“Hello, Little Siren. Were you looking for me?” He says against my skin.
“Maybe,” I giggle.
“Are you going to tell me what has been upsetting you since before we left home?”Okay, Mr. Mind Reader.
“Oh, just nerves. I’m better now.” I say, hoping he doesn’t pry. I feel his gentle nod after a moment.
“Are you ready to do this or do you need more time?” He asks softly, resting his chin on my neck now.
“I’m ready.” Confidence dancing on my tongue. It’s us against the world it feels.
With that, he takes my hand and leads us to the stage. I stand off to the side, allowing for him to take his place at the podium. The room quiets down naturally, as his presence basks loudly within the blinding spotlights. I can’t help but take in the audience, noticing the various people in the crowd. His family looks at him in admiration while many of mine stare in unadulterated disdain. What has me far more intrigued is that our families are not segregating themselves to opposite sides of the room. Is this tolerance or just a coincidence? Ghost’s voice echoes through the overhead speakers.
“Welcome and thank you all for coming tonight. To say that having you all here is an honor, well frankly, would be an understatement. Our families have spent over fifty years in a constant state of conflict. Once we were intended to be a united mafia and yet, events made that impossible. I stand in front of you on this stage to make two announcements that will forever change the course of our futures. Firstly, my father was executed for treason four days ago.” The crowd gaps in unison. He pauses, looking towards Scarlett in the sea of humans. She nods curtly, offering him a response to a silent question.
“My father, the don, gave his own daughter over to the Spanish cartel to be brutalized. But… not before also partaking in this abuse with her too. Now, his crimes do not stop there! He has long been involved with them, so we came to find out. He directly was at fault for the kidnapping and torture of both me and members of the American Mafia, including their heiress, Everly. He was behind Everly’s eleven month abduction nearly a decade ago. Not to mention the multiple attacks against myself. Lastly, he paid for a suicide pilot and faulty plane partswith the goal to kill Everly during a mission he orchestrated. I understand you may be wondering what our business is with them. As you all know, we forged an alliance in order to remove the Spanish cartel from the map. We did that, but not before-” he pauses again, reaching inside of his fitted collar to pull out the pendant I gave him. Displaying it to the crowd before dropping it against his suit and speaking again.
“Everly and I shared our pendants. This vow was not made impulsively as, frankly, I have loved Everly since the very first time I saw her. I allowed my father and his twisted ways to manipulate me as a young boy. I am a man now as I stand before you. I am your new Don. I am also irrevocably in love with the woman standing next to me. For this reason, I asked her to marry me. I believe that we can unite our families as one. We will stand unified and uncontested. We will find peace and prosperity. My first act as Don is to null the long standing rivalry between families and my second… is to ask that you all welcome your second newest, and for some soon-to- be, Donna.” He turns to me with an outstretched hand, beckoning me forward.
Meeting him at his side, he wraps his arm around me and places a firm kiss on my temple. I smile up at him before taking his place at the podium.
“Hello. There isn’t much more I can say that he didn’t cover. I am profoundly grateful to be here tonight, in front of you all. I am even more grateful for those of you that aided us in our missions this year. We could not have done it without you. As your future leader, I vow to always do what is right. To have honor and a steady hand. To cut and mend when asked. To guide and silence when needed. Most importantly… Morire con onore o farsi tagliare la gola.Nés par le sang, unis par l’amoure, brisés par l’honneur.”Die with honor or have your throat cut.Born by blood, bound by love, broken by honor.Saying my family's motto first in Italian and finishing with Ghost’s in French.
I look at Ghost with a gentle smile before reaching into my bag to retrieve the necklace made for just this occasion. Once collected, I place it on my neck and halt long enough for everyone to see the design. My eyes find him again but this time his expression is nearly shocked. He takes my hand, bringing to his lips and places a kiss on each knuckle. There on the pendant sits a mixture of our sigils. A skull sitting on a bed of lilies, a metallic looking snake wrapping around it before standing in a defensive manner, with the background harboring two French swords. We nod to one another before exiting the stage and joining our other family members.
The night moves quickly, filled with celebration. Understandably not every member is pleased but they will come around no doubt. Simply put, they don’t have a choice. Soon enough the night comes to an end and we make our way out onto the street. Finding our car, we climb in swiftly. My hand reaches out to collect Ghost’s wordlessly. So much has happened in such a short period that I find a sort of peace in the quiet. The ride is otherwise silent, besides the low music that fills the car. Eventually, we arrive home and head to bed. My mind is filled with the future and our inevitable wedding. What flowers I may choose and the number of children we could have. The design of my dress and the wars we will win. Sleep finds me quickly as I drift off into Ghost’s arm. The only place I would ever choose to be.
Chapter Thirty Seven
F Is For Frenemies To Lovers
Life is funny in the way it can surprise you. Extraordinary events coming together in some grand symphony to create a beautiful song. Pieces of a puzzle with uneven edges needing just the right placement, without so would end in you taking an entirely different path. If I had been asked two years ago about what my future held, I may have told you some underwhelming tale of a life filled with late night missions and coming home to only a vibrator. I may have said that I was filling my time with fucking random elitists or taking one of my fathers men out for a spin. That’s why standing here in my wedding gown feels surreal. I know somewhere in this building is a room that holds the love of my life. He’s probably already ready, sipping his whiskey, and mildly bored. These facts are all so strange two years later. I never could have thought that I would be marrying the dark figure that stabbed me all that time ago.
“How do you feel?” Scarlett asks from behind me.
“I- I feel a lot of things.” I say, running my hands down the front of my dress trying to smooth the vibrations of erratic nerves. She nods understandably.
“That’s normal on your wedding day. I might think it a bit strange if you didn’t.” She chuckles, hoping to lighten the mood.
“How is he doing?” I ask.
“He’s shaking like a leaf, but don’t tell him I told you that.” This makes me finally laugh.
A knock at the door halts our laughter, just as my mother slides through the thinly opened doorway. Her smile and teary eyes only add to my growing emotions.
“Everly, you look absolutely beautiful, my love. This dress is exactly you.” She comes to stand at my side, gently turning me at the shoulders so that we both face the floor to ceiling mirrors.
Vivian was such a huge help with designing this piece for me. I really wasn’t sure when she first proposed it but once I put it on that was it; I was sold. Taking in the obsidian gown, my eyes dance over the fabric. My shoulders are exposed leading to a near heart shaped bust. Tulle and lace over my arms loosely, connecting the corset. The skirt is large and flowing as it cascades down to the floor with the same material and pattern of the sleeves. Small black pearls adorn the dress at random. The concept of a black wedding dress was a bit far-fetched even for me but when I told Vivian to do her worst, she made a masterpiece.
“Let's do it.” I say more to myself than to them.
Stepping closer to the mirror I ensure that diamonds are set in my ears. They twinkle with every movement. I take noteof my hair and makeup. My eyes are coated in dark browns, complimenting my deep red lips. My hair falls naturally in waves before being half tied up. Face framing bangs sit softly against my cheeks. I nod to myself before gliding across the room to the door. Everyone follows suit without question. I guide us through the halls and to the foyer just outside where the ceremony is waiting to start. My father enters through the side door looking me over with so much love I could cry.
“My baby girl is getting married.” His words cause my heart to constrict tightly before leaving a ball in my throat. I can only muster the ability to nod, feeling gagged from the overwhelming flood of emotions.
He takes my hand pulling it gently to rest on his arm. My heart begins to hammer wildly beneath my rib cage at the reality of this moment. A mixture of excitement and anxiety coats my skin in sweat just as a soft melody floats past the doors ahead. I suck in a deep breath as they jolt open, giving way to a massive room.
The ceiling and walls are made of only glass and steel frames giving the appearance of a greenhouse with mahogany wood floors. Beyond the windows is a vast forest of autumn colors that seems never ending until mountains peak over the tops. The room is decorated in greenery and black silks. To each side of the room sits long rows of dark benches filled with friends and family. Their expecting faces only work to add invisible cement to my feet. My father begins to walk, snapping me into movement. Just as my feet take action my eyes findhim.The first thing I notice is his black suit that has red details and the way it clings to his form. The second is Ryon and Scarlett beside him. They stand in similar colors, softly smiling when our eyes meet. The next sight to take my attention is James and Lucas waiting to the left of my too-soon-to-be place. They share the same attire as Ryon. I notice their beaming smiles while I look like a deer in headlights. My steps only falter when I finally look at Ghost, his eyes glistening in awe as he takes in my image. Our eyes meet and I feel a forced calm wash over me. Like the world melts away and it's just us two. A place where he ends and I begin.
