Chapter 9 #2
Maybe we could do more than just salvage the day. Maybe together we could salvage this entire marriage before it fell apart.
But there was no time to talk. We had to get to the reception, so I got into the driver’s seat and headed for the hotel.
The reception ended up a lot more low-key than originally planned.
For one thing, half the guests weren’t there, the shooting understandably scaring them off.
For another, every time there was a news update regarding the shooting, some cousin would read off an announcement from their phone or share video.
There was very little new information to report, but with wedding guests, including politicians and prominent New York businessmen, the shooting was guaranteed to make headlines.
In addition to the news media focusing on us, we also had to deal with communication from law enforcement, which we didn’t like, and from our lawyers working to stonewall the cops.
Both families were sitting at the main table, each side managing to be civil to one other during the reception, which mostly went by in a blur for me.
When it was time for the speeches from the fathers, my old man got up, so drunk that most of his words were in slurred Italian.
Valentina told me that she could understand every fifth word so she clapped politely through the speech from her place at the center of the banquet table.
She was one of the few who did clap, which was a testament to her having a hell of a lot more patience and kindness than most of the attendees.
Valentina’s father gave the last toast, holding a glass of red wine in his hands.
“Today has been a special day,” Don Romano said.
“A strange day. A trying day. One where we’ve been tested.
I’d like to thank you all for coming. I know that some faces are missing—and who can blame them?
But I’m grateful for your presence in this moment.
On behalf of the Romano family and the De Luca family, I’d like to thank you for your continued support. ”
Guests applauded.
“I truly wish that today had been peaceful. Sadly, that wasn’t meant to be,” Don Romano continued.
“Time and time again, we’ve been tested.
I just want to say that over the course of these past several weeks and months, my daughter Valentina and her new husband Enzo have weathered every challenge beautifully. Together.”
More applause.
Don Romano lifted his wine glass, tipping it in our direction. “To my daughter Valentina and my new son-in-law. May your marriage be a long and fruitful one, where you both overcome adversity with the strength and grace that you demonstrated today.”
“To Enzo and Valentina,” the guests said, lifting their glasses to us.
The reception wound down after that, and with a final goodbye to our parents, I got Valentina into the bulletproof car once again to drive her home to the townhouse.
~~*~~
AS SOON AS WE STEPPED into the townhouse, I felt the urge to talk to her.
The thought of us going to separate bedrooms to live separate lives was damn intolerable to me.
We needed to hash things out. Exhausted as I felt from the day’s events, I wouldn’t be able to get a good night’s sleep again until I showed Valentina my commitment to this. To her.
“Tired?” I asked her, as we strode up the hallway side by side.
She stopped at her bedroom door, tilting her head as she gazed up at me. “Yes. You?”
“Tired,” I admitted. “Not too tired to talk though.”
Valentina nodded slowly, taking in my words. “Today was crazy.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Not your fault,” she said. “There was clearly a breakdown in security.”
“Like an inside job,” I suggested.
“Yes.” She sighed heavily. “Somebody must have helped him. Or hired him. Or both.”
“You deserved better,” I said gently.
Valentina placed a hand on my forearm. “So did you.”
The touch of her hand alone was enough to get me to refuse to give up on us. I wasn’t going to lie down and accept losing Valentina. I’d screwed this up and I was going to make it right.
“We’re going to catch this guy,” I swore to her.
“I know.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You know?”
“I believe in you, Enzo. I trust you,” she said, the expression on her face completely serene. “If you tell me you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it. I will never doubt your word to me.”
My heart was hammering, the force of it practically cracking my ribcage.
If I had managed to regain her trust, then what were the odds that I could accomplish the impossible and gain even more than that?
Maybe I was a fool to press my luck. But Valentina had made a fucking fool out of me. I was a fool in love. With her.
“You trust me...” The words I wanted to say were escaping me.
I desperately wracked my brain for these grand words.
Words that I could use to sweep her off her feet.
But I was coming up empty. I was too awestruck by her bravery today, too shocked by the realization that I loved her to find the right words. Fuck.
Valentina placed a hand on my chest, right over my heart. I placed my hand over hers, with the full knowledge that she could feel every forceful, uncontrollable beat of my heart.
“More than I have ever trusted anyone,” she said softly.
More than I deserved.
“I’ve done nothing to earn it,” I gritted out, enraged that I had failed her for so long.
“Enzo, you saved my life today,” she said. “And that day with the poison—”