Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
CORMACK
I turn to Shamus and whisper, “Stay with them.”
“Yes, sir.” My men are extremely loyal to me and my ambitions because it’s beneficial for all of us.
As soon as they all leave and it’s just me and her father, he leans in and asks, “Are you worried we’re going to kidnap her?”
I shake my head, knowing exactly who he’s talking about. “No. Even though this was once my home, it now belongs to my brother and let’s just say, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him especially with the opposite sex.”
“And yet, you’re still marrying here with him as your best man.” His brow arches up just like Gloria and that’s the first similarity I see in them.
“You know about that?”
“Yes, my wife asked because Aria’s Gloria’s bridesmaid.”
“It’s our world politics especially after losing the head of the Family.
” He nods, understanding where I’m coming from.
“Well he’s been warned that Aria’s a minor, so he’ll keep his hands to himself.
If she has a problem with him, let me know and I’ll deal with the fucker.
Aria might not be my responsibility, but Gloria’s my heart, so anything that upsets her needs to be dealt with, that includes my brother. ”
“Good man. Now how about that drink?” We walk over to the liquor cabinet, and he points to the bourbon, so I fill two tumblers with ice and the amber liquid.
“Anyway, enough about him. I wanted to apologize about the way I reacted the other night on the phone. You’re Gloria’s father, so I should have taken the verbal thrashing.”
“Truthfully I respected you more for it. Gloria needs someone who isn’t going to back down when it gets tough.” We shake hands as an understanding.
“I’m just not used to taking shit from anyone but your daughter.”
“She’s already let you have it?” His smug expression would be funny if I didn’t know how close I came to losing Gloria.
“More than once. From the first time I met her, she’s been a sweet yet strong woman who refused to let me run all over her. Although, I’m sure you won’t be pleased by the way we met.”
“Please tell me it wasn’t at a strip club or something like that.”
I need to earn brownie points with him even if it’s going to get me in the doghouse.
“No. She was drinking at a pub I own when some asshole tried to steal her wallet and then after we began talking, I learned she walked there from her hotel all alone. I nearly lost my mind. Let’s just say I added my men to her detail. ”
“That’s what my men said. I was worried you kidnapped her.”
“I might have considered the idea once or twice, but that’s after she thought I was married.”
“What? So she was under the same assumption.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t something she read. Gloria saw me talking to my sister-in-law in town and Siobhan kissed my cheek goodbye before going shopping.”
“Ah,” he says, taking another drink.
I add, “And she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, so you looked like a fucking pig.” I nod and top off our drinks before we head to the sofas.
I sit down with a sigh. “Exactly. I had to chase her down at the airport, which is what your men saw a part of, and all of this was after my father’s funeral. Let’s just say my mood had been a fucking rollercoaster.”
“I’m truly sorry about your father. It was hard when I lost mine and it’s never easy even when you expect it. So are you planning to keep my daughter here forever?”
“No. No. I promised her that we’d go back and forth.”
“That’s good because Gloria says the food’s shit here.”
I laugh hard as hell. “That’s our Gloria.”
“What about your businesses here?”
“Although I own many, I don’t operate them, so I only have quarterly calls to figure out and strategize when necessary. It’s rare that I have to step in and manage them personally.”
“Good. Gloria deserves attention. With two girls, it’s hard to give them equal amounts of attention.”
“Gloria loves her sister though and can’t wait to introduce Aria to an Irish boy when she reaches the right age.”
“To be frankly honest, I think someone’s already stolen Aria’s young heart.”
My brows shoot up because she’s only fifteen. “And you allow her to date?”
“Hell no. I know how boys are at that age, but it only just happened on the way to the airport. The Don of another family and I stopped and had a brief conversation. Aria happened to see his son who didn’t notice her sitting in the backseat through the tinted windows.
Although she saw him and hasn’t stopped mooning about him even though denying it when we ask.
On the flight here she said his name in her sleep. ”
“Would you approve of it when the time comes?”
“I didn’t have much of a choice here, did I? I’m sure I’ll be a grandfather soon.”
“One can only hope, but she’s still young. They might not see each other again. How old is he?”
“He’s in his twenties and a good man who will be a great force for his family one day, not to mention the bastard is a handsome fucker. It’s no wonder why she’s drooling over the young man.”
“Did Gloria meet him?” I snarl; jealousy floods my mind and I want to kill this son of a bitch.
“Yes, she did, and neither of them showed an interest in each other. Not the slightest bit, so calm down. No need to go to war with someone you don’t even know.”
“What can I say? I’m a man obsessed.”
“That you are. Now how about another round before we get some food because I’m starving,” he says, rubbing his stomach.
“It’s not all bad.”
“I don’t doubt it. You didn’t get to that size, not eating.”
“True.”
It’s our wedding day. Although the past day has been a true case in control and frustration, we made it through.
I had to go without having my woman in my arms while I slept.
I let Gloria and Aria share a bedroom so they can have some sisterly time before Gloria becomes my wife.
Besides, it’s safer for Aria that way. Not that Peter tried anything, but perhaps that’s because there was extra protection for her.
It would be a death sentence if he tried, but I’m starting to wonder if he’s not a tad bit crazy to give a shit.
Yesterday I took the girls out onto the fields so that Aria can draw to her heart’s content. Mostly, Peter kept his distance and didn’t make any crass comments, but the day is young.
“Good morning, Cormack. You look ready to run.” I nod and shake her father’s hand.
“To the church…I’m more than ready to get this over with. I love her and can’t wait for Gloria to be my wife.” Her father smiles at me and claps his hand on my shoulder.
“That’s really good because I’d hate to have to kill you when I was just starting to like you.”
“Same here.” I wink.
“I can’t say the same for your brother. My family and I will leave in the morning.”
“Understood. We will be there in about two months. I have a lot to do before we go on our honeymoon, so there will be no need to fly back to Ireland for at least six months.”
“So about your sister-in-law…”
“Yes?”
“She seems very sweet. Is there something we could do to help her escape?”
“She doesn’t want to leave yet. I’m not sure what’s holding her up, but I’ve offered on numerous occasions. I believe she’s afraid he’ll come after her if she leaves.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. Men like him don’t want their wives, but they don’t want them leaving either.”
As the time for the wedding winds down, I become anxious.
Loving Gloria is the best thing to happen to me.
A part of me believes my father’s here today to see me marry my greatest love.
She’s everything to me. His death brought her to me as terrible as that is, I’m grateful that she took the challenge to run into me.
My world would never be whole without her.
I only wish that we met sooner. Then again, she would have been too young for me. She’s barely legal as it is.
The music begins and my brother finally takes his place by my side, but I ignore him as I focus on the church entrance as my bride makes her way to me.
There are no words to describe how incredible she looks in the strapless ballgown her mother brought.
Her eyes beam as she steps beside me, taking my hand for the rest of our lives.
My glory is already a breathtaking woman, but the elegance of the gown and her hair, my heart raced.
I couldn’t believe she how quickly the ladies made it work.
I thought Aria had been joking, but I’d been dead wrong.
Six different options all suiting Gloria’s tastes.
She looks ethereal as the sun shines through the stained glass.
The Italian mafia princess is mine. Never in my life could I have expected her.
Until the day I die, I will worship and protect her. And that’s what I promise in our vows.