Maneuver_Men of Inked_Southside

by Chelle Bliss

  “You did?” Delilah gazes at me, and I give her a nervous smile.

  I may have overstepped my bounds with that favor, but fuck her father, he did not deserve to keep the money which rightfully belonged to her.

  “Yes, and I received a letter of response yesterday along with proof that your bank account has been made whole again.”

  Delilah’s eyes widen as Sal slides the folder in front of her, peeling back the front to show her the deposit slip.

  At least the prick had enough sense to give her every dollar back. I wasn’t going to let a sleeping dog lie. He was going to pay her back one way or another, but I’m glad it only took a strongly worded letter to scare him into action.

  She runs her fingers over the paper, staring at the number. “I can’t believe it. I don’t know how to thank you both for everything.”

  “No thanks needed,” Sal says, taking the words right out of my mouth. “It’s always nice to help someone who deserves it.”

  Delilah’s eyes are filled with tears, and she’s so choked up she can’t say another word.

  “I’m going to take my girls to lunch to celebrate,” I say as I stand and hold out my hand to shake, thanking Sal for his help.

  He comes around the table, capturing me in a giant bear hug. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d go all soft on me, buddy. It suits you.”

  I don’t even grumble. There’s nothing in the world that can bring me down from the high of knowing I’ll be gaining a daughter and, hopefully soon, a wife too.

  Lulu’s asleep in the stroller next to the table. She’s worn out from the excitement of earlier. The sun’s shining overhead as we sit on the patio at the Park Grill overlooking Grant Park.

  My finger’s in my pocket, and I’m fiddling with the diamond ring I picked out yesterday with a little help from Angelo. I went overboard, but I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t want Delilah walking around with a shitty ring. No matter how many times someone says size doesn’t matter, I know it’s a crock of bullshit.

  “Champagne,” the waitress says, holding out the bottle to us for approval.

  “It’s perfect,” I tell her before she pours two glasses.

  “I can’t believe we’re celebrating,” Delilah says, and she still hasn’t come down from the high of earlier.

  “I was worried for a second,” I admit.

  The entire thing could’ve blown up in my face. Delilah could’ve shot me down, going on with our relationship just as it had been. Other people would think we’re crazy. We’ve only known each other a few weeks, but I can’t imagine letting her or Lulu walk out of my life at this point.

  “I’m sorry I scared you.” She touches the base of the champagne flute and gazes at me from under her lashes. “I was just so in shock.”

  I know what I’m about to do is going to be another shock to her system, and I pray to God she says yes. We’re both in too good of a mood to have something destroy the happiness we both deserve.

  I’m almost certain she’ll say yes. I’ve never seen her smile as easily as she does with me. When she first showed up at the bar, she was an entirely different person. It took a little time for her to relax and open up, but once she did, there was no turning back.

  A noise across the way draws Delilah’s attention, and I know it’s my one shot to surprise her. I slide to my knee and pull the ring from my pocket before she turns back around.

  When she looks across the table and I’m not there, she almost panics. But when she sees me… God, when she sees me on one knee, holding a giant ring that’s sparkling in the sun like a beacon, her eyes widen and she gasps.

  “Ms. Delilah Miles, would you do me the honor of being my wife?” I say quickly because I know she’s about to cry again, and hell, I might too.

  My heart’s pounding, and all the voices around us seem to quiet. Everyone’s watching, waiting with bated breath as I kneel before her, praying she’ll say yes.

  “Fuck. Are you kidding me?” she says.

  “No jokes, sweetheart. I’ve never loved another person more than I love you. All I think about every day is you and Lulu. The only place I want to be is by your side. I want you to be mine forever. I want to marry you in front of my family and God. I can’t imagine another day on this planet without you.”

  “Yes! Yes! Oh my God. Yes!” she yells, and the tears start falling as I slide the ring onto her finger.

  She doesn’t even look at it or notice the size. I agonized for hours over the perfect one. Learning everything I could about cut, clarity, and all the other bullshit that comes along with diamonds.

  She leans forward and wraps her hands around my neck. “I love you, Lucio. I want nothing more than to be yours forever.”

  The people sitting around us clap and smile, feeling the excitement in the moment. Engagements always make people happy, even if they’re miserable in their own lives.

  I pull her into my arms and know this is meant to be.

  23

  Delilah

  “Lemme see,” Daphne says as soon as we walk through the front door of the bar.

  I hold out my hand and wiggle my finger, showing her the extravagant ring Lucio bought for me. I would’ve been happy with a small rock. Size never really mattered to me. How could it when I have a guy like Lucio by my side?

  “It’s so beautiful.” She stares at the ring, bringing my hand closer to her face. “He did damn good. I’m impressed.”

  “Where is she?”

  I turn as Betty comes down the stairs with the biggest smile on her face. She’s wearing the most magnificent black-and-white polka-dot dress with her hair styled like a 1950’s pinup. She’s absolutely stunning and smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen before.

  “There’s my girl,” she says, holding out her arms. For a second, I think she’s going for Lulu, but when she wraps her arms around me, I can’t help but smile. “You’ve made me so happy.” She pulls back and grabs my cheeks. “So, so happy.”

  Lucio clears his throat, getting his mother’s attention. “I wouldn’t let you down, Ma.”

  She pats his chest, always proud of her son. “I never had any doubt, baby. Now let me see my granddaughter.”

  “Ma, it’s not official yet.”

  She rolls her eyes as she takes Lulu from my arms. “I don’t need a court to tell me she’s one of my own.” Lulu laughs, grabbing for those pearls again, just as attached to Betty as she was the very first time she held her.

  “When’s the wedding?” Daphne asks, almost chomping at the bit to know more.

  “I don’t know.” I look to Lucio because we haven’t even talked about when we’ll actually say I do.

  “As soon as possible,” he answers easily.

  “We must book the church immediately. No child of mine is getting married at city hall. Father Michael must be the one to marry you.”

  “I’ll let you ladies plan everything,” Lucio says and shakes Angelo’s hand as soon as he walks over.

  “Finally growing up,” Angelo teases him. “Locked it down like I told you.”

  “Locked it down?” I ask.

  Lucio leans over and kisses my cheek. “Made sure I never let you go, sweetheart.”

  “Oh.” I laugh. It’s a bit cavemanish, but I kind of like it.

  Angelo grabs Lucio by the shoulder and announces to everyone, “My brother’s getting married. Beer’s on the house.”

  The few regulars, people I’ve come to truly like, erupt into cheers, congratulating us on our upcoming wedding; although they are probably more excited about the free drinks.

  “There’s so much to do.” Daphne grabs me by the arm and ushers me to a nearby table. “Dresses, reception, invitations.”

  “We can keep it small. I don’t really have anyone to invite.” The words sting a little, but besides my father and mother, there’s no one left in my family who hasn’t been driven away.

  “Girl, our family is huge.”

  “How big?” I ask.

&nb
sp; “Between the cousins, we’re talking well over a hundred people.”

  My mouth falls open, and all I can do is blink. “For real?”

  “Italians always show up at weddings.”

  “Always?”

  “Always. I can bet my mother is going to invite everyone from the neighborhood, then we have the customers, and the family too. It’s going to be enormous.”

  I’m suddenly nervous, thinking about all the strangers staring at me as I walk down the aisle. “Maybe we should just keep it small. Do it right here in the bar.” I like my idea. It sounds simple and more intimate.

  “Don’t be crazy. We have a wedding shower to plan and so much to do. You’re going to look like a princess on your big day,” Daphne tells me, and my mind’s reeling from all the information she’s hurling at me.

  I was so excited about the engagement, I didn’t even think about all the things that would come with it.

  “I’m planning the bachelorette party,” Michelle says, coming to sit with us finally.

  “I’ll let you, but you better make it good.”

  I smile because I don’t know what else to do.

  I’m so overwhelmed by their love and excitement I can’t even talk anymore. I just look around the bar, watching their happy faces and know I’ve found my forever home.

  Michelle places her hand over mine as I watch Daphne walk away. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Just overwhelmed.”

  “The Gallos don’t do anything small, but I promise we’ll be there to help. Don’t get scared. You’re about to be part of something amazing.”

  “I know,” I tell her, and my smile comes easily. “I’ve never been so happy in my whole life.”

  “Daphne and I have been planning our weddings since we were kids. We’re excited about this and hope we can help you.”

  “Of course. I want your help in everything.”

  I don’t even know where to start. After watching my parents’ marriage end in spectacular fashion, I never thought I’d be willing to take the plunge. I didn’t have the best role models, and the thought of making the same mistakes scares the shit out of me.

  “Do you want to postpone the wedding?” Lucio’s standing in the doorway to my bedroom, watching me.

  “No. Why would you ask that?”

  He walks across the room and sits next to me on the bed. “We can elope, then.”

  “We can’t do that.”

  He grabs my hand and kisses my fingers. “You seem overwhelmed.”

  I stare at him and smile. “I am, but I’ve also never been more certain about anything in my life either.”

  “What can I do to make this easier for you?”

  God, how is he always so great? So patient. So understanding. “My parents were a terrible example, and”—I lean over and put my head on his shoulder—“what if we mess the entire marriage thing up?”

  He turns on the bed and grabs my face between his giant hands. “Listen, sweetheart. My parents were basically a shitshow most of my life. I know how my mom talks, you’d think they had the type of love you only see in movies, but it’s not true. I never want to be like my father. Never.”

  “His actions don’t define who you are,” I tell him as I place my hands on his thighs.

  “And neither do your parents.”

  He has a point.

  He slides his hands to my shoulders, and he strokes my neck with his thumbs. “I promise to love you and only you. I’ve always been so scared to commit to someone because I thought I’d be like my father, but I know now, I’m nothing like him.”

  “I’m nothing like mine,” I say.

  “Even though my father wasn’t the best partner, he was a great dad.”

  “Neither of my parents was spectacular in any area of their life.”

  “But you’re an amazing mother,” he tells me, and I smile, happy someone has noticed.

  “Thank you, Lucio.”

  He turns his eyebrows inward. “For what?”

  “For everything.”

  “Sweetheart.” He pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around me. “Don’t thank me. I should be thanking you. Until you showed up, my life was empty.”

  “Looked pretty full to me,” I say and giggle.

  He peers down at me and shakes his head. “I’m being serious.” His finger finds the engagement ring and moves it. “I never let myself get close to anyone. Never had any real connection. But then this scared girl turned up, and nothing else mattered but keeping her and her baby safe.”

  “So, we were basically a pity case?” I’m totally joking. Well. Sort of.

  “I wouldn’t ask you to be my wife out of pity. I’ve never loved another person as much as I love you.”

  I sit up straighter and slide my arms around his shoulders. “I love you too, and I don’t want to postpone the wedding. I want to be married to you more than anything in the world.”

  He tightens his hold and presses his lips against my forehead. “As soon as the adoption paperwork is ready, we’ll get married. I’ll talk to Sal and find out when everything should happen, and we’ll plan around it. I don’t want to waste another day without you being mine.”

  I peer up into his beautiful green eyes. “I am yours, silly.”

  “Forever,” he tells me before he moves his face closer and steals my breath in a devastating kiss.

  All doubt. All worry. Everything disappears as his mouth covers mine. I know where I’m meant to be. Whom I’m meant to be with. Nothing else matters. The past is the past, but our future is just beginning.

  Epilogue

  Lucio

  Three Months Later…

  My palms are sweaty, and my heart’s pounding so hard I’m sure the entire church can hear the crazy rhythm over the piano music. When the church doors open and Delilah steps out on Angelo’s arm, my heart practically stops for a second before beating faster than before.

  She looks stunning in the all-white gown with her hair pulled up off her shoulders and the lace veil down over her face. I can’t take my eyes off her as she makes her way up the aisle, almost floating over the hardwood.

  When she steps up to the altar and I pull back the veil, revealing her tearful but happy face, a sense of bliss comes over me. It’s like the entire room disappears, and only Delilah and I exist.

  Her hands are in mine as we stand in front of the altar, listening to the priest. The entire church is filled with our family and friends, dabbing at the tears in their eyes as we say our vows.

  I haven’t taken my eyes off Delilah since the moment she walked into the church. How could I? She’s everything I ever wanted but never knew I needed. I can’t imagine a day without her or Lulu in my life. My heart’s filled with so much joy, I’m not even sure how I can stand as still as I am.

  I turn to Angelo on cue and take the ring from his finger. He smiles, but his eyes are teary too, maybe remembering the day he married Marissa. I touch his hand before I turn back around, and he nods, giving me the sign to move on.

  The platinum band seems too small as I hold it between my two fingers to face Delilah, one step closer to her finally being my wife.

  The priest clears his throat, reminding me of what we rehearsed last night. I slide the ring onto Delilah’s finger, staring into her eyes as I see my future come to life. “Repeat after me,” he says quietly.

  “Delilah, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  I don’t speak right away. My fingers are holding the ring and Delilah’s hand as I stare into her sparkling blue eyes. “Delilah, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  She bites her lip, holding back the tears I know are about to fall again, only harder this time. Even I can feel my nose tingle, but I take a deep breath, pushing any tears away.

  Delilah turns toward Daphne and takes the ring from my sister. She�
��s smiling when she faces me again, looking more confident and beautiful than I’ve ever seen before. I glance to my mother, who’s holding Lulu in her arms. My daughter.

  “Repeat after me. Lucio, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” the priest says again as Delilah touches my hand.

  She keeps her eyes on me as she starts to slide the ring on my finger. “Lucio, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  I squeeze her hands, wondering if that feeling of peace washes over her like it does me in that moment. We’ve said our vows before the eyes of God and my entire family. Even though the priest hasn’t said the words, we’re officially husband and wife.

  We kneel, waiting for the silent blessing, and our hands are connected. I can’t stop turning the ring on my finger, still a little shocked that I’m married. I’m not scared for the future. Not worried I’ll mess up like my father anymore.

  I sneak a glance at Delilah, and she has her head bowed, but she’s watching me too. The mass seems to take forever when all I want to do is take my wife out of this place so I can show her exactly how much I love her.

  “Please stand,” the priest says, closing the bible in his hands as soon as he’s done with the prayer. He nods at us when it’s time to face the crowd.

  I smile at Delilah, happier than I’ve ever been as we turn toward our family and friends while they rise to their feet too.

  “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Lucio Giovanni Gallo. You may now kiss the bride.”

  I know my mother’s praying I keep it tasteful. And while I want to abide by her wishes in theory, the ceremony has been entirely too long, and I’m dying to give my wife a real kiss. One that she’ll remember forever. One that’s bigger and better than any I’ve given her before.

  As Delilah turns toward me, I place my hand against her neck, sweeping my thumb across her cheek as I wrap my arm around her back. She stares at me, tears hovering in her eyes as I lean in. She holds her breath, and I hold mine as I pull her close and fuse our mouths together.