28. Cold Feet
CHAPTER 28
COLD FEET
M arco
The faint tune of the grand organ fills the church, extending high up into the soaring rafters of the Gothic cathedral, distracting me from the rush of murmurs from our gathered guests. But none of the sounds succeed in drowning out the mad thundering of my heart. Cazzo , why the fuck am I so nervous?
Jia already agreed to an open marriage. I should be pleased. This whole production is just for show. Tomorrow, I can go back to my old life. The only difference will be that I’ll have a new roommate. It’s certainly not the worst thing that could happen. Except, really, it is.
Standing at the back of the church, I rub my sweaty palms on my slacks and attempt to draw in a steadying breath. The cathedral is packed with hundreds of attendees, including the leaders of the most notorious crime families of Manhattan. Guards line every nook and cranny. If this weren’t such a high- profile, public event, the results would be catastrophic. I can’t remember the last time the Italians, Chinese, Irish, and Russians were all in the same room together, not to mention all the up-and-coming players, the Puerto Ricans, the Polish, even the Japanese.
All here for us. To witness the historic joining of the Geminis and Four Seas.
A firm grip clasps around my shoulder, and I nearly jump out of my skin. “Whoa, relax, fratello , it’s just me.” Nico appears at my side, and my manic pulse simmers. “What has you so on edge?”
“Oh, I don’t know, coglione . Maybe it’s the wedding thing, or perhaps it’s the powder keg we’re sitting on.” I tick my head at the horde of attendees. “Did you really have to invite the Russians?”
“What would be the point of this strategic alliance if we didn’t show it off?”
“Right,” I hiss.
“How is your beautiful bride?” He smirks, eyeing row upon row of the who’s who in organized crime.
“Reluctant,” I murmur, and even I can hear the bitterness lacing my tone.
“I don’t believe it… after all this time, the charming Marco Rossi hasn’t been able to win her over?”
“Fuck you, Nico.”
“Hey, boys, play nice.” Maisy materializes from the arched entryway, looking stunning in a deep ruby gown that matches her fiery hair. “It’s Marco’s wedding day, Nico, give him a break. He already looks like he’s about a second from puking.” She throws me that concerned, motherly look. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” I grit out. “I just want to get this over with.”
Maisy presses a quick kiss to my cheek and gives me a reassuring smile. “I’ll go check on Jia and make sure she’s not getting cold feet. Don’t worry, everything is going to work out just great. I know it.”
“I wish I shared your eternal optimism, Mais.”
With a quick squeeze to my hand, she scampers down a candlelit corridor, disappearing into the bowels of the old cathedral. Nico’s gaze trails her retreating form for a long minute, the yearning in his eyes only tightening the constraints around my ribcage.
“Just go with her,” I growl.
“No, no. I’m here for moral support.”
“I was about to say the same thing.” An irritatingly familiar voice echoes across the vestibule.
I slowly turn to find my half-brother Dante with his wife, along with his brother, Luca and his fiancée, Stella.
“You know, you really didn’t have to come,” I grumble.
“And miss the opportunity to revel in your happy day?” Dante’s smirk is begging to be punched right off his face.
“Dante…” Rose, his wife, reprimands. “You promised to be on your best behavior.”
“You both did.” Stella, Luca’s fiancée, waggles a finger, showcasing an enormous engagement ring.
“And we will,” Luca replies. “We’re very happy for you, Marco.” He gives me a tight smile which I barely manage to return.
Dante slaps me across the back and flashes a shit-eating grin. “You’re going to love married life, fratello . You can fuck your wife all day and night, and you have someone to cook and do the laundry.”
Rose smacks him on the arm, and he lets out a dramatic oof . “Behave.”
My half-brother is all talk. He adores his wife and worships the ground she walks on. I’ve never seen him let her do an ounce of dirty work. That’s what the staff is for.
Which reminds me…
“Nico, did you invite Blanca to the wedding? ”
He nods. “As we decided. Maisy made quite a show of it, actually.”
“You still think she’s up to something?” Luca asks, the look of boredom lifting.
“The Puerto Ricans definitely are,” Nico replies. “I’m just not certain if Blanca has anything to do with it yet. I spoke to Esmeralda, the head of La Sombra Boricua, and she denies any involvement with the recent attacks to our warehouses.”
Luca’s head dips. “I’ve had the same conversation with her. We’ve always had a good relationship so I don’t see why she would lie now.”
“Okay, boys, enough of this work talk.” Rose steps between us and laces her hand around Dante’s. “We’re here to celebrate, and I want to make sure we have a good seat.”
Clearing my throat, I tick my head toward the front of the church. “My assistant blocked off the first two rows for family. Feel free to use those.” And since I’d chosen not to invite my mother because we weren’t speaking at the moment, and my father was dead, we didn’t exactly have many bodies to fill those seats.
A beaming smile stretches across Rose’s lips, and my own mouth twitches at the sight. “Thanks, Marco. You’re the best.” I may not be a big fan of my half-brothers, but I can’t deny they have good taste in women.
“We’ll see you at the reception.” Luca dips his head and pulls Stella into his side as he follows Dante and Rose down the aisle.
The tap-tap of heels across the stone floor turns my attention away from my half-brothers to the wedding planner marching toward us. “We’re ready to go, gentlemen. Please take your places.”
Nico inches closer and throws his arm across my shoulders. “You see? Everything is going to be just fine.”
“I blame you for this by the way,” I snarl. “It should have been you walking down that aisle, not me. ”
“Oh, stop, Marco. A few months from now, you’ll be thanking me.”
“We’ll see about that.” I squirm free from his hold and trudge down the damned aisle to take my place by the priest.
“Hey! Wait for me.” Nico rushes behind me, and already I’m regretting making him my best man. The coglione didn’t even throw me a damned bachelor party.
All eyes turn in my direction as I stalk past, and I can’t even muster a smile. Instead, I don the practiced cold mask and pray this will all be over soon. The walk to the altar is endless, each step more difficult than the last.
Merda , I can’t remember the last time I was this terrified about anything.
When I finally reach the marble step, I genuflect and make a quick sign of the cross. The priest’s eyes meet mine, and guilt squeezes my chest. I’ve done many terrible things in my life, but nothing feels quite as wrong as this.
“Don’t worry, I have the rings.” Nico presses his palm to his jacket.
The wedding bands were the last thing on my mind. I’d left the engagement ring I’d bought for Jia in the hotel room safe. I’d walked into her suite this morning with every intention of getting down on one knee and starting this marriage out on the right foot. Then everything had gone to hell as usual with us.
Could she have possibly sent an assassin?
I didn’t want to believe she was capable of that, but then again, she was related to Qian Guo, both iterations. She’d never wanted this marriage and disposing of me would not only achieve an end to the arrangement but also garner some notoriety for the new lǎodà of the Four Seas.
The familiar tune of the wedding march blasts from the enormous brass organ overhead, and all the hushed murmurs fall away. My ribs strain, assaulted by the jackhammering of my heart. The doors at the back of the church open, and Jia fills the archway. I thought she looked stunning before, but now with the sunlight streaming in through the stained-glass windows, her beauty is ethereal. Her porcelain skin is aglow, so radiant my breath hitches at the sight. It’s as if her entire form is illuminated by the sun itself.
My eyes chase to hers, and the excitement vanishes. Those dark, impenetrable eyes are cast in shadows, empty, devoid of emotion.
She’s miserable, and I’m smiling like an idiot. Like she is my real bride, and we are actually in love.
Dio , I’m a fucking coglione .