Emilia: Part 2 (Trassato Crime Family Book 4)

by Lisa Cardiff

  We didn’t really have the money to hire any more help, but the second I saw you, standing at my door nervous, sad, and so mysterious, I grabbed onto you with both hands. You were the ONE, at least that’s what I thought, and I manipulated you into marrying me when part of me suspected your heart belonged to someone else.

  I rolled the dice anyway, and it bit me in the ass. I thought I could make you love me, love the ranch, and love my life. Within months, I realized my error. You cried for him, whispered his name in your sleep more than once. I don’t think I need to memorialize his name here. I’m sure you know who I’m talking about.

  At first I convinced myself it was just a dream. Then I realized he was the reason why you would never give our marriage a chance. I encouraged you to move into another room. We continued our life and focused on rebuilding the ranch. I pretended I was fine being friends. Inside I was dying. I hated you.

  That’s when Lucca Bonaccorso showed up. I took his deal, partly thinking it would give me a way to keep the ranch alive forever and partly because I thought it would finally sever your connection to your past and that man.

  Then Vicki came into my life, and her love and acceptance replaced the anger, frustration, and hatred I hid from you. That’s when I knew I couldn’t go through with taking the money from Lucca and tricking you into signing the rest of it away.

  Anyway, this letter is my way of saying I’m sorry for keeping you when you weren’t mine. I’m sorry for trying to steal something from you when you did nothing to deserve my anger. You never promised me anything except friendship. I said I didn’t want anything except your friendship. I lied, and I’m sorry for everything.

  Remember when I said we’d be honest with each other if one of us found someone else? Well, that’s what I want for us. I want us to be happy and finally move on. Go home and get your forever guy. I found my forever girl.

  Yours,

  Gavin

  Tears slid down my face. I crushed the letter into my fist and tossed it into the fireplace. “Goodbye, Gavin.” It killed me that he didn’t get his happily ever after with Vicki, and I’d always feel responsible for latching onto him when I should have gone home and faced my life.

  “Are you ready?” my dad asked from the doorway of his study.

  I wiped away the last of my tears and smoothed the white silk of my wedding dress. “Yes.”

  I threaded my arms through my dad’s. “You know, it’s never too late to change your mind. If you tell me you don’t want to marry Marcello, I will smuggle you out the front door and send you anywhere you want. You’re what matters most to me.”

  I laughed because the old Dominick Trassato would have never said such a thing. “No, I’m good. I’m marrying the love of my life.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “Good.” He took two steps. “Oh, and I have a message from Sal.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think I want to hear it.”

  “It’s not bad.” He guided me to the back door of our house. I could hear the strains of music floating through the air. A canopy of twigs and white flowers hung over the altar. Marcello stood at the end of the aisle in a black tux and white tie.

  “Fine, but this is the last time I want to hear his name.”

  “He said tell her ‘Ciao, tesoro. Vivere una vita bella.’” Goodbye, darling. Live a beautiful life.

  He’d said something similar the first time we kissed under the tree in my backyard, the same yard where I was marrying Marcello today. I guess his message meant he didn’t have any hard feelings. I didn’t either. I had moved on, and hopefully he had too.

  “He isn’t coming, right?”

  “No, something came up in California.”

  I nodded absently, my mind already back on the man waiting for me, waiting for our life to begin.

  My dad opened the back door. The music switched to the wedding march. I heard the rustle of guests standing. I didn’t notice anything except Marcello. Before I blinked three times, my dad and I had reached the end of the aisle. He kissed me on my cheek and handed me over to my future.

  Marcello leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I guess the ultimatum stuck.”

  “Of course it did. I love you.”

  With our hands locked together, Marcello and I promised each other forever and always, and I got everything I wanted.

  The ceremony, ring, flowers, and dress, but the only thing that mattered was the man.

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks much for picking up this book. It took me much longer than I expected to finish it. I’m sorry I left so many people waiting for a conclusion, but unexpected events sometimes gets in the way of writing. Anyway, I wanted to thank some really great people for helping me:

  Chris for helping with too many things to count.

  Felicia A. Sullivan for editing this book and giving me valuable, honest opinions.

  Limitless Publishing for being so accommodating.

  And of course, to all the readers, bloggers, and reviewers who took the time to read this book. Your support and feedback make all the time staring at my computer screen worthwhile!

  About The Author

  After spending years practicing law and running a real estate development company with her husband, Lisa decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer and she must confess that inventing characters is so much more fun than writing contracts and legal briefs. A native of Colorado, she lives with her husband and three children in Denver. When she isn’t managing the chaos of raising three children and owning her own business, she can be found reading or writing a book or tinkering in her garden.

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/lcardiff11

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/lcardiff_author

  Website:

  http://lisacardiff.com/

  Goodreads:

  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7692079.Lisa_Cardiff

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