The Wilde name came with money and power. I stood at the altar of the church and waited for my bride. They say it takes a village to raise a child. It took a city to plan a wedding any woman would love, and it took less than twenty-four hours to get it to all come together.

I stood proudly next to my brother Rafe, who put his dreams at risk so I could live mine.

“You can turn and run. I mean, you’re marrying into the Irish mafia. How is that going to play into your plan of legitimacy?”

While he talked to me, his eyes never left the front pew, where Kirsten O’Leary sat. Maybe my marriage to Katya would bridge the gap between the two families. Liam couldn’t hate the Wildes too much if his daughter was married to one.

“Still have a thing for the little shamrock, do ya?”

“Don’t let her hear you call her that. She’d gut you in a second.”

“Euthanize me, maybe. Her specialty is animals.”

Rafe looked at me. “Like I was saying. And no, I don’t have a thing for Kirsten. Even if I did, Ian would kill me right after her father castrated me. I’m not interested in anyone right now.”

“Right.” I knew he’d had a thing for her ever since they were in school together.

The music began to play, and my heart started at a gallop and continued to race until my head grew dizzy. A month ago, I would have told anyone I’d have a higher likelihood of getting gunned down than married. Hell, a month ago, getting gunned down sounded far more appealing, but as I watched the aisle of the mostly empty church and saw my brother and best man Alex lead his wife and Katya’s bridesmaid down the aisle, I realized marrying Katya would be my smartest decision.

Alex kissed his wife and left her on the opposite side of the aisle before he joined me. Seconds later, the double doors opened and Katya and Liam appeared. He stood proudly as he walked her down the aisle. Dressed in a black tuxedo embellished with a four-leaf clover cummerbund, he walked the most beautiful woman alive toward me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The white dress she had chosen was perfect to showcase her long, sexy legs. The light coming from the back of the church circled her like a divine light.

When they got to the front of the church, I walked to the center to meet her.

“You didn’t run,” she said when I stood in front of her.

“Not a chance.”

Liam cleared his throat. “I can still fix you up with a nice Irish boy.”

Katya cupped his cheek and smiled. “Thank you, but I chose him.”

Liam nodded and waited for the priest to ask who gave this woman to be married. He proudly announced to everyone that he, Liam O’Leary, would give his daughter to marry Matteo Wilde.

There was a bit of commotion coming from the pews. We all turned to watch Sergei. Katya and I laughed. We had forgotten to tell him about her true heritage.

Liam walked away and sat with his sons and daughter.

The priest went through all the motions. He said all the words. I never heard one of them. The words didn’t matter. All that I cared about was this woman and the kiss that would seal the deal. When asked if she'd take me as her husband, her ‘yes’ wasn’t soft or subdued. She said it loud enough for her mother to hear in heaven or Yuri to hear in hell.

I was already kissing her before the priest gave us permission, but Katya and I would never be traditionalists. This was our life, and we’d live it by our rules. Our new motto was 'take no prisoners'.

After the ceremony, we all converged on Capones, where the alcohol flowed freely and the music played all night.

Kirsten, Ian, and Patrick welcomed my wife to their family with a hug. They gave me a handshake and a warning to keep Katya happy or else.

In the corner sat Rafe by himself. I felt sorry for my brother, who grew up as a good man in a gangster’s universe. I followed his line of sight to Kirsten, who danced with her brother Ian.

There was no chance for them in our world—a world where marriage was a calculated bet. Where love was a bonus and not a guarantee. Where an Irish mob princess would never be allowed to marry my Italian brother. Then again, this was Las Vegas, and anything was possible.