She turns to me and Massimo.“I hope you don’t mind but I invited Desiree to the wedding.She didn’t want to attend, but I begged her.I haven’t seen her for ages.I thought it would be good for her too, okay?”She looks at me.“I hope you don’t mind.She gave me the inside scoop.You know there was never anything romantic between her and Massimo, or I wouldn’t have dreamed of inviting her.She’s been like a sister to me for years.”
Maybe at one time, I would have minded with a green-eyed jealous vengeance but that feels like so long ago.“Of course not,” I assure her, squeezing Massimo’s hand to let him know it’s fine.That I really do not mind.
Anna takes to Annabelle’s sweet personality right away.“Thank you, that means a lot to both of us.”Annabelle nods.“Come, let’s take our seats,” she says, knowing that we’ve chosen to keep the casket closed in respect of the family differences in the past and the irreparable damage that was done to our father as he fought to keep Barcelo at bay.
Massimo sits protectively by my side, with Anna next to me and Annabelle on her other side.Their father keeps his arm protectively around their mother who looks almost like the very first day I met her, alive, proud, and sitting up tall as if to dare anyone to mess with her again, while Massimo’s brothers sit together with Jimmy and their most trusted of lieutenants.
The only ones with tears in their eyes are my sister and me, but not one person shows anything but the utmost respect as the priest speaks with words that settle our souls.Massimo guides Anna and I out of the church and into the back of the limousine, gesturing that Annabelle should ride along with us if she likes.
She jumps into the back seat right away and Anna sits next to her facing both me and Massimo.“Is there anything that I can do?”she asks.“Anything at all?”
Anna shakes her head gently.“No, he had a good life, led the life that he wanted and now he’s with Mamma.It’s how he wanted it at the end.He was only holding out to preserve what was left of the Cassone inheritance from Barcelo and now that he’s dead too, it’s irrelevant.It’s done.”
25
Massimo
If anyone had told me I’d be at church for a funeral of a Cassone and then be marrying one a week later, I would have thought they had lost their mind.One way or another, it was always going to end this way for Sophia and me.The minute I saw her in that club with the light shining in her eyes, she captured my attention like no one ever has before.A bet, a debt, nothing is ever going to be enough until I have her for my very own with no wagers or family conflict hanging over our heads.
We’ve fought long and hard to get here and as I fix the bow tie and straighten the tails of my tux, I wonder for a brief moment if that’s how my father felt when he married my mother so many years ago.
I open the bedroom door and almost run into a smirking Leandro.My eyes narrow at my younger brother.“What are you looking at?”I ask.
He grins.“Just admiring how well you clean up.You nervous?”
“No, I am anxious to see my bride, but instead I’m here wasting time with you.”
Leandro laughs and puts his hand over his heart.“Ouch.Touchy, touchy.Take it easy, Massimo.She’s as anxious to say I do as you are to hear her say it.Come on big brother, let’s go get you married, so me and my brothers can welcome our new sister-in-law to the family officially.”
I follow him out the door and down the stairs, taking my place at the makeshift altar in our great room, watched by all of our family members, even some from Italy who have flown in for the event.Anna and Annabelle sit next to Leandro, Gino, Renato, and Tristano.But my attention quickly shifts from them as the pianist who played at our first wedding begins playing the age-old tune for what will be the last marriage of my life.
My eyes go to the top of the stairs, where this time, my father has asked for the privilege of walking Sophia down the stairs and giving her to me.An honor that I almost did not think she would accept, but as always, she managed to surprise me as nobody on earth can do.Graciously not only accepting his offer but thanking him.
Sophia Maria Cassone has enchanted my entire family with her sweetness, her steadfastness and ability to hold her own in any battle, completely comfortable in her role as the next Roselli queen.
Sophia places a delicate hand against the tight-waisted dress with a long skirt that flows into a long train that two of her closest friends hold.Friends who brought her to a Roselli club about a year ago, where no Cassone girl should have ever been.The luckiest night of my life as I reflect on the past and my father and bride begin to walk down the stairs, every moment getting closer to calling her my wife for real.
She smiles shyly but that light that’s always been there shines brightly as she joins my side at the altar, ready to make the biggest commitment of her life, because no matter what, once she says I do, I will never let my kitten go.
The priest’s words barely resonate, I’m concentrating so hard on what I want to say to the woman I plan to spend the rest of my living days loving.I clear my throat as the priest looks directly at me.“Massimo, I understand you have a special set of vows you’d like to use?”
I turn to Sophia, whose eyes have widened, take her small hands in mine, and gently rub her palms, calming her nerves because the last thing I want is for her to be nervous of anything I have to say.“The light of your soul drew me to you the moment I saw you across the room so long ago.Two souls connecting on that level does not happen every day.We’ve been blessed with a love that has transcended family feuds and tragedy, and through it all, our love has not diminished but has grown instead.I love you Sophia Maria Cassone Roselli and want to spend the rest of my life cherishing and loving you.It would give me the greatest pleasure to hear you say I do when the priest asks if you will take me to be your lawfully wedded husband to honor and keep until death do us part.”
Her eyes fill with unshed tears as the priest takes over, having us repeat our original vows, each one after the other promising to love, honor and cherish the other, in sickness and health.And when he says you may kiss the bride, my brothers go crazy because I already have my wife in my arms kissing her with the passion of a man who would die without her by my side.
When I finally allow us to part, we turn, facing our family and friends as we walk through the great room to the other side, which has been set up for the family celebration.A cake four tiers high with a man and woman in a black tux and long white dress sitting at the top, the topper handmade of marble from Italy, a keepsake for Sophia that is engraved at the bottom with Mine Always, Love Massimo.
The minute she tosses the bouquet her sister catches it, and has such a shocked expression on her face it makes me hope that she’ll be able to get past the trauma in her life and find someone one day who will make her forget everything except him.
My little sister is relentless in her urging of us to cut the cake, ever the little sugar tooth.My eyes roll, but Annabelle gets what Annabelle wants.Anyone in the Roselli family knows that.Spoiled terribly by our parents and all of us brothers, it’s a miracle she’s turned out to be such a sweet young lady.“Let’s cut the cake before Annabelle faints from sugar denial alone.”
Sophia laughs, a wisp of her hair pulling loose from her updo.I tuck the tendril behind her ear and stand behind her, grasping her hands in my own as we begin to slice our wedding cake.“Save a piece for me later.I want to feed it to you in bed,” I whisper in my bride’s ear.
She shivers against me, causing my dick to harden in anticipation of our wedding night, but for now it’s enough to see her smile, happy in her decision to spend the rest of her life by my side.
26
Sophia
