder, watching the three men in question console themselves in the grand foyer. “Did their cycles finally sync up and we didn’t get the memo?”
“Stop it, Stella.” Marcello chuckles under his breath. “It’s sweet. They’re just happy.”
“If that is what happy looks like, then please put a bullet in me before I ever make that kind of spectacle of myself.” She rolls her eyes.
“If you think they’re going overboard with my wedding, imagine how they’re going to act on yours?” I wiggle my brows teasingly, Marcello starting to laugh louder now.
“Joke’s on you.” She sticks out her tongue at me. “I’m never getting married.”
“Sure, you’re not.” I cross my arms over my chest and stare at her “Cause that’s what mafia principessas do—stay single all their lives,” I retort sarcastically.
“And why not? No one’s forcing them to marry if they don’t want to. Papà made sure to abolish arranged marriages in the Outfit years ago. And the only way you’d ever see me walking down the aisle, conceding to such a patriarchal arrangement, is if someone put a gun to my head and physically forced me,” she retorts with a flip of her red hair.
“I doubt even then,” Marcello is quick to pile on with a wink.
“What about you, Marcello? Do you share in our sister’s unenthusiastic views on marriage, or would you ever consider giving it a go if you found the right girl?”
“I’m better off alone,” he states flatly, causing my heart to sink into my stomach.
I walk over to him and place my hands on his shoulders to look him in the eye.
“Then you’re shit out of luck, baby brother, because in this family, you’ll never be alone.”
His ocean eyes start to sparkle, a shy smile starting to tug at his lips.
I don’t have time to say anything else, since my mother decides to enter the room at this precise moment.
“The bride is ready, sweetheart. Best take our places.”
Before my brother and sister leave to do just that, Marcello gives me a ferocious hug while Stella skips over to me to leave a peck on my cheek.
“Are you ready, honey?” my mother asks, standing by the door with a large grin to her face.
“Yeah, Mom. I’m more than ready.”
But before she can hook her arm in mine to walk me down the aisle, she presses her warm hand on my cheek and stares deep into my eyes.
“I wish James could see what an amazing man you’ve become. He’d be so proud right now.”
“You think so?” I swallow the lump in my throat at the mention of the man who raised me as his own until the age of nine.
“I know so.” She smiles warmly, replacing her hand on my cheek with a soft kiss. “This is one of the happiest days of our lives. I’m sure he’s looking down on us, smiling, knowing that you’ve found the love and happiness you always deserved.”
“Thank you, Mammà. And I’m sorry for all the distress and restless nights I might have caused you. I know I wasn’t always the best son that you deserved. I promise to do better.”
“You already are, sweetheart. You gave me a new daughter to love. What more could I ask for?”
“I love you, Mammà,” I profess before kissing her cheek.
“I love you, too, Jude. With all my heart,” she says, her gaze filled with the same love I took for granted for longer than I care to admit.
But Selene Romano has a heart that only Annamaria’s could match—big and merciful, capable of forgiving even the worst offenses if the love is pure.
“Now, shall we get you married?” she teases.
“Lead the way.”
I’ve been ready for years to call Mina my wife—long before today, she’s been the only future I’ve ever truly prayed for.
And this chess piece in my pocket?
I don’t need it anymore—not when I have the real one standing by my side.