Chapter 55
Vincent da Silva
Adrenaline was pumping through my veins, forcing my heart to beat far faster than normal. My palms sweating, my chin was lifted high to let Violetta fix my tie. I stared over the top of her head at our reflection in the mirror, my stomach trembling.
She snickered, smoothing her palm down the front of my shirt. “I remember being in your shoes not too many years ago. Remember?”
Sadness sank my excitement as my focus lowered to hers. “When you married Jackyl.”
Her lips pursed, unshed tears misting her light blue eyes. Sniffling, she coughed and tilted her head, fidgeting with the silk, black knot. “We were happy once, right? I mean, it wasn’t all manipulated, was it? There was genuine love at one point?”
Sorrow consuming my feelings, I searched her face, deciding to lie to help her feel better.
According to Tyler, she wasn’t handling things too well, especially after finding out about Jackyl and Mary’s affair.
What harm would come from letting her live in denial where her marriage was concerned?
Tyler was right, unless or until she was willing to get professional therapy to help untwist everything that bastard did to her mind, the best thing was to, in a way, coddle her delusions for now.
Eventually, she would want support we couldn’t give.
Until then, whatever helped her move on was best for her mental health.
“Yeah, yeah, there was love there, sis.”
She nodded and sniffled, batting back the tears. Coughing, she stepped back and folded her arms, leaning to one leg. Her sight roaming over me several times, her smile spread wide, her stare glowing with pride. “You look very handsome, Vinny.”
I looked at my reflection and cursed, dumbfounded at how I looked in a tuxedo. “Wow.”
“Wow is right,” she giggled, coming to stand beside me. Her cheek on my shoulder, she stared at us, twining our fingers together. “When we were kids, how did you see our future?”
Giving a firm squeeze, I chose my words carefully. “I thought I’d be in jail and you’d be my lawyer.”
She snorted and rolled her eyes, stepping away to playfully slap my bicep. “No, shit.”
“I sure as hell never thought you’d be a Serpent, not the way you always griped about me being in a gang.”
A shoulder rolling, she moved closer to the mirror, bending over the dresser to check her makeup.
Swiping her pinky along the bottom lashes, she stood upright to readjust the necklace Tyler gave her for Christmas.
Her palms smoothing down the front of her navy dress, she turned one way then the other, checking herself out.
“Well, in my little girl eyes, the Serpents took you away from me. I was jealous.”
Gently running my fingers through her dark curls, I tucked some behind her ear. “Ain’t nothing ever taking me from you, sis.”
She twisted her waist to look up at me with a rueful smile. “I see that now. I’ve no regrets, Vinny. I’m proud to be a Serpent. Sure, sometimes I think about what could have been, but Ty-Ty always reels me in, reminding I wouldn’t have my babies had things turned out differently.”
One corner of my mouth curled, actual love filling my chest for that son of a bitch. “He’s a good guy, Letta. You done good.”
Her nose wrinkling, she spun around, her knee length skirts flaring about her legs. “He’s wonderful.”
“He really is.” I took her hand and lifted, rubbing my thumb over the two carat diamond engagement ring. “I’m really glad he’s gonna be family soon. I was wrong about him.”
“You most certainly were, but I forgive you,” she giggled, twirling around a second time to prance to the bed. She dug in the matching purse and pulled out a tiny box wrapped in silver paper, a shiny red bow on top. “Here’s a belated Christmas gift.”
My brows furrowing, I chuckled and took it. “What is this?”
“Just open it.”
I lifted the top and frowned at two, brand new keys. “What? I don’t get it.”
Her hands clasped in front, her hips swayed side to side, a brilliant grin glowing her features. “House keys. Ty-Ty bought the property Dash found. He signed the papers last week.”
Joy shot through like lightning, stealing my breath. My focus snatching to hers, I gawked. “No, shit? Why didn’t you say nothing?”
“Well, there were some issues. Someone else bid a little higher, so, we actually thought we’d lost it.
When the owners realized ‘Tyler motherfuckin’ Warren,’” she mocked, bobbing her head side to side, speaking in a gruff, country drawl.
“Was the low bidder, they backed out of the original contract, saying they’d changed their minds.
Then, because of legal jargon, they had to wait a couple weeks before offering it to Ty-Ty. ”
A chuckle pushed through my nostrils. “Kinda nice having a man with power like that, huh?”
Her brows wiggled. “You’ve no idea. We get recognized everywhere we go.
And all those people who criticized us in high school are suddenly falling at our feet, pulling up all kinds of memories of how close we were back then.
” Once more, she rolled her eyes and groaned, holding her hand out to ogle the ring.
“If they had just treated us like that then, so many things would be different and…”
Her voice trailed off, her complexion turning gray, her irises going blank. I flinched, knowing where her mind was going. In a dark, ominous tone, she whispered, “It’s rather pathetic how they’re trying to twist things around now that he’s home and famous.”
“Is he gonna stay famous?”
Her attention flitted to me over her fingertips.
“You mean, is he continuing with his career? Yes,” she sighed, strolling to the window to look outside.
Her tone now bitter, she grumbled, “All his fans think he’s a fucking saint for rescuing a poor, traumatized gang banger from the streets.
He should be knighted,” she added, lifting her chin while scowling.
“Hey, hey. We all know the truth, what does it matter?”
Pouting, she cast a glance over her shoulder.
“You’re right,” she sighed, twirling to face me fully.
The smile returning, her palms together, she clasped her fingers, the index extending to point to the box.
“So, there you go. Keys to our new house here in Mobile. One for you and one for your future husband.”
My insides flipped over, my heart lurching to my throat. “Oh, shit,” I croaked, a palm slapping to my chest. “Holy shit, sis, I’m getting married.”
Dancing foot to foot, she leaned into her palms on my chest. “I know, right? How fucking cool is this?” She clucked her teeth and shook her head, her bottom lip puckered. “My older brother, finally getting hitched. I honestly didn’t think this day would ever come.”
Chuckling through my nose, I replaced the lid and set the box on the dresser.
Carefully plucking my jacket off the bed, I swung it around the air and shrugged my arms through the sleeves, the material gliding into place effortlessly.
Facing the mirror again, I tugged the lapel and buttoned, everything inside getting all jittery now that the whole ensemble was together.
“This is real,” I whispered, my hands shaking.
She wrapped her arms around my waist, her cheek against my shoulder again. “He loves you, you know. I had my doubts at first, but he really does love you.”
My throat began to collapse with panic. “Does it make me a dick to sometimes doubt that?”
Pouting, she turned her profile to the mirror to gaze up at me, her chin now on my shoulder. “No, it makes you guarded. Like me.”
I looked down at her. “You and Ty having issues?”
A weak grin curled her mouth. “Nothing he won’t overlook, and I don’t say that to be egotistical, because that’s not me.”
“No, I know. But…”
“But,” she sighed, standing upright to shrug. “I have a lot of trash stuck in my head and he’s being very, very patient.” Under her breath, she muttered, “I bet we could get a two for one in therapy, huh?”
I tugged the front of my slacks and sat on the corner of the bed, loosely twining my fingers. Daring to speak my thoughts, I asked since she brought it up. “Have you thought about talking to someone?”
She bristled and her throat constricted. “You mean, actually calling a therapist?”
“It’s a thought.”
Her head tipping back, she huffed and crossed her arms. “You sound like the uncles.”
I grinned, gladness filling my soul. “You call them uncle?”
“Well, yeah. They’re his uncles, I’m going to be his wife. They’re my uncles. Even Edwina and Eddie are calling them that.”
“How are they handling everything, by the way? I mean, with Tyler?”
“Edwina still tries to fight him once in a while, but I can tell she really likes him. Eddie thinks he’s the best thing ever.”
“Is she giving any troubles?”
“Actually, not nearly as much as we all expected. I think she really wants to trust him.” She looked down at her ring, the pinky poking the side of the setting. “She’s craving a daddy figure.”
There was a light tapping at the door and a second later, it opened, the subject of our current conversation poking his head through. Beaming, he winked. “Ready to get that fine ass of yours hitched? I got one antsy groom out here, ‘bout ready to combust, wanting to say some vows.”
That rush of nervous adrenaline hit again, bringing back the shakes. My mouth running dry, my spine snapped straight, my skin flushing. “Oh, shit.”
“We’ll be out in a second, okay?”
He winked at me, blew a kiss to her, and ducked out, quietly closing the door. Violetta strolled over to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. Sniffling, she was tearing up again, her knuckles caressing my cheek.
“You be good to him, okay? He’s changed so much for you.”
Stiffly nodding, I tried to gulp but found I couldn’t. “Yeah, uh huh.”
“Hey.” She cupped my chin and forced me to look up. “This was meant to be, Vinny. Everything worked out exactly how it was meant to be. I was always supposed to be with Ty-Ty, and you were somehow always meant to end up with Dash.”
The excitement was back, my mouth twitching with a faint smile. “He really loves me, don’t he?”
“Yes,” she whispered, bending over to plant a kiss to my forehead. Swiping her gloss with her thumb, she swung her head toward the door. “Now let’s go. Time to change your name, Vinny. Your happily ever after is right outside those doors, waiting for you.”
My knees shaking, I stood, took her hand, and let her lead me through my house to the carport she and Tinkerbell had decked out to the fullest. My heart throbbing, my sight quickly skimmed over everyone gathered.
All of the Serpents and a few people from Dash’s family from the mafia were standing, smiling, approving and encouraging this marriage.
“Dammit.”
“What?” I barked, jerking my attention to her.
“I was hoping The Boss would show. I really want to know who he is. Any chance you or Dash are willing to—”
“No way, sis,” I chuckled.
“One day.”
“Keep dreaming.”
My focus landed on the justice of the peace and then my groom standing next to him in a matching tux, one of the brightest smiles I’d ever seen lighting up his face. Slowly raking his sight along me, his bottom lip pulled between his teeth, his nose wrinkling.
“Oh, my god, I’m getting married. People know I fuck a guy.”
She gasped and swatted at my stomach, pulling a few chuckles from guests. “Hush up. People might hear you.”
As I slowly approached, my peripheral darkened, my sight focusing in on Dash, and only him. Not sure where Violetta stepped aside but suddenly, I was before him and he was holding my wrists. Was this real? I still couldn’t figure out how this happened. It was mind-blowing this was my life now.
Somewhere along my haze, the man began the ceremony, but his words were falling on deaf ears.
A surge of emotions hit, everything slamming into me at once.
Overwrought from the sensations, I grabbed the sides of his face and swept down, claiming a passionate kiss.
He gripped my elbows, his tongue rolling over mine hungrily.
Little by little, laughter broke through the thumping of my heart in my ears.
“Uh, sir, I have a few more steps to go through before we get there.”
Another wave of snickers had me breaking away to gaze into brown eyes with chips of gold. My forehead against his, I whispered, “I love you,” my heart swelling twice its normal size.
“Then marry me already.”
Chuckling, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, slowly exhaling some of my pent-up doubts. He loved me, he wasn’t Billy, he’d never hide me away. Before our family and friends, he was taking vows, promising to be by my side the rest of our days.
From this moment on, I would now be known as Vincent Mangiacavallo, and it was everything I’d ever hoped for.