A Carpino Series Collection, Books 1-3

by Brynne Asher

  After sliding on her other shoe, she stands and starts to move before shrieking, “Tony. Quit sneaking up on me.”

  I don’t apologize because I can’t talk from seeing her from the front. Her dress hugs every contour of her body with another V in the front dipping low, giving her more of a cleavage than I know she really has. The neckline is wide, barely hanging on her shoulders, and is fitted to her elbows. The blue is perfect on her fair skin and makes her emerald eyes stand out brighter than normal. Her hair falls around her face as usual but with a little more curl and her makeup is a bit heavier.

  “Tony?”

  I don’t move from my spot in the doorway. “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful. I’ll never forget this moment, Leigh. Ever.”

  She pulls in a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  “Tomorrow’s here.”

  “It is tomorrow,” she agrees.

  “You know I love you.”

  She tips her head while giving me a little frown. “Yes.”

  “I have to tell you something before we go.”

  “You’re acting weird. What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want to tell you, especially not today. Not now.”

  “Honey—” she starts to move toward me but I put my hand up, halting her in her spot.

  “I received an anonymous letter yesterday. Not just a letter, a threat. It was meant for me but it was all about you.”

  She frowns. “What do you mean, ‘a threat’?”

  “It was a note, threatening to take you away from me.”

  “What?” she asks on a breath.

  “Because I took something from them,” I finish.

  She immediately turns her head to the side while wrapping her arms around her middle. Shaking her head slowly like she’s trying to make sense of it, she finally jerks her gaze back to me. “But you didn’t take me away from Preston.”

  “I know. Maybe he sees it differently.”

  “You said he’ll go to jail if he violates his probation.”

  “He will.”

  “He signed the plea yesterday. Why would he do this now?”

  “I have all the same questions. But for now, I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself and I’ll need to talk to security at the hospital before you go to work tomorrow since I’m sure you’ll insist on going to work.”

  “I can’t go anywhere by myself?” She’s shocked by my demand.

  “No.”

  “Maybe you misunderstood. Let me see it,” she demands.

  “No.”

  “No, you didn’t misunderstand or no I can’t see it?” Her voice is hard, giving away her frustration.

  “No to both.”

  “Why not?” she asks, well on her way to being pissed.

  “Because it’s killing me to tell you any of this and I don’t want you to have that visual in your head.” I do my best to even my voice before telling her the rest. “Leigh, there were pictures.”

  “Pictures of what?” she demands, all the way to pissed now.

  “Pictures of you. Some of you and me together. All from Sunday. Someone was following you outside your apartment when you were alone and us walking Fin.”

  I see her body almost jerk with surprise and she reaches out to hold onto the dresser. She takes a moment, processes it and all of a sudden, her face turns hard. “Wait. When did you get this threat?”

  I answer immediately. “Yesterday.”

  Her voice rises. “Yes, you said that already. When yesterday?”

  I narrow my eyes, not wanting to tell her but do it anyway. “Yesterday morning.”

  Pulling herself up to full height she bites out my name. “Before or after you insisted we get married, Tony?”

  After a beat, I feel my jaw get hard. “Before.”

  I see her take in what seems like the biggest breath she’s ever taken. She’s pissed I kept this from her, which I knew she would be. She’s probably feeling controlled, managed, and everything horrific she’s felt the last four years before she was with me. I’ve never wanted to make her feel that way, but I’m not sorry I’ve kept it from her, and won’t apologize for keeping her safe.

  “Gem.”

  She immediately looks down and to the side avoiding me.

  “Look at me, Leigh,” I demand.

  She finally turns her hard face, full of anger, while trying to hide her hurt.

  Standing across the room, still in our original positions, I try to convey my message. “This should be no surprise to you. I told you I would support you in whatever you want, whatever you need, unless I was worried about your safety. Well, I’m worried about your safety. We came together with checkered pasts. Four months ago, I was shot, so it goes without saying, when I come home from running at seven in the morning and find a threat on my doorstep with photos of the woman I love—the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, the woman I plan on making babies with—that’s going to set me off. I will always do what I think is necessary to keep you safe, I don’t care how pissed you get. When I read a note yesterday that only contained a few words but was big enough, massive enough to threaten to take away everything I want in this world, all I could do was see you in my head. I saw you bruised, battered, swollen, and broken in every way. I could feel you shaking in my arms again from the nightmares you couldn’t escape. I saw the shell of yourself you became after being at the hands of that man. And to learn someone was following you, watching you? That you were exposed to some sick fuck who wants to hurt you when you’re by yourself? That someone could mark your body and soul again—causing you pain? The thought of you experiencing any pain makes me crazy, Leigh. The only reason I’m telling you now is because when I stand before you and God to make you mine, I want nothing between us.”

  Looking more exasperated than anything, she exhales and shakes her head. “You should have told me yesterday.”

  “Maybe so. But when I walked in to tell you yesterday, you looked happy, healthy, sitting in my kitchen in my shirt while talking to your dog and I decided I couldn’t wait another day to have you forever. You can’t deny it, Leigh. I would have married you eventually but after coming home to that threat on my doorstep, I couldn’t make that happen fast enough. If I could have married you yesterday, I would have.”

  “But getting married isn’t the way to deal with this. This isn’t something to rush into.”

  “I disagree. I won’t apologize for how I handled it and not telling you. This is me. This is who I am and what you can expect from me as a husband. I think I’ve proven I will not control you or your life. You know I love you. In an hour I hope you’ll let me prove to you how much I love you and want to keep you safe forever. It’s up to you, but it’s time to decide what you want. I’ll be waiting for you.” I pin her to the spot while watching her war with her own head.

  Not wanting to, but doing it anyway, I turn to move out of the doorway, leaving her to make her choice.

  I can’t blame her for being pissed and I can’t make her marry me today. I can only hope she sees where I’m coming from. I lean against the counter and wait.

  I wait.

  And I wait.

  I’m sure my head is causing time to stand still, but I swear it’s been forever. I drop my head thinking this is it. It was too much and she either doesn’t trust me or she’s not ready.

  The clicking of spiked heels on wood floors make me jerk my head up and I see her moving out of the bedroom with guarded and carefully blank emerald eyes. I watch her walk, loving the way she moves, and pray today is the day I get to watch her move toward me like that for the rest of my life. As she brings her graceful body to me—almost eye to eye in her heels—she puts a hand flat against my chest and looks at me a beat. Finally, she leans in slowly to put her lips on mine.

  She pulls back enough where I can still feel her words on my lips. “We don’t want to be late.”

  I lean my forehead against hers in relief.

  “Tony.”

 
I raise my hands to her hips, pulling her close.

  She goes on. “Please don’t keep anything from me again. Even for a day. You can protect me all you want, but keeping things from each other? That isn’t us,” she says, throwing my words back at me.

  I lean into kiss her one more time. “Fair enough.”

  “Fair enough,” she agrees. “You ready to be my husband?”

  “I can’t wait, Leigh.”

  She gives me a smile. “Well then. We should go. I don’t want to give you too much time to think about who your mother-in-law is going to be. I’ll be the one having to convince you to marry me.”

  “Sweetheart, it’s just a bonus marrying you on the sly that I don’t have to deal with Sheila today.”

  “Shall we go?” she asks.

  “Yeah.” I kiss my soon to be wife one more time before she’s officially mine.

  Leigh

  “Wait? You’re getting married? Now?” Gabby’s voice is way too loud for the tiny old chapel we are standing in the back of.

  “You’re serious?” Jude asks.

  “Who else knows?” Gabby keeps on.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Jude asks, but is looking straight at Tony.

  “Jude,” Gabby admonishes smacking him in the arm then turns back to Tony. “Your parents don’t know?”

  “It’s genius,” Jude says again to Tony. “And I get to wear jeans to your wedding.”

  “Would you stop,” Gabby smacks him on the arm again making Jude grin. She turns back to me. “You’re really doing this?”

  I look over to Tony who pulls me into his side. Looking back down at Gabby, I say, “I hope your family doesn’t hate me.”

  Still looking shocked beyond belief, she says raising her eyebrows. “They won’t hate you, although I’m pretty sure they’ll hold a grudge against Tony for a while. But I doubt he’ll care.”

  “Tony?” We all turn toward the front of the church to see Tony’s family pastor, Mark, standing in business casual attire holding a well-read Bible. “Shall we?”

  Tony takes my hand and we walk to the front of the church. I met Mark when he married Gabby and Jude just a few short weeks ago. He knows the Pastor of this little chapel on the out skirts of town and recommended it to Tony. He thought it would be quaint and cozy for a wedding with only two guests.

  It’s beautiful and if I had the time to search all of Omaha, I would’ve chosen it myself. The floors are old wood and distressed from years of wear. The stained-glass windows running down the outside aisles are shining brightly from the sun casting a luminous glow for our noontime wedding. At the front of the church looks to be an old cross you can tell wasn’t purchased or ordered for the space. Instead it looks beautifully handcrafted, but not perfectly so—probably made by a church member. The whole place is simple but charming and definitely me.

  “You’re sure about all this? I’m sorry to keep asking, but this is quite unconventional and I want to make sure you’ve thought this through,” he asks.

  Tony looks at me and says in a strong voice like he couldn’t mean it more, “Absolutely.”

  I smile at Tony and then look to the pastor. “Yes.”

  “All right.” He gives Gabby and Jude a narrow gaze and goes on. “Seems like everyone’s in a hurry lately.”

  Gabby steps closer to Jude who is standing off to the side and he claims her by pulling her back to his front. Gabby gives me big eyes and Jude smiles smugly.

  “Some more than others,” Mark goes on, but this time he’s looking at Tony with one eyebrow raised while shaking his head.

  I feel Tony grab my hand at the same time. I guess Pastor Mark isn’t a fan of short engagements. But then again, Tony and I probably take the cake.

  “Wait.” I tense, looking over at Tony as he releases my hand and turns to move. I see him bend to pick something up from the front pew. Turning around, he’s holding a beautiful cluster of roses that are a stunning array of blush pinks. The arrangement is tight with long stems wrapped in a baby blue ribbon. When he hands me the bouquet, you’d think I would be enthralled with the flowers, but I can’t look away from the ribbon.

  “It’s wrapped up in a baby blue ribbon.”

  “Yeah,” he mutters back.

  I barely let my fingertips brush the tips of the pink petals. “Thank you.”

  “I didn’t know what you’d want.”

  “It’s perfect,” I say.

  With my perfect bouquet in one hand, Tony entwines the fingers of my other giving me a squeeze as the Pastor starts our private ceremony. As I listen to him speak about love and patience and kindness, I’ve never felt more sure about anything. Tony’s already shown me all these things and even after him telling me about the threat this morning, I’ve never felt safer.

  I haven’t felt safe for so long. After living scared of what could come next—what could be done to me—not knowing what to expect from someone you should trust, safe holds a whole new meaning. That’s why after I took a few minutes this morning to let it sink in why Tony kept from me what he did, there was nothing to forgive. Nothing to question. I trust him with my whole being and I know when I asked him never to do it again, he won’t.

  I feel Tony pull on my hand and I turn toward him. Reaching into his pocket, he takes my left hand and shocks me as he slides an amazing ring on my finger. It’s contemporary, yet delicate, with a brilliant diamond set high in white gold with more tiny diamonds running down the thin band. I can’t take my eyes off it, almost like I can’t believe it’s real. As delicate as it feels, it holds a weight so heavy with meaning I can’t help the tears that form in my throat.

  Tony’s hand come up, pointing an index finger at me with another ring hanging at his knuckle. This ring couldn’t be more opposite the one he just slid on my finger. It’s thick, black, and heavy, it looks like it could be brushed titanium in the center flanked by silver so dark it’s almost black on either side. It’s gorgeous, masculine, and couldn’t be more indicative of Tony. Looking to him, he gives me a half grin and jerks his chin for me to take the ring. Juggling my bouquet, I take the ring off his index finger and slide it on to his left hand like he did mine.

  I feel his hands come to my hips, pulling me to him and holding me tight. “Love you, gem. I can’t believe I’m here today because for so long you were only a dream and a prayer. But today my prayer has been answered. You’ve given me your trust but I’ll never be done earning it. I promise to care for you, love you, protect you, and lay down my life for you. Today I give you me.”

  I can’t help it. I feel like his words could bring me to my knees. I pull in a deep breath and try to keep it together. We didn’t plan our vows so I try my best to wing it. “Tony, you’ve not only given me you, but you’ve given me myself back. You’ve given me a dream I never thought possible. You’ve given me the love I’ve never experienced and you’ve shown me a life I never thought I’d have. I love you and I promise to always be what you need, for now and always.”

  Tony’s eyes burn into mine and I vaguely hear from our side the pastor announcing us man and wife. Tony pulls a hand up to my neck, threading his fingers in my hair to bring me close, but he doesn’t kiss me.

  “Love you,” he murmurs against my lips.

  I blink slowly and respond, “Forever.”

  He then kisses me. Not hard, not soft, but perfectly, just like Tony always manages.

  Breaking through our wedding kiss is a sniffle and a beeping tone. Tony and I both look to the side at the same time and Gabby is swiping tears away and dropping her hand that’s holding her cell.

  “Did you video us?” Tony bites.

  She sniffles again still standing with her back to Jude. “Yes. You’ll want it someday and it’ll make your mom happy. Stand there, I want to take your picture.”

  Tony shakes his head and looks back to me, never letting me go. I smile big at him and he smirks back.

  “I can’t believe we’re married,” I say.

  “B
elieve it, sweetheart.” He pulls me in for another kiss.

  We hear more camera phone beeps and I feel Tony exhale against my mouth in frustration. I giggle and Tony looks to the Pastor. “Thanks, Mark.”

  He smiles at us both, “I’m honored. I just hope your parents speak to me in the next year and I really hope they don’t leave my church.”

  Tony looks certain. “They won’t.”

  “Stand together, let me get some more pictures,” Gabby says, doing her best to capture our wedding memories.

  Gabby takes as many pictures as Tony allows and then both Jude and Gabby shower us with hugs, handshakes, and cheek kisses.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Jude starts. “Can we at least take you to lunch?”

  “Yes, let us take you to lunch,” Gabby adds. “When are you going to tell everyone?”

  Tony claims me by putting an arm around my waist and pulling my front to his side, he announces, “We aren’t going to lunch.”

  At the tone of his voice, I feel my nipples go hard and find myself hoping it doesn’t show through this skin-tight dress. Not knowing what to do or say and feeling my face go warm, I look hesitantly over at Jude and Gabby, giving them a small shrug.

  Jude grins and Gabby says, “Okay, then. Dinner tonight. A big family dinner. I’ll invite everyone and we can celebrate.”

  I feel Tony’s arm spasm around my waist and look at him as I answer, “No.”

  “Come on, Tony. Tomorrow?” she keeps trying.

  I can tell Tony’s about to say no again. I frown at him and look over at Gabby, “Thanks. Tomorrow’s good, but only if I can bring Rosa. We had plans for dinner tomorrow.”

  “Please try and keep your mouth shut, Gabba. I want a day to ourselves before I have to take on the Carpinos,” Tony warns.