Chapter Thirty
(Cesare)
For the rest of his life, Cesare would remember the sight of Sabrina walking down the aisle towards him; her hazel doe-eyes radiating what he could only dare to hope was love.
Love for him. Crowned like a Lombardi Queen, she was escorted by Papa Lombardi, until Sabrina placed her slender hand in Cesare's, and took her rightful place beside him.
Throughout the ceremony, Cesare was struck by the growing realization that this woman was going to be fully his now.
Her needs and her wants, her joys, her pleasure, and even pain; it all belonged to Cesare.
He resolved to honor this responsibility seriously; to show Sabrina that he meant everything he had said earlier.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Father Patrick asked for the rings, and Cesare’s eyes widened. In all of the day's chaos, nobody had thought about rings. He squeezed Sabrina’s hands to offer her reassurance, even as he instinctively turned to his father for help.
Papa Lombardi slowly rose up from his place in the front pew, and carefully lifted a gold chain from underneath his dress shirt. A gold cross hung from the chain, and beside it, the diamonds of a woman’s wedding ring twinkled in the light of the church.
“Oh, Cesare.” Maribella whispered to the older Lombardi, her voice filled with emotion.
“Bella, help me with this, would you?” He gruffed, as he attempted to unclasp the necklace.
Sabrina’s Cesare rubbed his thumb over the back of Sabrina’s hand as he continued to hold her hands in his. “It’s Mami’s ring.” He swallowed thickly. “We can get you one of your own later if you want.”
Sabrina watched as Papa Lombardi gave the wedding ring a tender little kiss and left the pew, approaching Cesare and Sabrina with a quiet sense of resolve.
Papa Lombardi gently placed the ring in Father Patrick’s hand. Sabrina looked at the vintage ring, the vintage filagree gold set with three stunning diamonds. It was a ring made to shine; made to speak across the room.
"It's stunning." Sabrina whispered hoarsely. "Are you sure?"
The older Lombardi simply smiled, and began to remove his own ring as well.
Cesare immediately began to protest. “Papi, no…”
“Yes, Cesare.” Papa Lombardi insisted solemnly. “They belong together. Wherever they go.”
Cesare swallowed thickly, blinking at the dust in the cathedral. Surely that was the reason for the tickle in the back of his throat. He cleared his throat and nodded, reaching out to squeeze his father's arm in silent thanks.
His father smiled at him, pride and satisfaction suffusing across his features.
“You’re a good boy.” Papa Lombardi gently patted Cesare’s cheek. “Be good to this one, and you’ll be a good man.”
Cesare nodded again, unable to speak; even so, the silent promise made to his father was given with the same gravity as the vows he was making with the priest.
Papa Lombardi nodded in approval, patting Cesare’s face once more. The old mobster nodded to Sabrina with a twinkle in his eye, and returned to his seat.
Minutes later, Cesare Renaldo Lombardi III and Sabrina Marchand Hamilton were officially man and wife.
◆◆◆
When they left the church, Cesare was both pleased and relieved to see the ever familiar sight of Monty, waiting in front of the Lincoln Town Car.
“Congratulations, Boss.” Monty nodded with a grin.
Cesare shook the man's hand, nodding in approval when Monty extended a beautiful boquet of fresh white roses to Sabrina. Much to Sabrina's delight, the aromatic scent wafted gently around them.
“I wish you every happiness, ma'am.” The driver inclined his head to her in a rather old-school gentlemanly way, and smoothly opened the door with a flourish.
Sabrina beamed, thanking Monty for his thoughtfullness as she slid carefully into the backseat of the car.
Cesare turned to Monty, leaning in to avoid being overheard by any passersby.
“Did you get the message to Vinnie?” Cesare asked.
“I did, boss.” Monty nodded.
“How did he take it?” Cesare asked, brows furrowed.
“He sends his congratulations. He said he won't be joining you tonight; he doesn't wish to take the spotlight from anyone. But he appreciates the invitation, and is available to meet tomorrow. You can send a representative; his only stipulation is it needs to be one of your brothers.”
Cesare grunted with a nod. “Arrange it with Dante, would you, Monty?”
“Of course, Boss.” Monty nodded.
On their way back to the house, Sabrina called her sister, visibly dissapointed when Brooke didn't answer.
The redhead frowned, muttering her frustration with undisclosed military locations, operational security, and unreliable cell service.
Reluctant to delay the news any further, Sabrina sent Brooke a photo of her and Cesare, and another of their rings.
Eva Lombardi's ring, while slightly loose, shone beautifully on Sabrina's hand, and would be easy to resize.
Cesare held Sabrina's hand in his, as he ran his finger back and forth over the diamonds absentmindedly.
His father, Cesare Lombardi the second, had won this ring for his young wife at a craps table in Jersey City, when their family had still been penniless. Now, Cesare's own wife wore it as a private chauffeur drove them to the family estate.
While the ring represented the love Cesare had seen between his parents, volatile as it had been, it also served as yet another reminder of how much his father had accomplished; how big the shoes were that Cesare needed to fill.
They video-called Marie together. Cesare grinned in satisfaction at Marie’s audible excitement and Sabrina’s flushed but happy glances his way. His bride was pleased. A little nervous, and adorably shy when she looked his way, but visibly happy.
They called Walter St. John next. The man had been gruff as usual, but hadn’t threatened to kill Cesare immediately and Cesare considered this a win.
Walter repeated over and over that things were looking good with the work exchange program, and that Sabrina didn’t need to return until she wanted to.
Cesare stiffened at the reminder that Sabrina had come to Philly to visit, not to stay. But they were married now, and he’d be damned if she thought going back to Maine without him was an option. She was never going to spend another night outside of his bed.
Sabrina, seeming to sense his sudden tension, reached up and touched her hand to the side of his face with a soft smile.
Much to his chagrin, the move was so wholesome that his silent bristling instantly softened at her touch.
Cesare closed his eyes with a grunt and opened them again to see Sabrina’s beautiful hazel eyes giving him that tender doe-eyed look; the same look she’d given him when she walked down the aisle.
Cesare, so used to controlling everything around him, was suddenly struck with how uncontrollable all of this was; it filled him with equal parts terror and anticipation. Anticipation for what was to come, and anticipation of a challenge. Sabrina was his, and he would convince her to stay.
Dante’s absence was Cesare’s only regret in all of this, but he would find a way to make it up to him. Dante was going to lose his shit when he called.
The impromptu wedding party arrived at Cesare’s house, and a restaurant downtown that owed Raffi a favor agreed to cater last minute. A growing number of extended family members and friends flooded the palazzo to give their congratulations and best wishes.
Sabrina took it all in stride as Cesare introduced her to the endless stream of new faces.
She patiently relied on Cesare to fill her in on their names, backgrounds, surrounding children, and assorted interests.
Cesare felt a renewed sense of appreciation for her ability to absorb so much new information at once, read a room, and respond accordingly.
(Sabrina POV)
Papa Lombardi made the rounds, his excitement and joy palpable as he routinely called Sabrina over to meet friends and family.
Sabrina blushed under his praise as the family patriarch insisted she was the light of his eyes. He looked so much like Robert De Niro, she still had a difficult time not staring.
An older man dressed in an Armani suit wearing a large golden watch approached Cesare Sr. as Sabrina stood beside him, and the two men hugged like they were long-lost brothers.
“Cesare!” The older man grinned. He had a genial smile and a distinguished silver streak highlighted beneath the evening light of the chandelier above.
“It’s good to see you, my friend! I’m glad you could come!” Cesare Sr. responded, wrapping an arm around Sabrina’s waist. “Allow me to introduce you to Sabrina, the newest jewel in our family. Isn’t she beautiful?”
The other man grinned, giving Sabrina a nod. “Best wishes, my dear.” He turned to Cesare, waiting to be introduced, and Cesare Sr., so much like his son, stiffened so slightly it was almost impossible to notice. But Sabrina was coming to know her Lombardi men very well.
It dawned on Sabrina that Cesare Sr., who clearly knew and cared about the man before them, couldn’t remember the man’s name.
Sabrina took a step forward and gave her most charming smile. “Cesare told me so much about you! You must be…” She trailed off with a mournful pout. “Oh no, please forgive me. I seem to have forgotten your name.”
“It’s Charles, my dear. Charles Falcone. And please, don’t trouble yourself. You’re learning more than enough new names, and all at once! Cesare and I, our families come from the same village in Italy.”
“That’s right!” Sabrina nodded. “This is the one that owes you a bottle of wine.” She teased, flashing a wink at Charles before looking back to Papa Lombardi.
Charle’s eyes widened, and he chortled. “Of course!” He grinned at the older Lombardi. “Next time we have dinner, drinks are on me. I insist.”
Cesare gave a rather distinguished nod that echoed of old world manners and longstanding tradition. “You honor me by coming. I look forward to next time, Charlie.”
Charles Falcone gave a departing nod as he joined the rest of the room, and Sabrina took a sip of wine. Feeling the weight of Cesare Sr.’s gaze, she turned to face him, hoping she hadn’t overstepped. Her father-in-law gave her a considering glance, followed by an approving nod.
“You’re going to do just fine, my girl.” He grinned. He put her hand in the crook of his arm as he spoke with several more long-standing family friends; friends whose names he couldn’t quite place but didn’t need to, as Sabrina subtly smoothed over each exchange.
(Cesare POV)
Cesare watched as his father managed to visit with friend after friend; with the confidence he had before his memory had begun to fail; back when Cesare Lombardi Sr. had reigned supreme, and the Lombardis had owned Philly and everything around.
Sabrina was subtle enough that nobody else could see what she was doing, but Cesare had been with his father at enough events to know exactly what she was doing; and it struck him like a bolt of lightning that he was helplessly in love with his wife.
He sipped his wine and let the sensation of uncontrollable change buzz through his veins until it made his chest clench uncomfortably. Downing the rest of the wine, he let out a slow breath before joining his bride. His bride.
◆◆◆
As the night went on, Sabrina eventually fell asleep with her head on Cesare's shoulder.
They were seated on a couch, chatting with cousins and clapping as younger children of the group did cartwheels and various tricks for the gathered crowd.
Cesare looked at the time, and snorted in amusement when he saw it had just hit midnight.
Cesare met Stefano’s gaze, who nodded to Sabrina as if to ask if she was okay. Cesare nodded, careful not to disturb the sleeping redhead. “She’s like Cinderella.” He softly mused. “Turns into a sleeping rock at midnight.”
Stefano chuckled. “I think you have your fairy tales mixed up. Trolls turn into rocks. Cinderella turned into a pumpkin.”
Cesare gently curled a lock of Sabrina’s curly copper hair around his finger. “It’s a little too red to compare with a pumpkin.”
“You’re comparing your wife to a pumpkin?” Stefano raised a brow.
Cesare scoffed. “Fuck off.” His tone was relaxed as he continued to comb his fingers through Sabrina’s hair. His wife's hair.
“You really like her.” Stefano observed.
Cesare swallowed thickly, nodding.
“You love her?” Stefano asked.
At first, it seemed as if Cesare hadn’t heard Stefano. Cesare continued to gently comb his fingers through Sabrina’s copper curls.
“Some things should be said to her first.” He finally answered. “Before I say it out loud to anyone else.”
Stefano gave the pair another long look before nodding his approval. “Good.”
A series of cheers went up as Cesare took his beautiful, albeit tipsy and sleepy, bride upstairs. Cesare couldn’t help the look of triumph that spread across his face as he carried Sabrina away, securely in his arms.
He was going to introduce Sabrina to the full pleasure that could be found between a man and a woman.
He would be gentle with her, but he would own her fully and thoroughly; until the shape of him was permanently carved into her body and soul; until she felt his irreversible claim on everything that was hers for once and for all.
Sabrina Lombardi was his.