Her mouth snaps shut, knowing she's cornered.
“Francesca, you should shower and dress now,” Beatrice urges from the bedroom. It’s obvious from her expression that she's seen the sheets.
“I’ll leave you to it,” I say with a bow.
I practically skip back down the steps where Faro meets me at the bottom with his customary scowl. “Alessio is waiting in the lobby as you directed. He’s ready to open fire.”
"If he wants to make it back home to his own bride, he’ll learn some patience today. Did you get the rings?”
Faro nods, passing over a box from Tiffany’s holding two wedding bands, his and hers. Mine is a simple gold band. Hers is in-laid with diamonds and rubies which should go well with the engagement ringZacheo is making. "Did Ettore make the requested enhancement to hers?"
“He did," Faro answers with a small smirk. "I picked up the certificate, too. Just don’t ask me to be the one to break this to your parents.”
“I’ll deal with that. Mother will complain, but she’ll get to host a large reception and get over it.” My father will be concerned, more than likely, but I don’t care right now. I have the woman I want right where I want her. Like I had her last night. Fuck, I can’t wait to have her again.
“What about Luca?” Faro asks after I've told the concierge to send Alessio up. “He’s probably home at this hour.”
My brother is my closest confidante. Ordinarily, I would want him by my side today, but the elevator dings, indicating more company, and I shake my head. “Not with Alessio in a bad mood. Luca would only provoke the crazy fucker until he snapped.” I don’t add that Luca’s a crazy fucker, too, who’s just as likely to snap. Faro already knows it.
“What the fuck is this shit?” Alessio snarls, striding into my home. The fact he’s not holding a weapon yet is a good sign at least.
I turn toward him, straighten my tie, and give him a cold smile. “An impromptu wedding. Aren’t you pleased to be our guest today and have the honor of giving your cousin’s hand in marriage rather than being dumped in a river in Chicago a few weeks ago?”
His eyes burn with anger, but he doesn’t act. I pushed my father to side with him at the Tribunal for one specific and completely selfish reason – so that Francesca would be my bride. And nothing is stopping that now.
21
Francesca
Mom’s hands twist together as I’m drying off from my shower. “Ordinarily, I would take this opportunity to discuss what you might expect on your wedding night…”
Loud pounding on the bedroom door interrupts what would have been wasted breath and additional embarrassment for us both. “Open the fucking door!” Alessio shouts.
I soothe Mom’s worried expression with a nod, telling her to let him in. She crosses the room to do so as I stare in the mirror… at the enormous fool staring back at me."Did you really believe I'd ever let you go?"Guess that wasn't a dream.
Alessio stalks past the bed, looking ready to tear the world to shreds when he sees the sheets. Another witness for my foolishness and humiliation. He enters the steamed-up bathroom, and I force myself to plaster on a pleasant smile. “Good morning, Alessio. I’m sorry I didn’t return to the hotel as you told me to.” Remembering Carlo's threat, I won’t risk my cousin’s life by playing the victim now. Not after what he and Caterina have done for me.
He stops right behind me, meeting my gaze in the mirror. “Say the word, Frankie, and I’ll take you home right now.”
Unexpected tears fill my eyes, that he would risk that for me when I’ve felt sorry for myself as the unwanted, disgraced relative so often the past three years. “We’d walk out of here with me in a towel and my groom dead, you mean,” I say, adjusting that towel. He averts hiseyes from my near-nakedness and nods. “No, Alessio. I made my bed and lied in it, too. I’m a big girl, and I'm about to be a bride.”
“I won’t fight him if you say this is your choice.”
I bite my tongue, knowing this isn’t my choice. I was tricked. The urge to whine is strong but not as strong as the love I feel for my family and the desire to avoid causing them any harm or further shame. “This is my choice,” I murmur, unable to meet Alessio’s intense gaze again. I curse myself for lying and doubly curse Carlo. “I promise to make his life hell for you though.”
He cracks a smile at last. “Very well. I guess this means I have to give your hand in marriage to Carlo fucking Vicini once you’re dressed,” he huffs, stalking back out of the room.
***
Impromptu or not, there’s no question it’s official, from the white dress that miraculously fits me like a glove to the marriage certificate with the Seal of New York gracing it. He laid his trap well while I slept.
As soon as I give my begrudging ‘I do,’ he steals my breath with a kiss that sets my thighs on fire in front of God, my mother and everyone.
The priest departs once his role has been fulfilled. Alessio starts pulling Mom away as she’s still finishing her glass of champagne and weeping with joy.
“Aunt Beatrice, Frankie will be fine. It’s time for us to go,” he says, firmly. If my cousin is forced to make pleasantries much longer, I suspect things will turn violent.
My heart gives a painful lurch telling her I’ll call her tomorrow. We’ve been a unit since we were forced to flee Boston together.
