With a sigh, she agrees. “Fine. I’ll stay the whole night.”
She drinks the wine, and I smile, darkly.
19
Francesca
The sun is rising over the Manhattan skyline when I wake with a horrible taste in my mouth, a pounding headache and a very tender pussy. Shit. Mom will be freaking out, and Alessio will be pissed, but I’m too exhausted to move.
I cringe, remembering the last time I stirred in the wee hours of the morning. I’d had another nightmare about that day. Carlo had stroked my back and pressed soft kisses to my neck.“You’re safe, Francesca. No one will harm you.”
I hated feeling vulnerable, but I clung to Carlo and his assurances like a child. At least he didn’t ask me about the dream.
Later, I dreamt of him murmuring in my ear –“Did you really believe I'd ever let you go?"
The space beside me is empty now. How long has he been up? He’s left the bedroom door ajar, and I can hear sounds coming from the kitchen below. Is he making me breakfast? Doesn’t matter. The night I promised him is over. I’m leaving for the airport in a couple of hours where I'll return to Las Vegas, and the Trio's future Don can find himself some other girl to marry.
Sitting up, I see the smear of dried blood on the white silk sheet. Jesus.Here lies proof of my lost virginity,I think, wryly.
My humor vanishes the next moment when I hear the elevator and then his voice drifting up the stairs. “Thank you for coming on such short notice, Father.”
Father? Is Carlo’s dad here? I start to panic.
“Faro, you’ll be our second witness. Did you pick up that package for me?”
Faro? Second witness? Is he conducting Trio business down there? Has he forgotten I’m up here?
Then, I really panic when I hear who he addresses next. “Signora Donnelly, I must beg your pardon for the impropriety of the situation – I am entirely to blame – but, when Francesca and I got to talking last night, I simply couldn’t wait another two weeks to marry your daughter.”
WHAT?!
20
Carlo
Amuffled thump from above has me biting back laughter as I excuse myself to hurry up the steps. Her red curls are unruly, and her face is puffy from her heavy sleep while she attempts to cinch my robe closed as she exits the bedroom. Even so, she’s a vision, barefoot and beautiful.
“Oh good, you’re awake now,” I say, smugly. She makes this little growly noise low in her throat in response. That, combined with the fact she’s naked under my robe, has blood rushing to my cock.
She points over the loft’s railing toward the priest below. “Whoever the hell he is, that had better be his Halloween costume.”
I smile, remembering the nun’s habit she wore to my parents’ house last night. “Alas, that is the good father's very real liturgical vestments. I thought it only appropriate we see this done properly. It will mean so much to your beloved mother, and the priest has graciously agreed to conduct the ceremony here.”
From the look in her eyes, it’s clear she’s contemplating shoving me down the staircase, but her mother has perfect timing. “Francesca, are you not ready? The priest is waiting.” If Beatrice is upset over us getting the cart before the horse, she hides it well.
“There’s a dress in the closet I had in mind for my lovely bride,” I tell the ladies. “Please, don’t rush on our account,mia moglie. I understand it’s a special day for any girl, and you’ll want some time alone with your mother.”
Francesca’s eyes narrow with loathing as Beatrice is retrieving the elegant white dress I had delivered earlier while her daughter snoozed. “You lied to me last night,” she accuses in an angry whisper. "You made me an oath and broke it."
“On the contrary, I made you an oath that I wouldn’t marry you in two weeks. We’ll marry this morning instead.”
“That wasn’t the deal, and you know it.”
“When you go making deals with the devil, expect to get screwed… in more ways than one.” Her nostrils flare, and I’m very tempted to kiss that pert mouth.
"Alessio will never-"
"Your cousin's reign in the West won't last long without our support, and he's inmyterritory this morning, Francesca. Think carefully about what you say when I allow him to join us."
