Chapter Thirty-Two

"You look lovely!" the make-up artist squeals, and I give her my best attempt at a thank-you smile.

She's annoying as hell, but she has done a good job. I stand in front of the mirror and look at my tan body in this cream and gold wedding dress. It's unique, just like mine and Luca's love story.

This day has been a dream of mine for so long. It's almost unreal that today I am marrying Luca Baldini. By the time I fall asleep tonight—if we end up sleeping at all, that is—I will have legally signed a document that makes me a Baldini too.

Luca and I are going to raise this baby in the house that Ginny raised us all in, and we're going to show his brother and sister that we don't need to be sneaky to make a success of our story.

Everything that has happened since Ginny's death has happened for a reason, I fully believe that. If my story with Luca had looked any different, I might not be standing here in a wedding dress, with a Baldini baby inside of me, about to marry the man of my dreams.

I know that the house looks stunning, because I checked before I came into my makeshift bridal suite to get ready. I was also secretly looking for Grazia, hoping she'd changed her mind about not being here today, but I haven't seen her all morning.

I hear a knock on the door and turn around, clutching at my dress. "Luca? You can't come in here!" I yell.

The door opens a crack and I hear a voice—familiar, but not Luca's—say from the other side, "No, honey, it's me." My father peeks his head around the door, a stupid smile on his face. I turn back to the mirror.

"What do you want?" I ask him, refusing to look at him.

We haven't spoken since I left the house after his and Grazia's little "intervention" and I'm not in the mood to deal with any of the drama now. I want happy and positive vibes before I walk down the aisle.

I know that he was sent an invite. He even texted me to ask if I wanted him to walk me down the aisle, but I still haven't been able to talk to him—or trust him—so how does he expect me to have him "give me away" on the most important day of my life? Especially when he was so ready, just a few days before, to declare my relationship with Luca fake. All in the name of some quick money. That's how it always seems to be with my father.

"I…just want to see my daughter on her wedding day." He sounds sad, and I can't blame him. This isn't how things were supposed to go, not with him or with Grazia. But today is a happy day, and I refuse to let either of them make me sad.

"Daddy," I sigh. "I'm angry with you. But I love you. I can't do this emotional stuff right now." He nods, a disappointed look on his face that only makes my irritation with him worse.

"Why don't you go and find your seat and we can talk later, okay?" I smile slightly at him and he returns the expression before leaving the room. I let out a long sigh and get back to finishing up my look.

***

It's finally time. One of the organizers comes in to tell me that they're ready for me.

I stand up and take the deepest breath I can manage. I'm about to marry Luca Baldini. I have his firstborn child growing inside me. Emelia, I say to myself, you've done a damn good job.

I look up and smile. Ginny might not be here, but she is a big reason why this day has even come to pass. Straightening my posture, I take a few steps out of the room and stop at the doors leading outside.

I can already see everyone sitting in front of the lookout house, Luca standing near the doors with the priest. Carlos has brought so many more people than we expected, almost everyone who was at the quincea?era, and I know that Luca had to organize last-minute seating for everyone.

We also have most of the neighborhood here, since we couldn't let this look like a party we threw solely for our Mexican visitors.

The difference with this wedding, compared to others I've been to, is that I don't have bridesmaids, a flower girl, or my Maid of Honor. Luca is also standing up there by himself.

It's not traditional, but in my heart, it feels symbolic of our love. It's he and I against the world. Forever.

As soon as I hear my song playing, I make my way down the aisle, smiling at Luca.

He's also smiling, which I know is so much more special than if he'd cried as he saw me. All I want is to see that smile every day for the rest of my life.

The ceremony is quick, because we both agreed that we didn't want to bore our guests. And as soon as the priest utters, "you may now kiss the bride", I hear Carlos and those around him erupt with cheers.

Luca and I laugh together as we run past the crowd and they throw rose petals over our heads.

We escape back to the bridal suite while the organizer takes the guests into the mansion"s entertainment hall, which is decorated in a blend of gold and soft pastel colors, with photos of Luca and I from our childhood to now thoughtfully placed around the space.

I can hear the buzz of voices and footsteps, but in the suite, with Luca staring into my eyes, still smiling, I feel like we're the last people on earth.

"We did it," I say to him, pulling him in by his neck so I can kiss him again. And again. And again.

He growls into my ear, "Careful, Em. We don't want to ruin that dress before the pictures." As he says that, our photographer knocks on the door.

I groan and roll my eyes. Luca laughs and pulls me to the door. We follow her out to the garden to take photos as the sun goes down.

We take so many pictures, my jaw hurts from smiling and my stomach is growling from hunger, but I know I'll end up printing out almost all of them and putting them up in our home.

Finally, Luca and I join the crowd already having the time of their lives. There is such a celebratory air in the house, I'm actually glad that we ended up inviting the Mexicans.

Drug lords or not, these guys know how to stop and celebrate the big moments. And with Luca's family, and my own not quite on our side, it's refreshing to receive the well wishes.

Luca also points out the insanity of the gift table, which is overflowing with presents of all sizes. I laugh at the sight.

We serve dinner and the hall goes quiet for the first time. Luca has arranged for the finest Mexican tequila to be sent around the tables, and Italian wines for variety.

My stomach finally stops growling as I finish the creamy Tuscan salmon that was placed in front of me and I give Luca a puppy-dog look to convince him it's time to dance.

We haven't practiced a first dance, but we're both pretty good on the floor as we improvise perfectly as a team.

It"s not long before almost every other guest is on the dance floor, too. Luca pulls me away to the side after a few songs.

We stand just outside the doors, breathing in the cool evening air and staring into each other's eyes. Luca traces his finger from my eyebrow down to my chin and I close my eyes, soaking in his touch, his smell, this whole evening.

"I hope this night is enough for you, mia cara," he whispers. That's the first term of endearment he's ever used for me. My heart swells.

I take a mental picture, wanting this moment to last as long as it possibly can. I grab a hold of his finger and kiss it, opening my eyes to look into his again.

"It's so much more," I say, not lying.

The lavish venues and fancy wedding parties don't tempt me. If I'm going home with Luca Baldini tonight, as my husband, I've gotten everything I could ever have wished for.

***

We join the party again, but I'm eager to have my husband all to myself later—hopefully not too much later. So, I chat with the wedding organizer and ask if we can push the big steps up a bit. She catches my drift and winks at me as she agrees, and I blush just slightly.

As we're about to cut into the white, four-tiered wedding cake with edible gold roses cascading down it like a waterfall, Enzo comes up and asks to speak to Luca.

"I'm a bit busy." Luca tells him.

"Okay," Enzo nods, but keeps speaking anyway. "Has anyone seen Grazia, though? She was with the party until the reception started."

"I haven"t seen her once all day." I add quietly. She"s been doing an excellent job of avoiding me like the plague. But with Mexicans within ear shot, I"m not going to leak that drama.

"Hah, we saw her…" Carlos" wife speaks up eagerly. "My cousin Marco had his tongue down her throat, I'm afraid. I warned him not to cause any trouble, but your sister looked like she was old enough to look after herself," the woman is more than happy to share details, but her husband's face looks worried.

"Luca…" Carlos comes closer to us as his wife spins off dancing with another ‘cousin', "Luca you must warn your sister. Marco Rodriguez is not a good man. He works hard, he's loyal, but he isn't someone you want your young sister around."

I see something flicker across Luca's face, and his jaw tightens. He turns to say something to me, but before he can utter a word, I nod and follow him and Enzo as they make their way to the upstairs portion of the mansion.

Luca and Enzo call out to Grazia, giving her some warning in case she and Marco are in an awkward position.

I can't help but notice that the risk of their sister being in possible danger has brought them both to the same side again. I realize that I am angry with the Baldini brats for how they treat Luca, but these siblings really do need each other.

Carlos follows the brothers too, with me now behind them all. Each one looks as concerned as the next, and I find myself suddenly really worried about my friend.

The men burst into Grazia's room, but it's empty. It's a mess, though, with clothes all over the floor and a glass of water that"s been knocked over onto the dresser, this mess is very unusual.

Not that Grazia is the tidiest person in the world, but she does have a housekeeper who would have cleaned her room this morning.

"Luca," I say. "What is that?" I point to a folded piece of red paper that has been placed on top of Grazia's pillow.

Luca picks up the paper and reads it quickly. His jaw tightens even further, and his hand forms a fist with the paper still in it.

He passes the note to Enzo, who has a very similar reaction. Enzo then passes it to Carlos, and both brothers watch as the cartel boss reads the note. When he's done, he sighs.

"Luca, Enzo, I am so sorry, lo siento. This was not my intention when I brought my family to your home."

I'm still in the dark about what's going on—I need to get my hands on that note—but the faces of the Baldini men tell me to give them a minute.

"Not your intention? Carlos what the fuck?! Who is this motherfucker?" Luca shouts at Carlos, his face going red.

I wonder if Grazia decided to run away with Marco Rodriguez, choosing to escape to Mexico rather than watch her brother and I live happily ever after.

"Luca," Enzo's voice is calm and clear, as it usually is in times of stress. Luca immediately looks to his older brother and listens. "This is not the time for emotions. Carlos, you and your top men are needed in our office, now. Luca, I know this is your wedding night but…"

"I'll be in the office," Luca says quickly, looking around Grazia's room. I think they've forgotten that I'm there, so I step further into the room.

"What does it say?" I ask them, and all three men turn to stare at me still in my wedding dress.

Luca swallows before handing me the letter. I look down and gasp at the words written in what looks like Grazia's green eyeliner:

I have taken Grazia Baldini as my prisoner. I will contact you with my demands, but for now, I trust you will be discreet, to avoid any harm coming to your beloved sister.

M.R

***

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***

I danced into the enemy"s arms like a lost lamb.

And the brute claimed more than just my V-card.

I never should have been in the enemy's club.

In my defense, I didn't know it was his.

I've been sheltered my whole life.

A captive in my own home. My father"s prize.

But when my devilishly handsome dance partner promised me a safe ride home,

I couldn't resist showing him how flexible I could be in the back seat.

All I wanted was one night of freedom from my father"s prison.

Instead, I never got that ride home.

Now I'm a captive in a twisted game of revenge.

And I have two choices…

A new life sentence in a forced marriage to the Mafia Boss.

Or death do us part.

***

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Sneak Peek – Chapter One