“Don’t push your luck,” Uncle Damiano grumbles at him. He lifts his glass a little higher. “To the Falcos and Vitales being bound by marriage.” Then he looks at Dad. “Franco, may our families grow from strength to strength.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Dad replies, before taking a sip of his champagne.
When Uncle Damiano takes a seat, Christiano stands up. As the currentCapo dei Capi,it’s his turn for a speech.
“The day Riccardo walked into my office to ask for Gianna’s hand in marriage, I felt blessed. I couldn’t have picked a better husband for my baby sister.”
“I’m not a baby,” Gianna mumbles.
Christiano spears her with a stern look. “You’ll always be my baby sister. Deal with it.”
Laughter bursts out in the hall that’s packed full of guests and decorations. All together, the five families amount totwenty-three people. There are also all the underbosses, their wives and children, the guards, and special guests from other crime syndicates and businesses.
This wedding cost a couple of million, so Riccardo and Gianna better make it work. I don’t want to hear anything about a divorce.
While Christiano continues with his speech, Bianca, one of my sisters, leans into me. “Do you have your speech ready?”
“Yes.” I take a sip of my champagne, and when Christiano sits down, I suck in a deep breath as I stand up.
“I couldn’t be prouder of you, Riccardo,” I say as I look at my brother, where he’s seated between his new wife and our mom at the bridal table. “You’re brave for daring to marry the youngest daughter of the Falco family.” I wait while everyone chuckles. “But I don’t blame you, brother.” I turn my gaze to Gianna. “You chose a beautiful, loving, and kind bride, and we’re honored to welcome her to our family.” Looking at Christiano and Uncle Damiano, I end with, “We will treat Gianna as our own and protect her with our last breaths. Thank you for trusting us with her safety and happiness.”
When I sit down, Bianca pats my forearm. “Not bad.”
I’m one of triplets and was born first, beating Bianca by a minute and twelve seconds. Sienna was born two minutes and forty-six seconds after me. We might be triplets, but it doesn’t stop me from viewing them as my baby sisters.
Riccardo is five years younger than us, and even though he’s the youngest in the family, he’s the first to get married. They waited for Gianna to turn twenty-one before he dared to propose, and the past year they spent planning the perfect wedding and honeymoon.
Tomorrow, they’re leaving for Japan, and then everything will return to normal.
Thank fuck! All the women will finally calm down.
I let out a relieved sigh because dealing with a bunch of frantic women planning a wedding has been soul-suckingly exhausting.
Christiano and I were close to losing our minds, but now we can focus on work again.
The music starts, and I watch as my brother leads his wife to the dance floor in the middle of the hall. Tables line the walls, and we all have a clear view of the happy couple.
Soon, our parents also join them.
When Christiano gets up and walks toward us, Sienna leans into Bianca and whispers, “You dance with him. I have to go to the restroom.”
“Don’t you dare be disrespectful,” I snap at my sister, leveling her with a glare. “You will dance with Christiano.”
Her shoulders slump, and she scowls at me.
Stopping right beside Sienna, Christiano doesn’t give her a choice, and taking her hand, he pulls her toward the dance floor.
I get up and fasten the buttons of my jacket as I lock eyes with Valentina, while Enzo goes to get Bianca.
Once all the Vitales and Falcos are dancing, other couples begin to join us, and the space on the dance floor quickly fills up.
“How’s married life?” I ask Valentina.
She glances at the table where her husband is sitting. “It’s okay.” She takes a deep breath, then looks at me. “You must be relieved that all the wedding planning is finally over.”
I let out a chuckle. “You have no idea.”
The moment the song ends, Valentina excuses herself so she can go sit with her husband again.
