7. Vincenzo

7

VINCENZO

I paid an event-planning company an exorbitant amount of money to decorate my family's mausoleum in upstate New York, where generations of Contis have been married. Vampires traditionally get married in a mausoleum or cemetery. Some go to ancient sites in Europe, while others, like my family, choose local or family locations. Our mausoleum is an architectural dream come true, with vaulted ceilings and marble columns. Although vampires are immortal, they can still be destroyed. A fate much more painful than a regular death. All it takes is a mortal wound with a silver weapon, like a dagger, bullet, or stake in our line or work and you're done. This crypt is where such Conti vampires are laid to rest after such events.

The symbolism of a wedding–what many consider a new chapter in life–beginning in a place that symbolizes death is the kind of dramatics vampires are known for. I love it. And so does Delilah, judging by the awe-struck, wide-eyed expression on her face.

When I described vampire wedding customs to Suzie, our bubbly event coordinator, during our phone call early this morning, she called it spooky wedding chic . Those were the exact words she used. I wasn't sure her vision would measure up, but I was pleasantly surprised when Delilah and I arrived. There are black, white, and red flower arrangements on either side of the altar. Hundreds of various sized lighted candles sat on every available surface, providing beautiful mood lighting. It was simple, but beautiful. Just like my future wife.

A tall man who appears to be middle-aged walks through the open stone double doors.

"Mr. Barbieri, thank you for officiating for us, as is Conti tradition." I shake his hand, and he smiles back at me.

At one thousand years old, Frank Barbieri is the oldest vampire in New York and a long-standing ally of la famiglia . He's conducted wedding ceremonies for every man in the family, and I wanted to continue the tradition for Delilah and me. She's the beginning of my new life—the cornerstone of the family I want to create with her. My partner in crime. She'll help me usher in a new era of the Conti mafia, the strongest one yet.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world. You chose a lovely bride, and you'll build a good life together." He looks around the mausoleum, probably for guests. "Do you want to wait for guests, or should we begin?"

"It's just us, Mr. Barbieri. We can get started. Let's keep this short, okay?" I want Mario to attack us, but I don't want to give him too much time. The quicker we get this over with, the better.

He nods, closing his book of ceremonies. "In the interest of keeping this short, we are gathered here today to recognize the union of Vincenzo Conti to Delilah Sangre. Do you, Vincenzo, take Delilah to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, for your immortal life?"

"Yes, I do," I answer, my heart swelling with happiness. I know I'll get through the shitstorm that's about to happen with Delilah by my side.

"And do you, Delilah, take Vincenzo to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, for your immortal life?"

"Yes," she says, appearing ethereal in the glow of the candle light. A tear runs down her cheek as she smiles at me. I can feel my mate's happiness.

"Excuse me, Frank," a familiar voice rings through the mausoleum. "But you slipped the beginning part of the ceremony. I object to this Union."

My uncle entered through the back entrance we purposely left unguarded. He's so predictable. Some of his traitor followers walk through the front door, and they close ranks to trap us in here.

"Wedding crashing is considered impolite, Uncle." I do the math, and count four men in tow. Not bad odds at all.

"So is plotting against your nephew, who is the rightful heir to the Conti empire. That's an offense I'll punish with death," I growl.

"Your threat means nothing," he spits. His men reach into their jacket pockets, producing compact crossbows. They're loaded with silver tipped arrows.

"Oh it's not a threat. I promise that I'll destroy you and every last traitor who supports you. Then I'll take back my empire, and my wife and I will take it to the next level."

"Yeah about that wife of yours…do you know who she is?" Mario muses. "She's the daughter of two of the deadliest assassins in the world. One of which is chained up somewhere only I know the location to."

"For now…" Delilah corrects him. She's calm and collected, not a hint of worry on her face.

"I'll never tell you where she is. You'll leave the world without seeing her again. It's sad, really." My uncle's bright white fangs poke over his lips as he laughs. It's an unhinged sound that reverberates off the marble walls.

He takes his gun from its holster under his jacket, aiming it at me. "I'll shoot you first, Vinny. Your new bride can watch you die. Then I'll consider killing her. I'm not sure if I want to cage her up with her mom for later use."

"I know when I'm outnumbered. I think this is it, my love. One last kiss goodbye?" She takes my head in her hands, placing them directly over my ears. I can feel the earplugs slide into place.

She deepens our kiss, and I take a moment to taste her. The woman who stole my heart. My other half.

"Break it up. Your fated mate devotion is making me nauseous," Mario says before fake wrenching. "Any last words, lovebirds?"

"Yeah. I have a whole last fucking song," she quips before letting her wail loose. It's a shrill soprano, a pitch so high it can crack glass.

Mario's men drop their weapons to cover their ears. Within seconds they crash to their knees in excruciating pain. Blood pours out of their ears, eyes, and nose. She's keeping them on the edge of death in the worst kind of torment.

"STOP!" Mario shouts between agonizing groans.

Delilah stops wailing, then walks over to him and quickly slips my silver cuffs around his wrists. Before his men can grab their weapons again, I snap my fingers and they disappear. Vampire powers for the win.

"Unless you want to be tortured for days and die a slow, painful death, tell me where my mom is. Now . If you don't, I'll start slicing you up. Tiny cuts at first, then fingers. Then limbs. Then I'll cut every organ out, keeping you alive and conscious as long as I can. But you'll beg me to end it all before you reach that end." Her husky, menacing tone makes me want to shove her against the wall and fuck her. She's so hot when she's in badass assassin mode.

Her wail made my uncle weak. He's trembling, barely able to kneel upright. "Your mom is binded with a silencing spell. She's locked up in a silver-lined cell in the basement of my vacation home in the Catskill Mountains."

"Unfortunately for you, you'll no longer have a use for your vacation home," I say as I hold a silver bladed knife to his throat. "Goodbye, Uncle."

"No!" shouts one of my uncle's cronies, Dante. He holds a gun, no doubt loaded with silver bullets, and it's pointing at Delilah's heart. A kill shot. "Mario is the true leader of the Conti mafia! If you don't want me to kill your wife, you'll stand down."

I prepared my whole life to be Don. Pushed myself to my limits, so I could be the best version of myself. The best leader. The best businessman. But it means nothing without my mate. My wife is the most important person in my life, more important than my legacy or this mafia. I'll be damned if anyone takes her from me.

I put the dagger in my pocket. "Okay. I stand down."

Dante shakily stands, then laughs as he points the gun at me. "Fuck you, Vin–"

A bullet whizzes through the air, hitting him right between the eyes. His head explodes and his body slumps onto the floor. I dive onto Delilah and cover her with my body before a second bullet hits another of my uncle's cronies. The rest of them rise to their feet and scatter. Frank looks from the back door to the front again, scanning the room to find the shooter.

A huge man dressed in all black drops from the ceiling. He has light olive skin, wavy black hair with a gray streak in the front, and black eyes. He slings his rifle over his shoulders like a backpack. His fangs gleaming in the low light as he removes a pair of earplugs from his ears and puts them in his pocket.

"Girlie, you didn't tell me you were getting married," he grouses. "I almost missed my baby girl's wedding. I had to hover in a vaulted ceiling and watch instead of walking you down the aisle. The absurdity of it all!"

This must be Malachi Sangre—her father.

Delilah rolls us onto our sides and gets up. She rushes over to the man, hugging him tightly and kissing his cheek. "Dad! I knew you'd come for backup."

"Backup?" I ask. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sangre." We shake hands, and although he doesn't smile at me and gives me the stink eye, I know he'll eventually warm up to me.

"I texted Dad about how I met my fated mate, and that I'd call him later. He's such a drama queen that he used the find-me tracker we all have downloaded on our phones. I figured he'd pick up on our plan, and fit himself in it somehow."

"Great minds think alike," he responds. "Kill that piece of garbage so we can bring your mom home."

He and Frank leave the mausoleum, leaving Delilah and me behind.

"Can I have your silver knife, please?" she asks me.

I hand her the blade. She kneels, putting herself at eye level with my uncle. Shaking her head, she holds the blade to his throat.

"Goodbye, Mario." She slits it quick and fast without drawing it out.

No last words or evil villain speeches or drawn out soliloquies. She swiftly enacts her revenge with a cold, hard scowl that gets my blood pumping.

"Thank you, Vincenzo. You made this possible, and I'm forever in your debt."

She wraps her arms around my neck, and I kiss her pale, high set cheeks.

"Anything for my fated mate. I know it's way too soon to say it, but I love you, Delilah."

She pauses for a moment, stroking her warm fingers over my claim mark.

"I love you too, Vincenzo."