Chapter 31
MARLENA
I’m so nervous I can’t sit still. I try to wait patiently, but I have to get up and pace. Carmine’s wife, Daniela, stands next to me. She’s smiling, as if she understands what I’m going through. I don’t see how.
I haven’t told her that my wedding to Francisco is mostly transactional.
We’re not a typical couple by any means.
I tell myself that this is the only way to keep Brandon safe.
As soon as Francisco and I are officially married, word will go out on the streets back home, and the people who kidnapped my brother will hear about it. At least, that’s what I hope.
I panic for a moment, thinking that he might be dead already.
I try to remember the day I discovered my father was missing.
How many hours did he suffer afterward before they finally killed him?
I try not to think about it. Francisco has given me no cause to think that Brandon has been killed.
Though he’s close-lipped about the whole affair, I sense he has hope.
And he promised not to lie to me, so I have to trust him when he says Brandon could still be alive.
This is the best thing for all of us. I just have to remember that. I turn around in the tight confines of the church classroom. I don’t know anyone here except my fiancé. Daniela has been wonderful, but I just met her a day ago.
“Calm down,” she says, looking over my dress and my hair. “You look wonderful. Francisco is going to make you very happy.”
I give her a tight smile. She’s right, of course.
Even though our marriage isn’t entirely romantic, I still care about this man I’m promising my life to.
He’s not perfect. He runs a criminal organization, and that’s something I swore I would never get involved with.
But I genuinely like him. In fact, I might be in love with him.
So why not get married? It’s not the worst thing that could happen.
I brush down the skirt of my princess dress.
I feel like a doll, all made up for the biggest day of my life.
I would not have chosen this dress. It was just the one Daniela lent me.
I appreciate the gesture, but I’m incredibly uncomfortable.
The whole thing has been covered in taffeta and starched until it scratches.
I fidget nervously. The clock ticks away the seconds, bringing me closer and closer to the altar.
“Here,” Daniela says, producing an old wooden box from a shelf near the door.
“What is it?” I ask genuinely interested.
“All the things you need for your ceremony,” she replies.
I watch as she opens it up, revealing a collection of small hand-me-down items. There’s a hair clip and a bracelet sitting on top of an old photograph.
“These belonged to your great-grandmother,” Daniela says.
I look at her with tears in my eyes. My mother is dead, and it means so much to me to have a family on this special occasion.
I never thought I would ever experience the bond of blood relatives again.
Other than Brandon, I thought my family tree had been chopped down.
But now, halfway around the world, I’ve found my tribe again.
It’s amazing that even though I’ve just met these people, I feel comfortable around them.
They’ve sworn to protect me, and that’s something I would never have asked them to do.
They don’t care. I’m one of them, and that’s all that matters.
I take the hair clip gently. It’s polished and oiled so that even though it’s clearly very old, it hasn’t rusted.
I wonder if my great-grandmother used it for her wedding.
Daniela takes it from me, sets the box down, and deftly collects my hair behind my head.
I feel the pinch as she fits the barrette in place.
Next comes the bracelet, a delicate silver thing that fits my wrist perfectly.
“What’s this?” I ask, looking into the box to examine the photo.
“That’s her,” Daniela says, removing the photo so I can see better.
There’s a young woman eating an apple in the middle of a country road.
The photo is blurred at the edges, proving just how old it is.
The subject of the photo is gorgeous, with her eyes sparkling warmly from beneath dark brown lashes.
Her hair is tied up in a messy bun, and the clothes she wears hide most of her figure.
But the smooth curve of her chin and the impish way she holds the apple tells me a lot about her personality.
I think we could have been good friends, if only she were still alive today.
“She’s beautiful,” I say reverently.
“And so are you,” Daniela responds.
There’s a knock on the door, and a teenage girl pokes her head in. She says something in Italian to Daniela, who nods.
“Five minutes,” Daniela translates.
I nod. I’m ready for this. I try to quell the rising storm threatening to overtake my stomach.
This is worse than butterflies. It’s like a swarm of locusts.
I press my eyes shut, willing myself to relax.
It’s not a big deal. I’m just going to walk down the aisle and promise my entire life to a man I barely know. No sweat.
“Should we go?” Daniela asks.
I nod, too afraid to speak. This is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
Though I wasn’t one to fantasize too much about my wedding, what girl doesn’t wonder when and how and who she’ll eventually tie the knot with?
My knees feel weak, and it’s a struggle to remain upright.
I force myself to put one foot in front of the other.
This has to happen. I have to be brave and see it through.
I can’t back out now because Brandon’s life is on the line.
Daniela walks me all the way to the chapel doors. She gives me a pat on the shoulder before slipping inside to take her place with the rest of the guests. I’m on my own with no one to walk me down the aisle.
I draw a deep breath. It’s game time. There’s no way out but through. I push my way inside and am shocked by the number of people in attendance. I thought this would be a small ceremony with only a handful of Carmine’s closest friends. But it looks like he invited the whole village.
I center my gaze on the altar. Francisco is standing there, and the moment our eyes meet, all my insecurities fly out the window.
This is where I’m meant to be. His career path doesn’t matter, nor do my father’s crimes.
There’s more to this marriage than a simple arrangement, and that’s obvious.
He looks proud of me, and proud of himself for bringing me to this place.
I give him a brave smile and begin my walk.
The organ begins playing by an older woman who is either a member of the church or a member of the family. Next to Francisco, there is a man who looks familiar. He’s obviously a relative, but someone I haven’t met before.
Carmine stands at the altar, dressed in a jet black business suit.
He’s officiating the ceremony, but he’s not a priest. I put one foot in front of the other, concentrating on my walk.
We haven’t practiced this. Unlike most weddings, there wasn’t a lot of fanfare beforehand.
But I trust myself enough to move at the right pace, to keep my eyes focused ahead and to hold my bouquet in sweaty hands.
My heart is pounding by the time I cross the room. Francisco loops one hand beneath my elbow, steadying me. I give him a grateful nod before turning to my cousin.
“Friends, family,” Carmine begins. “We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two people.”
I feel like there’s cotton between my ears.
I’m hot and uncomfortable in the dress. I can hardly believe that this is my wedding day, that I’m standing on the threshold of a new life.
I couldn’t ask for a better partner. I know Francisco will do everything within his power to keep both Brandon and me safe.
This is the jumping-off point, and with Francisco by my side, I’m ready to take the plunge.
“Do you, Francisco, take this woman to be your wife?” Carmine asks.
I resurface from my daydreams just in time for the main event.
“I do,” Francisco answers.
“And do you, Marlena, take this man to be your husband?” Carmine continues.
“I do,” I say boldly. There’s no hesitation in my voice. The time for second-guesses has passed.
“Then with the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife,” Carmine concludes. “You may kiss the bride.”
Francisco slips his hand behind my back to hold me still as he plants a kiss on my lips.
It’s gentle and in no way reminiscent of our heated exchange on the patio days ago.
But still, a jolt of electricity courses through my veins.
I wonder what it will be like to make love as husband and wife.
Will it be as exciting as it was before? Or will some of the magic be torn away?
My heart skips a beat, and I know that our marital bed will be every bit as seductive as our pregame show.
Daniela comes up with a glass vase and sets it on the floor beside us.
Francisco steps on it, breaking it into a dozen glittering pieces.
He motions for me to do the same, and I comply.
I’m worried about hurting myself, but the glass is thin, and my shoes are strong.
A cheer sweeps over the crowd. Everyone is happy on our behalf. I clutch my bouquet as if it’s a life raft as we walk back down the aisle as husband and wife.