Chapter 30 Misericordia #2
“He’s alone,” I say quietly. “In pain. Young. Scrambling for anything…anyone to hold onto. I think I understand too well the choices he’s made, no matter how awful, he’s still not cruel.
Gabriel, Renato, and so many others are.
They make people bleed because they can, not out of hurt.
Not because they’re afraid.” I clear my throat, rubbing my arms a little.
“Besides, probably only saved him for Leo’s conscious. The regret he would’ve felt.”
“Still, you think he’s worth helping? After the sh—…” his voice trails off, and I glance over my shoulder as he looks at the holy figures, “…you know.”
“I cost Leo millions, years ago,” I state, and his eyes widen slightly.
“Who knows how many people I got killed, arrested, or livelihoods destroyed. Businesses and companies dismantled. I’m partly why he became the Mafia Don, whether my actions helped him or not, I was the villain.
I’m not innocent. I was the dangerous one.
Angry and in pain. Yet…I was given mercy. Given trust again.”
Michael exhales a long breath, jaw working.
“He was left alone,” I continue, looking down.
“Used. Lied to. Made a pawn in a game, I doubt anyone taught him how to play. His actions are his own, yes, but…even if Leo may never forgive him, I think I can. Because I understand being so alone and hurt, that you’ll do anything to survive. He’s trying to survive.”
Matteo’s anguish flashes over my mind, telling me not to take Leo from him. Calling out to him. He just wanted his brother.
In another time, I remember nights just wanting my sister. The ache to be heard.
There’s a faint sigh, and I look back up at him. “You are odd, ma’am.” I raise a brow. “But I think it’s incredible to even consider giving him mercy at all.”
“Blame Leo,” I muse, turning back to the front. “He’s who showed me how far compassion can go.”
I stare up at the elaborate church. Breathing in the quiet with him, and brush away silent tears.
“Hey, Michael.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“When we get back to the states, I want to talk to Isaac about adding you as one of my bodyguards. Not just when I’m tinkering in the garage.
” There’s no response. I look over my shoulder as he just stares at me.
“If you want the position, that is. But you should know it means following me everywhere in the hotel. And making sure I don’t eat cereal for dinner. ”
He smirks. “I’d be honored, ma’am.”
“Part of orientation will be watching Face/Off, I should warn you.” I face the altar, and he snorts behind me. I smile faintly. Then I feel it—hope.
There’re footsteps, echoing from a corridor. Leo appears and Michael gets out of the pew, moving away from me. Leo comes over, holding out his hand. I take it, following him closer to the altar, until he stops us and takes both my hands.
“You’re not hiding Quasimodo somewhere, are you?” I teasingly ask.
“Wouldn’t he be in Paris?”
I try not to laugh, envisioning the potential between him and Michael getting along.
His thumbs caress my skin, and a tender expression comes over his face. “Marry me again, my dear Watson.”
I blink up at him, and then briefly down at our wedding rings. “In all the mayhem, I didn’t miss a divorce hearing, did I?”
Leo smirks, raising my hands to kiss my knuckles. “We’re going to say we were married in a church, late at night in Rome. We didn’t want attention, just us. So, we will have witnesses…” he glances at our bodyguards and the priest that’s reappeared, “…that it just happened. Not months ago.”
The priest smiles warmly at us, holding a bible in his hands as he waits patiently. Owen and Rudy are not far away, much like a couple of groomsmen. Does that make Animal and Michael my bridesmaids? Oh, Leanne is gonna be mad about this.
“I’m not Catholic,” I whisper.
He steps closer, voice low. “The priest knows we’re married legally, and assumes we’ve gone through the whole marriage counseling. And that you converted. He believes this is a…formality for my Catholic upbringing.”
“Isn’t that kind of, well…”
Leo smirks, coming in close to whisper in my ear.
“No worse than what we’ve already done, including that rosary, my dear Watson.
” I hold down a giggle as he kisses my neck.
“Our union being seen as official by the Catholic Church will give my family less ammo to fight with.” He kisses my neck again.
“And distract from our true plans, dear Watson.”
Well, we weren’t following the rules anyway. Then again, such was being with a man like Leo.
I reach up, touch his cheek, and smile. “Leonardo Durante Luciano, I will marry you however many times I can. In churches, beaches, cabins, or lawyer’s offices.”
His eyes shine, even as his face becomes serious again. He nods at the priest, who gestures for us to come forward. Leo doesn’t let go of my hands as there’s talking and reading from the bible. It’s surreal. Never thought I’d be married “again”, let alone in a Catholic Church in Rome.
In between the long speeches from the priest, I flick my gaze to the men standing near us. Not all the Forgotten Demons are here, and I’m missing my best friends, but we’re not alone this time. I stare up at Leo, finding him calm. He raises his hand, caressing my cheek.
“I do,” he whispers.
“I do.”
For the second time, I kiss Leo as husband and wife for the first time.