Chapter 28
E dmundo
It was our last night here, and as amazing as the week had been, it was nothing more than a blink in time. A mere blip of what I wanted to spend with Ana. Her departure tomorrow weighed on her, and she didn’t have to say a word for me to see it. Her eyes were guarded, she picked at her food, and she’d spoken only two words all dinner. With each passing hour that brought us closer to saying goodbye, she pulled the walls up around her heart.
I reached for her hand, and she jumped like she’d forgotten I was even in the room.
“I’m sorry. I’m ruining our last night together, aren’t I?”
“No, you’re not,” I said, standing to come around and kneel beside her. “You could never ruin a thing. I’m worried, though. You’re lost in thought, and ever since Christov showed up here, you’ve been guarded.”
Ana bit her lip. “You knew he was here?”
“Of course I did, but not until after he was escorted back to his plane. Why didn’t you tell me? It’s been days, and you haven’t said a word.”
Sighing, Ana ran her fingers down my face.
“I should’ve known you’d find out somehow. I just didn’t want you to do something rash because he showed up to ruin this little bit of time we have.”
“If by rash you mean kill him…then I would’ve. Every day that he breathes is another day that I worry about you. I know living with your father is hard, but at least you’re safe. Once you’re forced to move in with that fuckpot….” I shook my head, the anger making my hand curl into a fist, but Ana giggled.
“Fuckpot, I like that. I wanted you to chase him down, kill him, and let this nightmare be over. But if you had killed Christov, my father would just marry me off to someone else. We have a plan, and as hard as it will be to marry that asshole next month, it’s still safer than running right now. If we conceived our baby this week, then everyone with us here would be at risk when my father found out I was pregnant. There is no telling what he may do. I just couldn’t take the chance that he might harm you or our child.”
I put my head on Ana’s lap, and she slowly ran her fingers through my hair. How had we gotten here? Was there anything that I could’ve done differently? Yes…I could’ve forced Vadin to sign the contract before her party. It was such a blatantly stupid mistake. My father told me that the hardest lessons were learned by doing them and failing. Wise words spoken, but not heard. There had been a harder lesson than that one mistake. I’d let my excitement cloud my judgement, but never again.
“You’re going to be an incredible mother,” I said.
“You really think so?”
“I do, and I know we did it. I have a feeling it’s a girl, and she’ll be as beautiful and tenacious as her mother.”
When I looked up at Ana, her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
“You’re happy with a girl?”
Pushing myself up, I gripped the arms of Ana’s chair as I stared into her eyes.
“Of course. If our daughter is even a fraction of the woman that her mother is, then she’s going to be a force of nature in this world. She’ll be our little queen, our reginette .”
Ana kissed me softly as she caressed her stomach.
“She’ll be a threat if we pull this off. Her life will be coveted and always in danger.”
“Then we’ll do everything in our power to protect her and ensure she grows into the woman she’s destined to be.”
“So, you’re saying you’ll name her as your heir?”
Nothing could wipe the smile off my face as I thought about doing just that.
“I’d be honored to let my daughter take the throne. Who says a Don of Dons must be a man?”
Sliding my hand behind Ana’s neck, she shivered as I kissed her.
“I love you, Ana, and I already love our child.”
“I love you more,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Impossible,”
What started as a little joke had become so much more. It had grown into a declaration that nothing would come between us.
“I have a surprise for you,” I said, standing up and offering her my hand.
She quickly wiped away a tear before accepting.
“What do you have up your sleeve,” Ana asked, and I couldn’t wait to see her face.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. Slip on your sandals and come see.”
My excitement surged as I watched Ana. I wanted to tug on her hand and run down to the sand like we were children with the world at our feet and our happiness knowing no bounds.
“It’s beautiful here,” Ana said as we stepped outside and wandered down the shadowed path to the beach.
“It really is,” I said.
Ana stopped walking when she spied my surprise. Torches flickered in the night, surrounding the sheer tent covered with so many flowers that it looked like a small jungle had sprouted in the middle of nowhere.
“Eddie…what’s going on,” Ana asked as she noticed the group gathered.
A dozen of my men stood guard, but she was focused on the others. Frida, Ella, and Ana’s mother stood with Marcus, Paul, and her two guards. Rounding out that small group was the person I was most excited for her to meet.
“We can’t go over there. Too many people will see us, and when did Marcus and Paul get here?”
“Marcus and Paul arrived today. Vlad and Mylo have been with my guards all week while we were locked up in the villa. Everyone here can be trusted. Now, do you trust me?”
“You’re a rascal, but yes, with all my heart.”
“Then don’t worry,” I said, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
“Okay.”
Ana was still hesitant as I led her into the miniature paradise set up for my surprise. Her mother and friends joined us, and she finally relaxed as, one at a time, she was pulled into a hug.
“You look so beautiful and happy. I wish I could do more to keep this look on your face,” Mrs. Mikhailov said.
“Thank you, Mom,” Ana whispered.
Vlad and Mylo walked over, and I shook their hands.
“Thank you for your support.”
“Anything for Yulianna,” they said almost in unison. It made me happy to know that at least she had two extremely loyal guards to keep her safe.
Marcus was next. He hugged me and then Ana, making her laugh as he shook her like a dog with a toy. He always made me want to kill him, but the genuine joy on his face for us made his craziness worth letting him live.
“Fuck, it’s good to see you two together,” Marcus said. “And it’s nice not to see this jerk moping around twenty-four-seven.”
I glared at Marcus, but he just laughed.
Paul shoved him out of the way and hugged Ana. Then he slipped a velvet box into my hand.
“No matter what the future holds, you two will always have my support. Just call, and I’ll make it happen,” Paul said, and I knew he would.
He’d changed the most out of all of us and was one of my most dedicated allies.
“Thanks, guys, and thank you for standing up for us tonight.”
“Standing up for us? Eddie, what are you up to?”
I walked her up to our mystery guest, and her eyes bounced between me and the smiling older man. She gasped and covered her mouth when I dropped down to my knee before her.
“Ana, I know we can’t have everything we dreamed of right now. But I swear that one day we will. My heart only beats for you, and it feels like it always has. I was born to love you, and I’ll defend what we have with my dying breath. If the world crumbles, then I’ll be your rock. If it floods, I’ll be your raft. If it burns, I’ll shield you from the flames, for there is nothing that can keep us apart forever. If God sees fit to take me from this earth too soon, then I’ll stand vigilant at the pearly gates until you join me. Ana, love of my life, will you be handfasted with me tonight under the stars and before our closest friends?”
“Oh my god, Eddie…yes, yes, yes, always yes.”
Ana cupped my face and kissed me as our witnesses clapped.
Pulling the jewelry box from my pocket, I opened it to reveal a delicate necklace with a diamond lily pendant nestled in the satin beside a thick gold chain with a ring attached. I stood and motioned for Ana to turn around.
She held her hair up so I could fasten it around her neck. When she looked back at me, I held the ring for her to see.
“This was meant to be your engagement ring.” I pointed to the small missing diamond. “I’ll wear this until we are reunited, and you’re by my side forever. Then and only then will the diamond be put back where it belongs.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as I clipped the chain around my neck and the ring dropped down beside my heart, where it would stay until we were together again.
“Are you two ready,” the officiant asked, and we both nodded as we gazed into each other’s eyes. “Very well. Handfasting is an ancient Celtic tradition that symbolizes the merging of two lives. It is custom to have the couple’s hands symbolically bound to signify their union and commitment. Please hold out your hands and clasp them together.”
We did as he asked, standing quietly as the officiant used the braided ribbon I’d given him earlier to lace our hands together.
“This cord is a symbol of your connection, your loyalty, and your journey ahead. The cord is not permanent, but your hearts will remember the vow. The cord is perishable as a reminder that all things material, including these bodies, will eventually return to the earth, but love is eternal. Would either of you like to say vows?”
“I think Eddie has made me cry enough for one night,” Ana said, making everyone laugh. “But I’d like to say a few words.”
She took a moment and dropped her gaze to our hands. The three colors were woven together in perfect harmony. Red for love, danger, and the Mikhailov family. Yellow for happiness and optimism. Black for power, mystery, and the Genovese family.
“You’ll say you did nothing, but I want to start by thanking you. Not only for tonight, which means everything to me, but for being my very best friend. For loving me, trusting me, and your unwavering support. But most of all, I want to thank you because before I met you, I didn’t know that I could fly. I dreamed of it, but didn’t think I’d be capable. Eddie Genovese, you didn’t carry me with you, you taught me that I had wings of my own and we could fly together as equals. There is nothing I can ever do to repay you for that, but this is what I vow.”
It was rare that I got emotional, but Ana’s words brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to drag her onto my plane and fly far away, someplace where we could hide forever. But that wasn’t fair to her or our future children. No, I didn’t want to live in fear, always worried about being seen by the wrong person. My family didn’t run from a fight, so I would grow my army, my assets, and the favors I needed to help Ana rip the carpet out from under Vadin’s feet as she stole his crown.
“I vow to protect you and our family as you would protect us. I vow to remain strong in the face of danger and be wise in the face of our enemies. I vow my eternal soul, my human body, and my love to you and you alone. I vow that one day we will be together again, either in this life or the next. You, Eddie, are the other half of my soul, and until we are reunited, half of me will always remain with you. I love you with my whole heart.”
My tears fell as joy and gut-wrenching sadness gripped my throat like a hand and stabbed me through the heart with a sharp blade.
“I love you more, Ana Mikhailov Genovese,” I said, and she smiled wide.
“Impossible.”
“You’ve sworn to love one another before your friends and the spirits and promised vows to one another. May you always keep true to the words you have spoken here tonight from your hearts. I would like to end the ceremony with a blessing. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. May the wind always be at your back. May the warm rays of the sun shine upon your home. May pure be the joy that surrounds you and true the hearts that love you. May you always have the hand of a friend near you. Go in love.”
Everyone cheered as I kissed Ana, our salty tears mingling as our lips touched.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive, Ana. I’ll never forget this night as I could never forget your face even if I were to go blind.”
“God, you two are so sappy. Come on, let’s go dance,” Marcus said, making me shake my head in annoyance.
But as he grabbed our joined hands and dragged us out to the sandy beach where the music was playing, it felt like an eternity of happiness and love flowed between me and Ana. Together, in the same location or not, we were forever bound.