“You look so handsome.” His mother straightened her double strand of pearls as she stood beside him in front of the mirror. “You remind me of your father on our wedding day.”
“You look beautiful as always, Mother,” Roman replied as he tugged at his collar. It was a custom made tuxedo, but it felt like he was choking. The ivory vest would match the bride’s gown and the peach corsage of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Neither of which he’d seen or really cared about. His stomach protested with a pit of regret and hopelessness.
“What’s wrong? You should be happy. It’s your wedding day.” His mother turned to face him.
“Yes, I should.”
He wandered over to the window. They were at the Rinaldi mansion. The wedding would take place in the garden below. “I just can’t believe that my father, of all people, would force me to marry someone I don’t love.” He turned around, feeling defeated and angry. “To spend my life in a loveless marriage,” he mumbled with spite.
“Shh. Let’s not talk about it anymore. Your father did what he had to do.” She waved her hand. “We all do what we have to do for the good of the family.”
“And I will do what I have to do to for the family, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” His voice was louder than he intended it to be.
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 diamond 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.