24. Enzo
24
ENZO
“ W ell, that went better than expected,” I murmur against Gabriella’s ear, nibbling it lightly.
She giggles and pulls away. “That tickles!” We’re holding hands and walking back to my car which is parked right in front of the hotel entrance.
“Wait’ll I get you alone,” I warn her with a wicked grin.
“How is it that Enzo Rossi can park wherever he wants in this city and never get ticketed or towed?”
I send her a smirk as I discreetly hand the valet a crisp one-hundred dollar bill. It’s the second one-hundred dollar bill I’ve given the guy. “Because I tip the right people very well.”
“Very well indeed,” she remarks and arches her brow. “Do you have something against parking garages?”
“Nope. Just walking.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “You’re really something, you know that?”
I press a kiss to her lips then reach around her body and open the car door. “Get inside, my beautiful fiancée. We have things to do.”
Once she’s situated, I close the door and walk around, slipping into the driver’s seat.
“So…what’s next?” she asks, turning in her seat to face me.
“I thought we made that pretty clear when I asked you to marry me and you said yes.”
“I mean, what’s next now ? We have a lot to decide, don’t you think?”
“Honey, as long as we’re together, that’s all that’s important. But, in the meantime, I think we should head straight over to the jewelry store and find you the largest diamond that money can buy.”
Her eyes go comically wide. “I don’t need the biggest diamond, Enzo. I just need you.”
“I’m glad to hear it. But, yes, honey, you’re getting the biggest and the best that money can buy because you deserve it. You deserve all the good things and I’m going to make sure you have them because I love you. I love you so damn much it hurts.”
“Enzo…” She lays a hand along the side of my face and smiles. “Same.”
Our mouths collide, hot and hungry, and I need to force myself to break it off before things go too far. Breathing hard, I put the car in drive and try to ignore the throbbing in my pants. Later, buddy. Right now, I have an engagement ring to buy. I want every man to see that ring on her finger and to know, without a doubt, that she belongs to me.
I drive us over to a small, locally-owned jewelry shop run by an enormous Italian man who greets us with a jovial smile the moment we walk through the door. “Has another Rossi man fallen?” he asks and chuckles.
Alfonso Cirillo has provided all of the engagement rings and wedding bands for my family. First Miceli fell, then Vin and now me. It feels surreal. At the same time, nothing has ever felt so right.
“I’d like you to meet Gabriella Bianche, soon to be Gabriella Rossi. Bri, this is Alfonso Cirillo.”
“Hello,” she says and they shake hands.
“You Rossi men sure know where to find the most beautiful women,” Alfonso states.
“Yes, we do,” I say and press a kiss to Gabriella’s temple. “Okay, I need a ring for my lovely fiancée, Alfonso. What have you got?”
Alfonso guides us over to a counter and we peruse over the rings. They’re all very nice, but I’m not looking for nice. I want perfect. I need something that represents our love.
“They’re all lovely,” she says, leaning over the glass and studying them.
I can tell nothing grabs her. They all look the same. “We need something more unique,” I tell Alfonso.
Alfonso nods knowingly. “I may have just the thing. Hang on, I’ll be right back.”
We watch him waddle into the back room and when he returns a minute later, he’s carrying a small black velvet box. The moment he opens it, I know. And when Gabriella sucks in a sharp breath, she confirms that we’re both on the same page.
“Oh, my,” she whispers, almost reverently, as Alfonso lifts the ring out of its velvet bed and hands it to her. I watch as she slips it on her finger and sighs. It fits perfectly.
“It’s an emerald-cut diamond set in a delicate rose gold halo that is decorated with art-deco inspired milgrain detail.”
“How many carats?” I ask, getting down to business.
“Over four.”
I nod and ask him about the cut, color and clarity, too. Once the four C’s are covered, I’m satisfied that this is a very precious and rare diamond. Just like Gabriella is precious and rare to me. I watch as she shifts her hand this way and that way, allowing the diamond facets to catch the light, completely enamored by it. “What do you think, Bri?”
“It’s stunning,” she murmurs.
“That’s the one, Alfonso. We’ll take it,” I declare.
“Oh, Enzo, it’s so beautiful.” Gabriella turns and throws her arms around my neck, kissing me hard on the mouth. She pulls back and I swear, I see stars in her eyes. I’m sure I have a whole galaxy of them in mine, too, shining right back at her.
“I love you, Bri, and I want to marry you as soon as possible.”
She nods, eyes suddenly swimming with tears. “Yes, please,” she murmurs, and we both laugh.
We both mean it and exactly two weeks later, I’m standing on the altar of St. Michaels and barely able to draw in a full breath because I’m so damn nervous. I wipe my sweaty palms down the front of my black pants then tug on my tie which suddenly feels like it’s choking me.
“You’ve got this, bro,” Angelo says encouragingly. He’s standing directly beside me and next to him is Vin and then Miceli. They’re all my best men and trying to calm me down. “But keep yanking at your tie like that and you’re going to choke yourself.”
My asshole brothers all chuckle, looking cool as cucumbers.
“I don’t know,” Miceli comments. “You’re looking a little pale, Enzo.”
“Scared she’s going to run out on you?” Vin asks teasingly.
“Christ, don’t even say that,” I growl and rake a hand through my hair.
“No swearing before the altar of God,” Father Piero reprimands me.
“Sorry, Father,” I murmur and swallow hard. I’ve attended and spoken at the biggest meetings, in front of the largest crowds; I’ve dined with royalty; and, I’ve rubbed elbows with celebrities and other famous people. But I’ve never, in all my life, been this insanely nervous.
Looking out over the small group of family and friends in the first few pews, I see smiles and reassuring faces. Carlotta is grinning from ear to ear and she gives me a little wave. Beside her sits Alessia holding baby Nico. A very pregnant Hannah seems to be getting bigger every day and I can’t help but think about Gabriella and how she’s also carrying our baby right now. I love that my brothers’ kids and mine will get to grow up together. I’m sure they’ll be close and raise all kinds of hell.
My gaze moves down the row, pausing on our assistants. Marco and Trista seem to be getting along really well. More than well, actually. Hmm. I’ll have to remember to ask Gabriella what’s going on with them. I notice that Leo Amato, Miceli’s friend and bodyguard, is whispering something to Gia DeLuca, Alessia’s older sister. They’ve been getting extremely close lately and she helped him recover from a bullet wound last year. Gia flushes prettily and playfully pushes Leo’s arm. Even though they’re keeping their relationship quiet, it’s pretty easy to see the love in their eyes. I’m damn happy for them, too.
Even my parents flew in for the event. Salvatore and Carmela Rossi spend most of their time in Sicily, living on the family vineyard, but since they didn’t see Miceli or Vin get married, they were determined to be here for my wedding. Now, they’re front and center, holding hands and still in love after thirty years of marriage. It’s amazing to see and I hope to be just like them in thirty or so years.
The moment the music starts, my heart drops into my stomach. I clear my throat and turn my attention to the back of the church where Lili appears. She holds a basket of flower petals and tosses them as she makes her way up the aisle.
As pretty as Lili looks today, my gaze moves right past her, searching out my bride. The music shifts to the Wedding March and, the moment she appears, I suck in a sharp breath. Gabriella has never looked so beautiful and I watch her slowly walk toward me, her arm laced through her mother’s, looking like an absolute vision in white.
The dress is sleeveless and hugs her curves. There’s satin, there’s lace, there are endless pearl buttons. I don’t know anything about wedding dresses, but I do know that this one couldn’t be any more perfect and she looks like an angel. Soft, light pink flowers are scattered through her upswept hair and she’s holding a bouquet of pink peonies. At least, that’s what Carlotta called them. I don’t know much about flowers, either. Give me stocks any day. Dresses and flowers? Well, I’m lost.
The moment Gabriella and her mother reach the altar, they hug. Then Ariana hands my beautiful bride over to me and I pull her up the stairs so we’re standing side by side. I can’t drag my eyes off her.
“You look so beautiful,” I whisper.
“So do you,” she whispers back, and we squeeze hands.
“Let us begin,” Father Piero says.
I’m so lost in Gabriella, gazing into her caramel-colored eyes, that I barely register what Father Piero is saying. At some point, though, we place the wedding bands on each other’s fingers and recite our vows, promising to love each other forever. I honestly never thought I would say “I do” and here I am.
Everything seems to fly by and, before I know it, I hear the line I’ve been waiting for, “You may kiss the bride.”
I lower my face and capture Gabriella’s lips, sending up a very grateful thank you to the powers that be who brought us together. Who blessed me with this incredible woman and the baby she’s carrying. Without a doubt, I know I am the luckiest sonofabitch in the world.
Cheers fill the air and we finally break apart and turn to face our family and friends.
“It is with greatest pleasure that I present Mr. and Mrs. Enzo Rossi,” Father Piero says, and the clapping and whistles grow louder.
“C’mon, Mrs. Rossi,” I say, guiding her down the steps and past everyone. “We have some celebrating to do.”
After the ceremony at St. Michael’s church, everyone heads over to the Italian restaurant that we all love. Mario Agresti is practically family and he shut down the place for us today so we could eat, drink and dance until it’s dark.
As soon as we walk inside Agresti’s, Gabriella gasps. Carlotta was in charge of decorating and I’m not surprised that she did an outstanding job. Fairy lights hang from the ceiling and the red and white checkered tablecloths have all been replaced with silver-edged white cloths. Flickering candles in jars and flowers serve as centerpieces, and every table has a bottle of wine from Rossi Vineyard waiting with a silver bow tied around it.
“It looks so pretty,” Gabriella says, and I nod.
“Carlotta is great at organizing events and decorating.”
“I love your sister,” she says, “and I can’t wait to get to know her better. Your parents, too.”
“You know who I love?” I tug her closer, spinning her around to face me.
She cocks her head, pretending to think, and I slide my hand down and over her satin-covered ass, squeezing. “Who?” she asks, caramel eyes full of mirth.
“You, Mrs. Rossi.” I kiss her thoroughly. “Never doubt that.”
Gabriella bestows a smile brighter than sunshine on me. “Right back at you, Mr. Rossi.”
“Time for a toast!” Angelo yells.
“Everyone please fill your glass,” Carlotta says, directing guests over to sit. “Enzo and Gabriella, you’re here.”
We follow my sister to the front table and sit down to face everyone. Then Angelo appears and I’m not surprised that he’s the one giving the toast. My younger brother is so full of life and always making us crack up.
I pour sparkling water into Gabriella’s glass and wine into mine, then we turn our attention to Angelo and I hope he doesn’t roast me too hard. As if reading my mind, Angelo looks over at me and smirks like the devil about to cause all sorts of mayhem.
“Fair warning, Ang,” I say before he can start. “One day you’ll be in my position. I will remember this moment.”
“Oh, don’t be so mafia, Mr. Rossi,” Gabriella says with a chuckle.
“I am mafia, honey. We both are.” I plant a quick kiss on her lips.
“First off, there’s a slim to none chance that I will ever be in your position. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled you found your better half—” Angelo winks at Gabriella, “—but this isn’t my scene.”
“I have a feeling Angelo would elope,” Gabriella says.
“Never. Only one woman? Nope. I like having options.”
“Never say never, little brother,” I warn him. “It’s like tempting fate.”
“Okay, enough about me.” Angelo turns to the crowd and grins wickedly. “I want to congratulate my older brother because, let’s face it, none of us ever thought there was room for a flesh and blood woman in his life since he was married to his job.”
A chorus of agreement fills the air and I frown. “Careful, Ang,” I warn, “or your portfolio may not do so well next quarter.”
Angelo merely laughs, brushing my threat aside. “Yes, this man knows how to make money. Hell, he makes millions before he even gets out of bed in the morning. Why do you think I have him manage my money?”
Everybody laughs.
“Mine, too,” Vin calls out.
“He has the Midas Touch when it comes to finances and, now, when it comes to finding the right woman,” Angelo states. “I’m not sure how you did it, Enzo, but you’re one lucky man. I think we all saw the sparks flying, though, from the moment you two met.”
“What?” Gabriella exclaims. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, c’mon, honey. Everyone noticed you eyeballing me from across the table at our meetings.”
Gabriella slugs me in the shoulder and I chuckle.
“We all noticed the eye-fuc—” Angelo catches himself and grins sheepishly, “I mean, the enamored stares between you two. So, I’m not surprised that you guys hit it off. Granted, there were some bumps…and now there’s a baby bump.”
I sigh, shaking my head, and people laugh.
Angelo leans in and loudly whispers, “I’m going to stop while I’m ahead.”
“Good idea,” I respond dryly.
“The future is so bright for my brother, his new wife and their little bundle of upcoming joy and…” He lifts his glass, “I couldn’t be happier for you guys. Love you and I’m looking forward to meeting my new niece or nephew.”
Angelo tosses me a salute and everyone raises their glass, exclaiming, “Cheers!”
I touch my glass against Gabriella’s and we both take a sip. The sound of silverware clinking against glasses suddenly fills the air and I know what that means. With a wolfish grin, I lean in and say, “C’mere and kiss your husband, honey.”
And then we kiss and kiss and kiss some more.