8. Vincenzo
Vincenzo
The time has finally come, and Nicolo stands beside me waiting as Anna walks from the living room, through the pathway of rose petals that have been spread all over the floor.
Her white lacy gown sits prettily on her shoulders, an elongated V neck displaying her graceful neck and the round swell of her breasts before dipping toward her cinched waist and then flowing over the swell of her hips and down to the floor, trailing behind her in a fashionable train of lace.
My chest tightens. Anna Cassone is the most beautiful woman I have ever met.
Not once in my life have I thought about marrying a woman, inviting her to share my life, and to keep by my side in love and sickness.
This woman has captivated my dark-hearted soul with her beautiful light, and I dare any man to come for her after she has taken my name.
Her lips have been colored in a soft rose hue and are alluring but it’s her eyes that captivate me completely as she walks toward me without hesitation.
When she reaches my side on the balcony, she gives me a soft gentle smile that makes me feel like I’m the luckiest man alive and we haven’t even said I do.
The priest is dressed in his formal attire. Nicolo inhales a breath and meets my eyes. My younger brother may still have reservations about this wedding, but he will see in time that I don’t mean Anna any harm and that my feelings are for life.
The priest begins and as he talks it’s hard to concentrate on the specific words as I look at my beautiful bride to be.
The older man of the cloth clears his throat drawing my attention to him.
“Repeat after me, please. I promise to love, cherish and protect Anna in sickness and in health. Until death do us part.”
My eyes meet Anna’s, and I swear I’ve never been so nervous in my fucking life. “I promise to love, cherish, and protect you, Anna, in sickness and in health. Until death do us part.”
She swallows through her emotion, and I track the movement of her lovely swan-like throat. The priest turns to Anna. “Anna repeat after me, please.”
Anna shakes her head, just a tiny gesture but one that almost feels like a kick in the balls. Even Nicolo tenses beside me. My eyes search those of my future bride. This is not how this played out in my head, especially after last night. “Anna?”
Anna looks up at me with wide, emotion-filled eyes. “I wrote my own vows, and I’d like to give them to you as a gift,” she says softly.
My chest tightens. I don’t know where this going and I’m never not prepared for anything, but in this, all I can do is nod with my heart in my throat waiting for whatever it is that my intended bride wants to say in front of the priest, my brother, cousins, and Lottie with no control over what it may be whatsoever.
Her soft voice catches as she starts. “Vincenzo, never in a thousand years did I think that a Cassone and a DeLuca would ever mate, much less that it would be me standing beside you to say I do.”
She swallows daintily. “The moment we met, call it our Catholic faith, fate, or whatever you want, I believe our paths were intended to cross. That we were set down different roads in life until we were to meet.
“You came into my life at a time when I needed you most but at a time when I was most vulnerable and unable to trust.
“A DeLuca was never intended to be trusted by a Cassone, yet I stand before you knowing you are the only one I will ever love and trust.
“I trust you with not only my life, but my heart. From this day forward, my heart and all of my love is in your hands, Vincenzo DeLuca, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
My hand snakes beneath her nape and I draw her to me fiercely, kissing her with a passion that I’ve never felt before. “You are mine, princessa.”
Anna looks up at me with tears in her eyes after giving me the best gift in the world. “Yours.”
The priest peeks over his spectacles. “And you will belong to each other as soon as I finish the ceremony.” The cousins grin and giggle amongst themselves and Nicolo tries to contain a smirk but is unable to quite pull it off.
Nicolo steps forward with the rings as planned.
I take the first, a brilliant princess cut three carat diamond solitaire that’s quality is unsurpassed but its sparkle does not compare to that of my princessa.
I place it on her finger. Two brilliant bands, hers a sparkling diamond band and mine a solid gold band with one single diamond in the center symbolizing one wedding to the one light of my life remain on the velvet pillow that he holds.
I take her band and slip the diamond wedding band wrap onto her finger, snugging it around the solitaire before the priest gives Anna a nod to do the same. She takes the band left on the black velvet that Nicolo holds and places it gently on my finger.
The priest looks to both of us. “In the presence of your family, over this city that the DeLucas control. Vincenzo, do you take Anna to be your lawfully wedded wife, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
“I do.”
“And do you Anna, take Vincenzo DeLuca as your lawfully wedded husband, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
“I do.”
He smiles over his spectacles. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Vincenzo, you may now officially kiss your bride.”
I draw her to me and kiss her lips as she melts into me, her body softening against the hardness of mine.
This woman has managed to be my everything and it is turning out to be the best day of my life.
“I love you, princessa,” I tell her, breaking our kiss only so she doesn’t miss the surprise. “Watch in the distance.”
I take her hand and everyone there knows what’s coming except for her but now she and the entire city below will see that she officially belongs to me.
A small high-powered plane flies over the beach, starting at one end and gaining speed to allow the banner to spread and wave in the wind. The black and red banner flies with our family crest. “Just Married. Vincenzo DeLuca and Anna Cassone. Congratulations!!”
The plane will fly for a few hours, and by the end of the afternoon, all the lines of the criminal underworld will be lit up like an overheated switchboard of gossiping ladies like in the old days.
Anna watches the banner in wonder. “I love that you want all the world to know that I am yours,” she says softly.
I pick Anna up and carry her through the French doors into the penthouse and only settle her onto her feet when we reach the dining room where a large appetizer table has been set up, and a late lunch will be served before we cut the special cake that has been set up for the small but meaningful wedding party.
I whisper in her ear. “One day, when things are different, I’m going to marry you with every single one of our family in attendance, my brothers, mother, sister, and your sister and Massimo. Until then, I hope this will do.”
She takes my face. “I love you, Vincenzo. It was a beautiful wedding day.”
“It’s just beginning, princessa. We have not even gotten to dessert.”