CHAPTER NINE
Way too merciful
— CLEMENTE —
I watch how Arturo and Leandro wrap the rope around Daniel’ legs, making sure everything is tight before they cut him from the chair and start to pull him up to make him hang upside down from the beam.
They made sure to wrap another rope around his torso to keep his arms pinned to his body. He looks like a cocooned caterpillar.
If my woman wasn’t here with me, my hands would be washed in Daniel’s blood. But the way Rina suggested this asshole comes to his end is actually very fitting. It will take hours and it’s not much work for us.
In fact, we can get married while he, so to say, hangs in there. We might not have hours and hours because this way of dying isn’t very predictable. It all depends on the person in question and Daniel’ body already has injuries.
Two bullet wounds have weakened his body. And hanging upside down with all his insides pressing on his lungs and heart won’t make him last long. And I didn’t even mention the blood rushing to his head and putting pressure on his brain. Yes, all of it is a suitable choice in this situation.
I check my watch. “Two, three hours tops. We could check before the reception and again after. It would keep our hands clean.”
Arturo nods. “I have a soldier waiting outside. He can keep an eye on everything and call when needed. I’ll give him the necessary instructions. But like you mentioned, this keeps our hands clean. It’s easy enough this way.”
“Let’s go, folks. We have a wedding to attend.” Leandro points at the exit and we all head out.
The soldier Arturo mentioned takes watch while we hit the road.
Regretfully dropping off Rina at my sister’s house where Gracy, Donya, and Flora are waiting.
The women need to get ready while all I have to do is change into my tux.
Though we chose to have a small wedding, there will be around one hundred and fifty people at the reception.
I couldn’t care less who will be there. As long as the woman who managed to steal my heart will be standing at the altar waiting for me.
She will truly be mine in a few hours. In this hard world I have thought many times I’d be better off alone.
If I would have to take a wife for traditions I was raised in, I would agree.
But I would follow through in traditions by keeping her at a distance. Clearly things worked out differently.
And once I’m standing here in this church, reality does finally sink in. I never expected the woman thrown my way to be one who completes the life I already deemed fulfilled. So many things to say and yet the words I want her to know aren’t in the vows I just gave her.
In a church filled with friends, family, most of the members of the Famiglia, we give each other the words connecting us until death do us part. I’m fully facing the most gorgeous woman who makes me complete. Though everything surrounding us falls away when my lips brush hers.
Gently at first but her lips part as a silent invitation and I damn well accept. My tongue swoops in and starts a sensual dance with hers. My hands slide over the white, slightly transparent silk of her dress that’s perfectly embroidered with flowers.
My eyes fall shut and she completely consumes me. I grip her ass and am about to grind my pelvis against her but there’s a rough slap on my back ripping me out of my moment. I pull back and Leandro is grinning at me.
“Way over a hundred people here, boss. They came here for a show but not the peep one you’re about to give ‘em. But congrats. You got the girl.” He winks and adds another slap on my back.
I glance down at Rina. Lips swollen from our kiss, face flushed, minimal make-up but all the natural beauty a woman can possess.
“You are mine,” I tell her.
The hand where my ring is wrapped around her finger gently moves up and cups the side of my face.
“I am. And you’re mine now too,” she says with a hint of ferocity and it lights a soothing feeling in my chest.
“Okay, let’s wrap this up so you two can get some alone time,” Donya says from behind Rina and it makes everyone around us chuckle.
I lace our fingers and practically drag her out of that church.
Probably for the better since my thoughts are so damn dirty they might light the place on fire.
For a split second I contemplate if I should turn the corner and dive into one of the tiny rooms and bury myself deep inside her.
That’s how she’s managed to twist me into a lust filled haze.
It’s turning into quite the obsession and it might have been driven into overdrive when I thought I lost her when I walked into that bathroom and saw all the blood surrounding her and Mattia.
Mere minutes ago, we made our vows and yet, I don’t feel tied down. I feel as if there has always been a heavy foot pressing on my chest, holding me back. And now it’s gone. For the first time in my life I feel as if the next breath I take completely fills my lungs and this woman is the reason.
Maybe it’s as simple as clearing your head and having everything fall into place and yet this feels like there’s more to it. My father only ever truly loved one woman. Sadly enough, that woman wasn’t my mother. I’ve heard him talk about it countless times and yet I never understood.
He adored my mother but the arranged marriage made it happen. It’s what made me happen. But before he was sent to Italy for an arranged marriage he grew up in the US and fell in love with Gracy’s mother. He never knew she was pregnant.
I don’t know if things would have been different if he knew because in this Famiglia there are obligations. Then again, it doesn’t make a difference since we can’t change the past. Eyes on the fucking future and when I look into the eyes of my wife, I know she might be better off without me.
Being married to the head of the Famiglia who runs the underworld of California already put her life at risk once.
But fuck if I will ever let her go. She’s mine and I will completely possess her.
Body. Mind. Fucking soul. And balls deep until she screams my name to let the universe know I’m never letting go.
Fucking hell I’m turning into a pussy with a romantic streak and yet I don’t fucking care because I have my woman. She’s mine. My wife and a damn good match for me in every way. Fuck being alone. Fuck ruling alone. And fuck everyone who ever threatens to take this woman away from me.
Her giggle prevents me from deepening the kiss and I bury my head into the crook of her neck instead.
“I wish I could let go. Give in to all the thoughts in my head because I’m dying to put my head between your legs and suck on your pussy.
Taste your orgasm on my tongue before I feel your walls surround my cock.
I need you so badly right now. We’ve waited too fucking long already. ”
Her chest rises and falls against me. Our bodies are so damn close.
“Boss,” Arturo growls. “Something’s wrong. We need to get you out of here. Fast!”
The limo appears and comes to a screeching halt. Gian jumps out.
“Get in,” is all he says and Rina bundles up her dress and jumps inside.
I get in along with Donya and Arturo.
“Leandro is instructing the capos as we speak. Most of the guests already left a few minutes ago. Fucking easy to clear out a church but what a mess to explain. Though some might think it’s part of the whole mafia marriage.
Fuck.” Arturo rubs a hand over the back of his neck.
“I have no clue if it was needed but when I saw Fredo get up and high speed out, then getting a call from that soldier I put on Daniel, mentioning how a group of men were rushing out of the warehouse guns in hand...I just didn’t fucking trust any of it. ”
“Can you rewind and go slow? You’re not making any sense,” Rina snaps, and I have to agree.
Donya has a panicked look on her face and her hands are shaking. She’s clearly scared while my woman is pissed. Arturo reaches out and covers Donya’s hands with his.
“My phone started to ring. I didn’t pick up right away since my attention was on Fredo who I saw rushing out of the church right after you left.
And when I picked up while watching him disappear, the soldier I put on guard to keep an eye on Daniel told me a group of men just hit the warehouse.
I gave him direct orders if anyone besides us came near the warehouse, he was already hiding when they came in.
They saw Daniel was dead and headed out quickly.
I ended the call and made a split-second decision to get everyone out of church.
What if their next stop was here? Easy as fuck targets with only one entrance to get those men inside and start shooting up the place. I might have overreacted, but—”
“Fuck, no,” I snap. “Good call. And make sure to cancel the reception, we’re not taking any chances.”
“Wait,” Rina chimes in. “Did you just say Daniel was dead? He should still be alive since only a few hours have passed.”
Arturo shakes his head. “I gave direct orders. If something turned fishy the soldier had the all clear to put a bullet in Daniel’ head. No exceptions. No escape. No fucking chance that asshole was ever going to walk out of that warehouse alive.”
My eyes slide to Donya. Her gaze is set on the window, clearly distracting her mind instead of focusing on the discussion in here.
Being in this world sometimes gives you a choice.
For women it’s the arranged marriage that takes her choice away, but ignoring the violence and dirty side of the Famiglia is a choice Donya is clearly making to feel more comfortable.
Again, I let myself feel like I was granted a fucking dream with Rina. Even if she had a hard time going through her first confrontation with getting washed in blood. But the way she’s holding herself since then is the strong woman I now have at my side.
The woman currently muttering underneath her breath, “A bullet to the head. Way too merciful if you ask me.”