Chapter Fifty-eight Jennifer #2
I smile at him, feeling the really strong urge to touch him, kiss him—but I can’t. Not yet.
“You love the dress?”
“I love it. I love you. But I fear…”, he steps just a step closer, whispering into my ear: “I’m gonna tear it off of you the second we’re alone, pretty.”
I gulp when he presses a soft kiss against my cheek, leaving me blushing, the soft cream blush Katya applied not needed. any more now
Holy shit, how am I gonna survive staying in this dress until tonight?
My lips part, just slightly. He notices.
Of course he notices.
He always does.
But he doesn't smirk this time. At least not in that smug, cocky way. It’s a soft, genuine smile.
A smile a husband carries as he looks at his wife. We’re just a few minutes away from it, but I can’t wait.
I need to be his.
I need him to be mine.
He just keeps holding my hands—firm, grounded—and looks at me like I’m made of gold. Like I’m sacred.
Like I’m the most expensive and important thing he’s ever seen in his life.
And at that moment, I know.
I know he’s not just marrying me to protect me. Not just because of Mary. Not because of the mess we survived or the mafia rules or any of that.
He’s marrying me because he wants this. Me. Us.
He wants us to be a family.
He leans in again, voice a little lower now. “Are you ready to become mine, Mrs. Caruso?”
I nod slowly, wanting to drown in the sound of his deep, yet sweet voice. “I’ve always been ready.”
And then the priest speaks, but I barely hear a word.
Because he still hasn’t let go of my hands.
And I hope he never does.
I hope, no I need him to stay with me forever. There is no other option. Not anymore.
Now that Mary’s happy giggles are audible, bouncing off the church’s walls as the priests says a bunch of words my mind can’t make out, I know that there’s no going back.
Divorce is always possible for others.
But it’s not a fucking option for us. The only way out of this is death.
And we’re not choosing this path. Not yet. Not today, and I wish—not ever.
The priest clears his throat, and I barely manage to blink out of it when he turns to Daniel.
Shit, this is really happening, right?
“Do you, Daniel Caruso, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Daniel doesn’t hesitate. Not for a single second. “I do.”
He pauses. Then adds, lower, just for me, “I fucking do.”
I bite back a smile, tears threatening.
The, the priest turns to me. “Do you, Jennifer Welsh, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do,” I breathe. “My heart doesn’t give me another option.”
A few people laugh softly, mostly Katya. But I don’t care.
This is us.
And then it’s time.
Vows.
The vows that I’ve spent weeks writing, not knowing how to write down my feelings into words.
Daniel’s hand tightens in mine, and he turns to face me fully, voice a little deeper, a little rougher—like this is hard for him. Like the words are fighting their way out of his chest.
I’m sure they do.
“I never thought I’d end up here,” he starts, smiling gently. “With someone who drives me absolutely insane… and still makes me feel like I’ve finally got a home.”
He blinks once. “You’re it for me. That’s all there is. You’re my beginning, and you’ll be my end. I’ll protect you with everything I am—even the broken, fucked-up parts.”
He swallows. “You’re mine now. And I’m yours. Always.”
I don’t realize I’ve been crying until I start speaking and my voice catches.
“I didn’t think I could ever trust someone again. Not after everything.”
I squeeze his hand. Most people don’t know what I’m talking about, but he does. And that’s more than enough for me.
“But you saw me. You saw me even when I didn’t want to be seen.
Literally.” Both of us laugh. “You held me together when everything else was falling apart. So, yeah. I’m yours.
Fully. Completely. Forever. And you? You’re stuck with me now, Daniel Caruso.
For life. Just like I’ve been stuck with you after… We met.”
I don’t mention more. Most people here are in the mafia scene, but Mary, Enzo, my mom?
Surely, I don’t need to say anything other than my mother will have a heart attack if she’s gonna find out why Daniel could fly her here so easily.
I am not even sure what he told her.
His thumb brushes a tear off my cheek, and I almost lose it.
Almost.
But then the priest says the words that seal it.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
And Daniel doesn’t waste a damn second.
The kiss is heated. Hot. Way too touchy and sloppy to be happening in a church.
But I can tell he doesn’t care.
And judging by the giggles from Victoria and Katya in the background, they couldn’t care any less, either.
His hands slide to my waist, then lower, like he’s forgotten exactly where we are. Like we’re already alone.
I try to pull back—try being the key word. He follows instantly, mouth chasing mine, catching another kiss before I can breathe.
“I’m your husband now,” he mutters against my lips. “You’re not getting rid of me.”
“Wasn’t planning on it.” I grin, breathless, already dizzy from everything. From him.
The cheers erupt. Loud. Overwhelming. Real.
I barely see the priest announcing us officially, but I hear Mary clapping louder than anyone.
When I glance down at her, she’s beaming so bright it physically hurts. Her little hands are in the air like she’s won something huge.
Maybe she has. We all have.
Because this? This is ours now.
“Husband?”
“Yes, my wife?”
I barely can stop myself from launching at him. Fuck, it’s been what, four hours since Katya and Victoria put me into this dress?
It’s getting way too tight.
As tight as I am for him.
… Fine, I’ll stop.
Regardless, the air is getting too hot, too airy, too stuffed. Breathing feels like a chore at the moment, and I swear, I need to get out of this dress soon. I can’t take it any longer.
“My mom said you helped her fly here?” I ask, my voice soft and gentle. He nods within a second.
“I paid for her ticket, don’t worry. Her hotel is paid for, as well.”
I smile. “You know you didn’t have to, right?”
“Are you kidding?” He scoffs, wrapping his arms around my waist. “You’re my wife now. I am taking care of you and your family. And I knew you’d need her here.” He pauses for a second. “All of us do.”
I gulp. “I’m sorry they can’t be here today.”
“Don’t be sorry, pretty. It’s not your fault.”
“It’s not your fault, either. Remember that. Nothing that happened was your fault.”
He looks at my eyes, pain in them. “I could’ve saved them by finding out who was behind everything earlier.”
“None of us knew, hubby. It wasn’t your fault. Trust me with this.”
“I wish they could’ve been here. But I know they couldn’t, so I felt like… All I could do was make sure your mother is here.”
I smile before I hold his face in my hands, kissing him gently. His lips move against mine, both of us stuck in our own world until a familiar voice breaks us apart.
“Mommy? Daddy?”
Both of us look down at her, his hands still wrapped around my waist and mine resting on his chest. “Yes, baby?” I ask.
“Vicky said Enzo and I can have a sleepover tonight with lots of movies and snacks! Can I? Please? Pleaseee?”
Daniel’s smirk is obvious. Way too obvious.
Jesus, I am glad that Mary is still 6 and not 10 or something. I am glad that she has no idea what’s going on in her dad’s mind right now.
“Of course, you can,” he answers for me. “Mommy and daddy will have a sleepover tonight as well.”
Mary furrows her brow. “But you always sleep together. You always have a sleepover.”
Daniel wants to say something, but his mouth closes again. I grin. “She’s right.”
“Yeah…” He laughs. “Technically, yes.”
Mary giggles. “Daddy?”
“Something wrong, sweetheart?” He lets go of my hand to kneel down, looking at her. She just smiles before throwing himself at him, the both of them holding each other.
“I love that you’re my daddy now! You’re the best daddy ever!”
“I love being your dad, my little girl.”
He kisses her forehead before she runs away again, probably to tell Vicky and Enzo the good news.
I just sigh dreamily, looking at the man I got married to. Jesus. I’m never getting over him.
“Are you alright, wifey?”
Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me.
“Yes. I just feel the need to tell you that I love you. So, so much.” Both of us share eye contact.
Take this dress off me, rip it off, push me onto your bed and—
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking you’re thinking?”
“Don’t make it complicated. Watching you like that with her?” I sigh dreamily. “I think we might need another baby.”
“Do we, huh?” He grins up at me. “We got plenty of time tonight, pretty.”
“Do we?” I giggle before kissing him. “Just a few more hours. Then I can finally get out of this dress.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Trust me, I love it. But my feet are dead from the shoes and don’t even get me started on my waist and chest.” I exhale dramatically. “Getting out of this masterpiece will feel like heaven on earth.”
“Getting into this masterpiece will feel like heaven on earth as well.”
“Which masterpiece—Oh.”
“Oh.” He smirks at me.