Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
SERENITY
MY BIG DAY
“Serenity. Serenity.”
Someone shakes my arm.
“Yes, yes,” I groan, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
“It’s your big day, boss.”
Slowly, I blink awake, push myself upright, and rest against the headboard.
I’m not even sure Nico slept in the house last night.
Reacher escorted me to Nico’s bedroom and waited until I stepped inside before locking the door behind me.
Like I was some princess trapped in a tower.
I laughed so hard I nearly cried.
Nico thought I’d flee.
Out of spite, I polished off half a bottle of his outrageously expensive Scotch.
Now my head feels like a marching band is stomping across my skull.
“Angel,” I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I need two aspirins. My head is pounding.”
She starts toward the nightstand, then pauses.
“Boss?”
“What?”
She peeks over her shoulder, then back at me. “Do you want out?”
Every trace of exhaustion disappears.
My eyes snap to hers.
“You have a way?”
A slow smile tugs at her lips.
“With all the caterers and vendors moving in and out of the house this morning, we could hide you inside one of the black transport crates and wheel you right out the side entrance.”
Hope flutters in my chest.
For one dangerous second, I actually picture it.
“Good morning, Ms. Cichello.”
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest.
Angel and I turn at the same time.
Two men stand in the doorway.
“Good morning,” I reply.
“Not sure if you remember me. My name is Vex.”
Vex’s gray eyes drift over Angel with unmistakable interest. He’s about six-two with short brown hair. He looks like he could bench press Angel.
She slips both hands behind her back and smirks.
“And I’m Abe,” he says, halting next to Vex. His green eyes move over Angel, too.
He looks about an inch shorter than Vex. His medium jet-black hair is slicked back perfectly.
Hmm, so my bodyguard has two handsome admirers.
“Why are you two here?” I ask.
“We are your security detail today,” Vex replies.
“I have my own security team,” I say.
Abe shrugs. “Sorry, Ms. Cichello. Nico prefers his men protecting you today.”
His gaze flicks toward Angel. “Your team might let you slip out the back door and never come back.”
Did he hear our conversation?
I cross my arms.
“Angel and Bets are staying with me. If your boss has a problem with that, he can tell me himself.”
Angel catches my eye.
Her lips barely move. Sorry.
I suppress a smile.
“Angel, I’ll be ready in twenty-five minutes.”
She nods. “I’ll make sure your breakfast is sent up.”
“Thank you.”
Vex and Abe step aside, letting Angel leave first before quietly pulling the bedroom door shut behind them.
The second the door clicks shut, curiosity gets the better of me.
I hurry across the room and press my ear against the door.
“Angel,” Vex calls, “you don’t have to run off so fast.”
“I have work to do.”
Her voice sounds far less confident than usual.
Abe chuckles. “Once we get to the island, we’re hoping for round two.”
My brows shoot up.
Round two?
“I’m barely functioning after last night,” Angel admits. “My job is demanding enough without the two of you wearing me out again.”
Vex laughs.
“You won’t have to do a thing.”
“We’ll take care of you,” Abe adds.
There’s a long pause.
“If I’m not needed later…” Angel says nervously, “…I might take you up on that.”
Another pause.
“See you two in a little bit.”
Footsteps fade down the hallway.
“She thought last night was a one-time thing,” Vex says.
Abe chuckles. “Yeah, she doesn’t understand. She belongs to us now.”
I slowly step away from the door.
A grin spreads across my face as I make a beeline to the nightstand, grabbing the aspirin and bottled water. I dart into the bathroom.
My bodyguard has two men.
Damn, I knew I should’ve asked Mullins for an update about the gossip in the bodyguard group.
Once I settle into my bubble bath, I shoot Angel a text.
Me: I need a Bloody Mary to get through the day.
Angel: On it.
Me: You’re fucking Vex and Abe.
No response.
Me: Way to go, Angel.
Angel: It’s just a fling.
Me: I don’t think they believe it’s a fling.
Angel:
Me: Once we get to wherever Nico is taking me, you have the night off.
Angel: Boss, you don’t have to do this.
Me: I’ll be out soon.
A smile picks up at the ends of my lips. I’m happy someone is getting loved.
Gripping my Bloody Mary, I step into the bridal suite fit for a queen. White and cream furniture fill the spacious room. Sunlight floods in, sparking a bubbly, giddy feeling inside me.
I’m marrying Nico, my ex-boyfriend, my enemy.
He’s also the love of my life. No man can compare to him.
He’s made it that way. The way he took care of me when I was sick.
The way he dressed me in his shirt every time we were together and the way his eyes moved over my soft, curvy frame.
The ownership was clear in his eyes. I belong to him.
Four smiling women are poised near the hair and makeup stations. “Hello, my name is Tora from Tora Styles in Newark. I’ll be your hair stylist.”
My stomach bottoms out. She’s from my hometown.
She waves her hands at the other three women. “This is Nisa, Vickey, and La La. They’re your glam squad. They’ll do your bridal party makeup.”
“Hello.” I smile awkwardly.
“I don’t have a bridal party,” I admit.
“But don’t worry. My mother will need her makeup done,” I say.
“Are you saying I’m not your made of honor?” I hear a familiar voice from behind.
I whirl around and place my glass in Angel’s hand.
“Baylor,” I yell as I run toward her and wrap my arms around her.
“It’s so good to see you in person,” I whisper.
“Serenity, it feels surreal. You’re back in the U.S.”
We squeeze each other tightly.
“Thank you for being my long-distance bestie,” I sniffle.
“I’m always here,” she sobs.
My friend was almost married off to a violent mobster who couldn’t have loved her the way Cairo does. Cairo took care of him, of course.
I step back and take her in. “You’re as big as a house.”
“This baby is due soon. So you better get down that aisle before my water breaks.”
“I can’t believe Nico asked you to plan our wedding on short notice.”
“It’s okay. I have a team. I sit and point.”
We burst into laughter.
“There are some ladies I’d like you to meet,” she says.
“Sierra,” Baylor yells.
I’d met Sierra briefly during one of my meetings with her husband Dillon before I left the country.
“It’s good to see you again, Sierra.”
She pulls me into her embrace.
“Dillon told me you were doing well. Just so you know, us girls have your back, too.”
She steps back, taking my hands in hers and winks.
“Oh,” I say and nod at my bodyguard.
Angel places my drink in my hand. “Ladies, business needs to be discussed. Right this way, please.”
The glam team file out of the room.
“Serenity, let me introduce you to the mafia wives,” Sierra says.
She points to each of the wives. “That’s Carmen Magarelli, Dominic’s wife. Dr. Nadine Magarelli is a pediatrician, and she’s Tony’s wife. Tony is Dillon's and Dom’s cousin. He and his wife are…” She slides her finger along her neck.
“Understood.” I grin. He’s a hitman, and she’s a hitwoman.
“My best friend, Emoni Esposito, is married to Marco, who’s also my best friend. That’s Lexis Esposito.” She points.
Lexis grins, waving. I wave back.
“She’s Luca’s wife.”
“Ryah Andrisani, Rocco’s wife. They’re out of Philly.”
“Hey girl,” Ryah says.
“Hey,” I reply.
“I understand you met your soon to be sister-in-law Kinsley,” Sierra says.
I smile at Kinsley.
“Yes. She opened my eyes to something I didn’t think I could face.”
Kinsley smiles in return.
Sierra waves her hand at another woman. “And we have our newest New Jersey mafia wife, Claire Romano, Vino’s wife.”
“Nice to meet you,” they say in unison.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all, too.” My eyes move over their faces that pan in various hues of brown. “Wow, you’re all so beautiful,” I say.
They chuckle and each say thank you.
“Where are my manners? Please make yourselves at home,” I tell them.
Angel walks in right on time.
“Please have Esmeralda bring beverages and refreshments,” I order.
Angel nods and walks out of the room.
“Baylor is the first Delaware mafia wife to be brought into our sisterhood. You’ll join her as the next Delaware mafia wife.” Sierra grins.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“If any of us need assistance with problems, for example, women who just don’t want to leave our husbands, alone, they are tortured,” Sierra tells me.
“Packages,” I hear someone say.
Carmen points at her phone. “Samantha said that.”
“Yes, packages.” Sierra chuckles.
“Let me see,” Samantha presses in a pleading tone.
Carmen steps forward. “Serenity, this is Samantha-,” she starts as she raises the phone eye level.
My eyes widen. “Latters,” I finish her statement.
“You’re married to Jacob Latters.”
Samantha snickers. “Yes.”
She turns and hollers over her shoulder. “Jacob?”
The bathroom door opens, and a cloud of fog follows. A towel hangs low around his waist; water drips down his washboard abs while he dries his hair with another.
“Is that the tattoo he wears in the show?” I whisper.
Samantha replies, “Yup.”
He inches closer.
“Jacob, say hello to Serenity. She’s getting married to Nico Pitucco today.”
He smiles wide. “Hello Serenity. Congratulations on your big day.”
His voice is deep and silky.
“Thank-thank you,” I stutter.
“Now that you’re joining the crew, I’m sure we’ll meet in person real soon,” he affirms.
I’m smiling so hard my face feels like it’s going to break.
“I look forward to meeting you. Meeting you both in person,” I add.
“Laughter kicks up around the room.”
“Girl, there’s a few wives in this room who have it bad for Jacob Latters,” Ryah confirms.
Samantha chuckles again. “I’m used to women looking at Jacob like he’s their first crush. As long as I’m the light in his eyes, I don’t care.” She winks at him.
“You’re it for me, baby. You know that.” He plants a kiss on her forehead before stepping away.
“Oh, I’m also the first assassin wife,” Samantha mentions.
My brows tug together. “Assassin wives?”
Samantha gives a rundown on the assassin wives.