by J. L. Drake
His mother strolled over and sat in the chair nearest him. “I know, and in time, I hope you can forgive him for what he asked you to do.”
There was a knock at the door and Arlo walked in.
“It’s time.” His enforcer was dressed also in a tux. He was like a brother and he needed the man he trusted most in the world beside him today. Roman knew that underneath his suit, the man was carrying at least two guns and a few knives. Would there be trouble today? Probably not, but one didn’t get to be old in his line of work without being careful.
“I’ll be right down.” Roman took a deep breath. Never had he been so nervous before. Facing down a deadly enemy seemed insignificant compared to this.
“I brought you this.” Arlo produced a glass from behind his back. “Just in case.”
Roman eagerly took it and tossed the drink down in one gulp. His mother and Arlo both found it funny, but it just pissed him off more. He hadn’t seen Madison in a week and it hurt like hell. It ached to think of her.
“Let’s get this over with.” He slammed the glass on a nearby table.
“Roman, you are supposed to enjoy your wedding.” His mother now stood in front of him with her arms across her chest.
“Weddings are for women. The wedding nights are for men.” He scoffed, wishing the whole fucking thing was over. His foul mood was getting the best of him. And then there were all the people he had to deal with afterwards. Make polite conversation with members of the Rinaldi family when all he wanted to do was punch them in the throat and seek out the woman he loved.
“Oh, Roman.” His mother put her arms around him. “Try to enjoy the ceremony. Forget everything that has happened and start everything over today. You have a beautiful woman waiting down there for you. Don’t leave her waiting too long.”
“Don’t worry. I will be on my best behavior.” Or at least try to be.
“Good.” She cupped his jaw in her palm and kissed his cheek. Arlo held his arm out for her and she accepted.
“We will see you downstairs.”
He nodded and wandered back to the window. The guests were all in their cloth covered chairs waiting for the ceremony to begin. The Rinaldis had spared no expense. Bruno’s daughter would have a wedding fit for a queen. If it had been up to him, his wedding would have been a private affair back in Genoa at Firenza and Madison would be by his side.
Swearing loudly, he shoved his arms in to his jacket and headed for the door.
***
Roman and his groomsmen stood at the front of the aisle while all the guests faced them. It felt a little like a lineup at the police station or a firing squad to him. The priest weaved back and forth at the center of the aisle. Perhaps Roman wasn’t the only one who’d had a drink before the show began. The sun gleamed above and white fully clouds floated by.
The ushers snapped out and rolled the white cloth runner for the wedding party to enter on. A couple of his cousins escorted the grandparents and parents of both families down the aisle and to their seats. His mother beamed as she walked down, trailed by his father. Roman avoided eye contact with the man, and seethed at seeing his face. Rinaldi’s new lady friend was escorted to her seat up front by one of his lieutenants. Her elaborate hat blocked the view of her face. He quickly turned his gaze away, annoyed at the world.
Music floated in the air, signaling the ceremony had started. A quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon in D. That was one of Madison’s favorite songs. The ache in his heart started anew and a forceful longing welled within him. A pair of geese flew overhead. They mated for life, but would he?
All eyes turned to the back as the wedding party started to filter out from the house. A flower girl, the daughter of one of Rinaldi’s captains, was greeted with smiles as she wandered down the white runner dropping peach colored flower petals from her basket. Behind her, the first of the bridesmaids started down the aisle, each of them dressed in a strapless peach color floor length gown and long ivory gloves. He didn’t know all of them and really didn’t give a shit who they were. He focused on what they wore to keep his mind on something before he went crazy.
The last bridesmaid bore such a resemblance to Madison that his heart jumped in his chest. They could have been twins. He tugged at his collar again and exhaled deeply. Valentina, the maid of honor, came next. His sister was stunning. Her peach dress was a little different than the others. It was off the shoulder with an extra layer of fabric that trailed behind her.
At the sight of his sister, Roman smiled for the first time and his heart warmed. Yes, Valentina had been with him through thick and thin. She was always the dramatic one so it only made sense that her dress would be distinctive. Valentina linked arms with Arlo as they promenaded the last few steps. Roman stepped forward to kiss her on the cheek.
The quartet finished Pachelbel’s song and started the wedding march. The tum, tum, ta, ta, tum reverberated in his ears, solidifying this as a done deal. This was it. There was no backing out now.
Everyone rose to their feet and held their phones and cameras close, hoping to get the first shot of the bride. Bruno Rinaldi came into view, his daughter’s hand tucked in the elbow of his arm. He beamed with happiness. At least someone was happy. The bride’s face was blurred by the extravagant veil she wore. Roman’s chest tightened. His fist flexed. This whole mess wasn’t her fault but he still felt anger and loss at the way things had played out.
Rinaldi and his daughter strolled slowly down the aisle. Guests strained to catch a glimpse of the bride. People oohed and ahhed. Nearing the end, Rinaldi stopped at his seat and gave the bride a hug. The man then accompanied his daughter closer and placed her trembling hand into his.
He whispered in Roman’s ear. “Hurt my daughter and I’ll kill you.”
Roman scoffed.
Bruno lifted his daughter’s veil and kissed her cheek. Her profile and rosy cheeks were familiar, and when the bride turned his way, Roman’s heart soared in disbelief. The eyes that stared directly at him were Madison’s, not Layla’s. A rocket of different emotions pummeled him. Happiness, relief, confusion…and most importantly, love.
His bride stared up at him with unshed tears in her eyes. Roman must have had shock written all over his face as Madison whispered, “I’ll explain later.”
Right now, he didn’t give a flying fuck what the reason was. All he cared about was that she was here beside him. He shook his head to clear the fog. Nothing mattered now except the woman beside him. He and Madison would be together forever.
The priest cleared his throat and they stepped in front of him. The ceremony was a blur as he only had eyes for his bride. She was a vision, a goddess. Her dark hair shimmered in the sunlight. Some of it was up in back with sexy ringlets framing her face. An image of what she might be wearing under the dress caused him to swallow and almost moan out loud. The dress she wore was one that she’d probably made herself. It was perfect and pure Madison.
He briefly admired the gown. The dress was obviously brand new but it could have been from a vintage couture collection. It was ivory lace covered with beads, crystals, and sequins. Not too many, but just enough to make it shimmer with her every movement. Instead of being strapless or off the shoulder like the others, hers was short sleeved with what he’d once heard her describe as a sweetheart neckline.
His mother insisted that he buy his bride a gift. The diamond necklace he’d sent to her room before the ceremony was now sparkling around her throat. Never had he dreamed that it would be for the one he truly loved. Had everyone known but him? He admired the rest of her gown. Her floor-length bridal dress hugged her curves and the small train was edged in more exquisite lace.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today….” The Priest’s voice became a dim sound. Roman was so elated and happy to be marrying the love of his life. Everyone stopped. Lost in his own thoughts, he realized the time had come.
He watched Madison hand her bouquet to Valentina to hold. Arlo nudged him and handed him a diamo
nd wedding band.
“Roman, do you take Madison to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.” He slipped the ring on her finger next to the large engagement ring he’d bought her.
“Do you, Madison, take Roman to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.” The words coming out of her mouth made his heart jump. I’m married to Madison. All he knew was that she was now his.
“You may kiss the bride.”
He leaned forward and stared into her eyes. They were luminescent and bright. It was different than any kiss they’d shared before. It was a kiss that promised devotion, honor, and love for all of eternity.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Roman
Roman did a double take at the woman next to his sister. The bridesmaid who resembled Madison was Layla. No wonder he didn’t know it was her at first. He’d never seen her smile before. Now the girl had a grin on her face as wide as Valentina’s. Stephanie was also part of the wedding party. The woman still hadn’t warmed up to him, but hopefully she would get there soon.
The rest of the day passed in a blur and it couldn’t be over soon enough. The receiving line had been full of handshakes, hugs, and best wishes. Their wedding cake was a mile high confection of peach and ivory flowers and the groom’s cake was a chocolate one from the coffee shop where he first met his bride. Not that he ever had any doubts about marrying Madison, but the way it had come about was nonetheless stressful.
“Okay, Mrs. Caponelli.” Roman loved the way that sounded when he referred to his new bride. “Please tell me again how this miracle happened?”
“Believe it or not, it was my mother who saved the day.” Her smile was breathtaking. “I guess many years ago, my mother and Bruno had a romance, but they’d parted ways.” She paused to watch the two they spoke about waltz across the dance floor. “Months later, when my mother found out she was pregnant with me, she’d gone back to tell Bruno. Unfortunately, the woman Rinaldi would eventually marry had turned her away at the door, telling Connie that the two were already engaged. Worrying that if he found out, they might try to take the child, she kept my existence a secret until now.”
If it weren’t for Connie confessing that Rinaldi was in fact Mr. Smith, Madison’s biological father, none of this would have taken place. His heart soared. Never in his life had he been so happy.
“It was a chance meeting years later, after Rinaldi’s first wife had passed away, that the two rekindled their romance. My mother hadn’t been traveling the world all this time, but secretly spending it with her long lost lover. Not only do I now have a father, but I’ve gained a sister as well. When I told her that you had to marry someone else, Mom left in a rush. I didn’t find out everything until a few hours before. Why she waited so long to tell me the news was a wonder, but at least it ended happily. Maybe Bruno needed some convincing first? I really don’t know and really don’t care.”
“I still can’t believe it. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“It happened so fast. Luckily, I had a dress to wear. Maybe they wanted to test your loyalty?”
“I doesn’t matter and I don’t care. All that’s important is that I have you.”
The two families were now united and the bride and groom were in love. It was a little faster than she wanted to get married but the end result was the same. He and Madison would be together forever. Roman had also, in some twisted way, kept his promise to his father.
Roman leaned against the wall and studied his guests. He admired his wife as she danced with her father. They had a lot of time to make up for.
The alpha part of Roman was mad at her father for being absent from her life, but there was no changing it.
“Everything is beautiful, Roman. Congratulations.” An aunt Roman barely ever saw gushed at him. He kissed her cheek and she walked toward the ladies’ room.
Arlo took a turn across the floor with Valentina, but he could have sworn the man had been watching his new sister-in-law, Layla, with more than casual interest. His eyes narrowed in bewilderment. Roman never really thought of Arlo with a woman. He was always so busy taking care of business it hadn’t occurred to him that the man needed the warmth and love of a good woman by his side too.
Connie filtered through the crowd of guests, appearing right in front of him. “You got what you wanted. Don’t mess it up.” Her ominous tone was understandable, but nothing could ruin today.
“I won’t,” Roman acquiesced, and leaned down to kiss his new mother-in-law on the cheek. She walked away and Dominic stepped up.
He spied Stephanie slumped at a table giving him her usual evil eye. It was going to take some time to get her to warm up to him. When she turned her attention to the man standing next to him, her expression changed.
“Congratulations,” Dominic yelled over the music.
“Thanks.” He draped his arm over Dom’s shoulder. “Let’s step outside for a moment. It’s getting stuffy in here.” It wasn’t, but he didn’t need extra ears listening to their talk.
“You missed the ceremony.” Roman handed him a cigar from his pocket. They clipped the ends of both their cigars, and he offered him a light.
Dominic inhaled the smoke and let it out slowly. “I had to take care of that business for you.”
He knew the reason he was late. That’s what he paid the guy for, to take care of business. Right now the body of Fenetti was probably at the bottom of Lake Michigan, never to be seen again, and if he knew Domonique’s technique, the man was probably in numerous pieces as well.
“And how did that go?”
“You won’t have to worry about that problem ever again.” Dominic rewarded him with a rare smile. The man was loyal to a fault, but cared about nothing and no one. That made him both valuable and frightening at the same time. He was lucky Dom was on his side and only his side.
“Good man.” He slapped him on the back. They stood smoking in silence. There was no more to be said.
After a few moments, Roman ushered him back to the ballroom. “Find a nice girl to dance with and have some fun.”
He just nodded and headed for the cake table. Roman observed Stephanie following him with her gaze. Arlo was now dancing with Layla. Rinaldi spun Connie around as Madison danced with his father again to a faster tune.
Taking a seat at an empty table, he took out his phone and grinned. Valentina had already posted some pictures from the wedding to her social media page. He looked at another post on her page and scratched his forehead. Why had his sister liked the page for the Genoa Police Department? Flipping to the page, there was a photo of Ryan Donovan with the force’s new K-9 dog. Donovan smiled at the camera as he kneeled by their newest dog.
“What are you doing over here all by yourself?” Madison leaned down to kiss his head and slid into the chair next to him. She had been torn from his side a few times to dance, so it was a comfort to have her back where she belonged.
“Just looking at some of the pictures Val posted from today.” His bride peeked over his shoulder.
“I don’t remember seeing any dogs and cops here.” She raised her eyebrows.
“I’m afraid for some reason, Valentina seems to have taken an interest in local law enforcement.”
“Now don’t get all in a knot, big brother. She’s going to be a lawyer, so it’s only natural that she’d want to keep up to date with what’s going on in town.”
He turned the phone off and slid it into his pocket. “Right now, the only thing that I’m interested in is you and seeing what you have on under this dress, my beautiful bride.” He nipped her lips and caressed her cheek. “But first I have a gift for you.”
“I don’t need any more gifts. The only thing I want is you.” She took his hand in both of hers. They had stopped shaking a long time ago and were warm to the touch. Her shiny diamond ring reflected the lights above.
“I think you’ll like this one. Come with me.” Roman rose and pulled out her chair. Together they weaved in and out
between the dancers to get to the stage.
Grabbing the microphone from the DJ, they thanked everyone for coming, made their excuses, and escaped to his car. There was one location he needed to show her first before whisking her off to the honeymoon.
***
Madison
It was a two hour drive back to Genoa and Madison had drifted off to sleep with the quiet hum and rocking of the car. Wiping the slumber from her eyes, she stretched and glanced out the window. “What are we doing here?”
“I told you I had one more gift for you and this is it.” Roman put the car in park.
She surveyed the damaged shell of the building that once housed the arts center and shook her head. “I don’t understand.” It wounded her heart to stare at the wreckage. It was such a tragedy. The place had been picturesque. “Why are we here?”
“When I first met you, you had a dream of becoming a designer and you gave that dream up for me.” He spoke softly and entwined her fingers with his.
“I’ll find a new dream,” she said.
“I found one for you.”
She tilted her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll find what I was meant to do in life.”
“I’m not worried about that, but you love this town.” He pointed with his other hand toward the rubble. “No one is a better person to represent the place and keep it the way it is. That’s why I bought you this building. Or, should I say, the land it sat on.”
Her eyes widened. “You did what?” She sat up straighter.
“You will oversee the construction and design of the new arts center, and the town’s new department of tourism and historical society.”
“Seriously?”
He smiled. “Yes, you can do whatever you want with it. It’s your canvas.”
“Oh, Roman.” Madison threw her arms around his neck. “It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me.” Her lips touched his and she hugged him close.
