Chapter 83 RóISE

Miceli caresses my back as he walks behind me before moving around to stand in front of the head table.

It's a small touch, but it lets me know that I matter. Even in this incredibly heavy moment for their mafia.

I don't know if we have ceremonies like this in the mob, but I have never been to one. The capos stand as one and begin to come forward. I recognize the first man who takes a knee in front of Miceli.

It is his cousin, Salvatore. "I offer my life and my loyalty to you and the Genovese."

Miceli raises his hand and Salvatore bends his head over it. First, he kisses the ring. Then he touches the ring to his forehead.

"I accept your allegiance and loyalty.” Miceli’s voice is deep and commanding, sending a totally inappropriate frisson of desire through me.

I hope no one notices the way my breath catches as he takes one oath after another from all of these powerful men.

It takes almost an hour for every one of the men to make their pledge and kiss the ring. It is strange how the time both passes quickly and yet feels like it stretches to eternity as each man kneels in front of Miceli.

When the last capo's second stands and returns to his table, Miceli's uncle comes down from the head table and follows suit. Miceli told Allessio he would give his oath of loyalty later.

As part of Miceli's crew, he has already vowed lifelong loyalty to my fiancé, but that's not why Miceli wants him to wait.

After Big Sal, everyone stands again and lifts their glasses, shouting a toast to the new don.

The words about knock the air out of me, sending a chill down my spine.

This isn't a formality. This is life or death for their syndicate. Fidelity means everything and these powerful capos are offering theirs to Miceli.

I am about to marry the Don of the Genovese, the second most powerful man in New York, my uncle included.

And I am supposed to be his dona.

My knees want to give way, but I don't let them.

After the toast, Miceli beckons to Allessio.

Allessio jerks like he's surprised, but he approaches Miceli and drops to one knee in front of him.

Miceli accepts Allessio's vow of loyalty and then does something he did not do for any of the capos or his uncle. My don puts his hand out to lift Allessio to his feet.

Allessio stares at Miceli with confusion but takes the hand and stands tall beside his boss.

Miceli’s lips tilt in a half smile. “I discussed who to choose as my underboss with both my brother and my wife."

The entire room goes quiet. You could hear the drop of a feather from an angel’s wing, much less a pin.

All of the capos are looking intently at Allessio and Miceli.

"I choose Allessio as my underboss." Miceli turns his head so he can meet the eyes of each of his capos. "When he speaks, he speaks for me. When he acts, he acts for me. He is my right arm."

Salvatore lifts his fist in the air and shouts and the other capos follow, creating a cacophony of sound in the room and showing their approval for Allessio as the new Genovese underboss.

My shout is just as loud as anyone's.

This is what I want. I know Allessio will always have Miceli's back like Miceli has his brother's. There are men in the Genovese Cosa Nostra with more seniority than Allessio, but none more loyal to my fiancé.

That commitment might be matched by his brother and his cousin, but neither can be Miceli's underboss.

In my mind, Allessio is the only choice.

It wasn't easy to convince Miceli though, because he wants his best man leading my protection detail, but I also want the best man at his back .

There are a lot of men and women in the Genovese that would make excellent and conscientious bodyguards, but there is only one who can be the underboss Miceli needs.

I'm so glad that between us, Severu and I were able to convince Miceli of that fact too.

His brother suggested Angelo for my primary bodyguard, but the head enforcer/assassin is kind of intense, and I'm glad Miceli chose someone else.

Ultimately, he assigned the next in line after Allessio, two members from Angelo's crew and handpicked eight more. It feels like overkill to me, but that's Miceli, over the top. Especially when it comes to my safety.

The dinner that follows the ceremony is filled with jovial chatter and celebratory toasts. I don't know this group of men very well, but to my untrained eye, it does not look like there is a single person here that is unhappy Miceli is their don.

I am glad. Because my fiancé is not a man who will tolerate mutiny.

If any of the capos try to undermine his authority, my Aries will not choose diplomacy over violence. He will destroy any obstacle in his path.

That should not make me feel safe, much less aroused. But it really, really does. I know that with Miceli De Luca, I will always be safe. I will always be protected.

There will never come a time that me, or our future children, are not the most important people in Miceli's life.

I stepped in as a sacrificial lamb in this alliance, seething with frustration and desperately wishing for a way out.

Now, I would not change my place in the world with anyone, for anything.

My beloved owns my heart and soul and I am his queen.

We spoke our vows with blood on each other's skin and our coming wedding is a ceremony for other people. We already know the truth.

Miceli and I are bound for eternity.

He is mine and I am his and together we will lead the New York Cosa Nostra .

The End