Chapter Thirty-Seven

After my first visit to New York as Amo’s fiancée my anxiety about living there had lessened considerably. Aria in particular was so warm and considerate, she treated me like one of her children. Not to mention that the meeting with my uncle and his family had been so much better than I’d ever thought possible.

Dad hadn’t mentioned the meeting though he knew I’d been at the Trevisan house. Since he had enough to stomach with my marriage to Amo and my move to New York, I didn’t push him. I held hope that one day he’d come around and allow the past to rest. It wasn’t easy, it was something I too had to work on every day.

Every time I looked in the mirror at the two fading scars on my lower belly, the memories of the attack came back and with them the realization of the consequences. Amo hadn’t seen this scar on my body yet, as we hadn’t been intimate since the attack three months ago. Too much had happened and my body needed the time to heal. It still didn’t feel like my body on some days.

I’d always been able to move however I wanted, to bend my body to my will. Now I had to be patient, take one small step after the other toward healing. I hadn’t tried to do ballet yet. All my focus had been on managing to walk without a limp. With only four weeks to go until the wedding I’d finally accomplished my goal. My gait still felt off to me, and if you looked very closely and knew me very well, you noticed that it wasn’t as fluid as it had been before the attack, but for the passing glance it wasn’t visible. I was still doing physiotherapy every day to make my leg and the rest of my body stronger to regain this last bit of mobility and strength back.

Mom and Aria tugged at my hair and dress. It had taken several attempts to create a hairdo with my shorter hair that I was happy with. But eventually Mom had managed to pin my hair up at the back of my head with a white hairpin with flowers and pearls. Only one thick strand was falling down the left side of my face and curled slightly. Long white earrings that looked like several tine flowers had been stringed together matched my hairpin.

My dress was a minimal long-sleeved chiffon piece with a deep Bohemian V-neck. I especially loved the sheer puff sleeves that felt as if I wore nothing.

Mom clapped her hands when she was done wrapping the silk-ribbon around my ankle then she peered up at me with an emotional smile. “I love that you picked ballet shoes.”

They weren’t real ballet shoes, but the white flats imitated ballet shoes and even had silk ribbons that wrapped around my ankles and calves. High-heels had been out of the question despite the height difference between Amo and me. I didn’t want to overstrain my knee and I had rarely worn heels in my life and didn’t want to feel uncomfortable on my wedding day.

“I should have worn flats on my wedding day,” Aria said with a laugh. “It would have spared me the blisters. Though my hurting feet were the least of my worries on that day.”

Mom laughed and exchanged a knowing look with Aria. “I remember how nervous I was about the prospect of marriage when I was promised. But my wedding to Remo was so relaxed and easy-going.”

“I really wish I could have enjoyed my wedding day like you’ll hopefully enjoy today,” Aria said to me. She lightly touched my shoulder. “Amo is a good man. I know he’ll do everything he can to make you happy.”

“This isn’t the beginning of a sex talk, is it?” I glanced between Mom and Aria. “Amo and I have already been intimate, tonight is only the final step we haven’t taken yet.”

Aria flushed a bright red and laughed. “Oh Amo warned me about your directness.”

Mom’s smile was a bit tight too. “No talk, we promise. You and Amo will figure it out I’m sure without our unnecessary advice.”

I nodded and blew out a long breath as I regarded myself in the mirror once more. Aria left with a wave.

I pursed my lips in confusion.

“She wants to give us a moment alone,” Mom said, coming up behind me and hugging me gently. She was several inches taller than me.

“I know you and Amo love each other, but I want to make sure you’re still okay with everything that’s going to happen today. Especially tonight. Even if you and Amo have been intimate, I want you to know that nothing forces you to take the final step tonight. If you feel anxious or just not ready, then you should say stop. Amo can fake the sheets like his father did.”

Mom and Aria had exchanged many stories from the past, apparently even intimate ones I didn’t want to hear about. I was glad that they’d hit it off though, considering that Dad and Luca still had trouble being in the same room without a fight.

“I thought I wouldn’t get the talk.”

“It’s not a sex talk. It’s a talk about consent and your emotional wellbeing.”

I gave Mom a doubtful look. “Amo respects my boundaries. And it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s not necessary. I have confidence in Amo’s abilities to make tonight special for both of us.” I patted her arm to ease the blow and didn’t comment on her blush. Considering how often I’d overheard her and Dad by accident, it was surprising that my mere mentioning of sex made her feel so uncomfortable. “I’m grateful for your concern though.”

A knock sounded.

“That must be your father. Don’t tell him what you just told me.” Mom scanned me once more before she went to the door and opened it. I tensed when Dad stepped in, worried he’d try to talk me out of the wedding. I knew Nevio still wished I’d turn into a runaway bride, and while Dad wasn’t as vocal about his dismay he too wanted me to stay in Vegas. Their love and worry for me were the reason for their reaction but today I didn’t want to hear about it.

Dad’s dark eyes softened when they scanned me from head to toe. Mom whispered something to him, then kissed his cheek before she left.

“Dad?” I slowly walked toward him and peered up at his face. Many people called it cruel and merciless, but for me it had always held warmth and love, and it was no different today.

“Do we get your blessing?”

Dad chuckled in his usual derisive style. “Blessings aren’t my style.” He cupped my cheek. “But I respect your choice, Mia Cara. You aren’t a little girl anymore. I want you to find happiness in New York, but never forget that a loving home is always waiting for you in Las Vegas if you ever choose to return.”

I hugged him briefly, knowing this was Dad’s version of a blessing and I was so relieved.

Dad and Remo sat across from each other on the sofas in the backroom of church. I wasn’t sure why Mom had thought it a good idea to have them with me before the ceremony. They weren’t the best moral support.

The only one who’d been somewhat tolerable was Matteo who’d cracked a few jokes that had lifted the tension. Valerio had already rushed off, probably to flirt with Camorra girls he had no business being close to.

“It’s almost time,” I reminded them, hoping they’d take the cue and leave. Remo got up but he walked over to me. He handed me a couple of printed out photos. I cocked an eyebrow when I scanned them. They showed a blood-splattered room. The bed in the center was an even worse mess. It looked as if they’d slaughtered a pig on it. But it wasn’t an animal carcass that lay sprawled on the bed.

If Remo thought he could intimidate me with these images, he forgot what my last name was. I’d pummeled a biker to a bloody pulp with a hammer as a teen when we’d saved Marcella.

“When you’re thinking about creating bloody sheets tonight, remember what Nino and I did to Kiara’s uncle at the last big wedding between the Camorra and the Famiglia.”

Dad got up too and shook his head. “You took photos of the fucking mess you created back then? It took weeks to renovate the room. You acted like barbarians.”

“Thanks for the pleasant images before the happiest day in my life.”

Remo narrowed his eyes at Dad. “Many would call it barbaric to get off on virgin blood covered sheets.”

I gritted my teeth and sought Matteo’s eyes in the mirror, trying to give him a silent sign to remove those two from the room, or at least Remo.

Dad smirked. “I’m half tempted to call Dante so he can tell us how kindly he took your presentation of the sheets of your first night with Serafina.”

“At least I presented real sheets.”

“Enough.” Matteo shook his head and handed them both flasks. “Take a few gulps of this special concoction. It’ll lift your mood.”

“What about me? The groom usually gets a flask.”

Matteo winked. “You need your wits about you. Tonight’s a special night, I don’t want you to pass out too soon.”

Dad sniffed at the flask, then narrowed his eyes at Matteo. “What is it? The scent is familiar.”

“It takes plenty of poison to kill me,” Remo said with a twisted grin at Matteo.

“We’ll see.”

Holding Matteo’s gaze, Remo took a tiny gulp, then his lips curled.

“It’s Cannabis moonshine. Gianna and I brewed it as an experiment a while back and took a shine on it.” He winked again. I had a feeling he’d gotten a head start on the cannabis moonshine already. If that made sure he wouldn’t kill Alessio, Massimo or Nevio today, I didn’t care if he smoked a few bongs too.

“Fuck it. We don’t consume our own product!” Dad growled.

“It’s not our stuff. Gianna bought it at a Russian dealer. She says their ware is superior and cheaper, which is something we need to work on, by the way.”

Remo closed the lid of his flask and shoved it at me. “I’ll let you to your discussions about the dismal state of your drug production and go to my daughter.”

I knew he would threaten me a few more times today. I would probably have been disappointed if he didn’t. Greta deserved to be treated like a queen.

Dad stepped up behind me and our eyes met in the mirror. “Don’t drink that stuff. You should have your wits about you tonight.”

Matteo patted my back and took the flask from me. “He’s right. I’ll take care of it.” When he walked out, he took a long gulp from the flask.

Dad sighed. “If this day ends without a bloodbath, I’ll call it a success.”

I nodded absent-mindedly and smoothed my silver tie. Dad put a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll make sure everyone behaves today. This day is yours and Greta’s.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He patted the spot over my heart. “I should have let you follow your heart. I should have known if you risked so much for a woman that it was serious. I tried to make you prioritize the tattoo over your heart when that’s something I have never done since I married your mother.”

“The past is the past. Today we start a new chapter.”

Dad nodded, then his expression became warning. “I don’t think this is necessary, but I’ll tell you anyway. Treat your wife like a queen tonight. The Famiglia is the place to lose control and allow the monster to come out, never your marriage or family.”

“You don’t have to tell me, Dad, because you showed me all my life.”

Dad stepped back with a controlled smile, but I’d seen the hint of emotion in his eyes. When he left and I was alone in the room, I took a deep breath.

This was it. The moment I’d waited far too long for. I was marrying the woman I loved with every fiber of my being.

Today wouldn’t be a bloody wedding, but plenty of blood had been shed for this wedding to happen. We all had bled and some had died because they hadn’t wanted Greta and me to marry.

Dad nodded at me from the first row. He’d had my back. He’d done what he hadn’t wanted to do in so long, and made a bloody statement. While the Traditionalists had paid with blood, they’d also won on other fronts. Their rules had been reinforced and the Famiglia was moving backwards in certain areas.

All the blood, all the pain meant nothing when Greta stepped into church. She looked absolutely stunning in a simple white dress. Her smile was pure and unreserved as she strode toward me at her father’s side. She was more than I’d ever expected. She was so much more than I deserved, but by God, I would never let her go again.