"We'll talk more later, okay?" She presses a kiss to my cheek. "We have a lot to plan," she says and walks in the direction of where she's needed.
The greenhouse is warm, but there's a faint smell of blooming jasmine and garden roses trailing along the trellises. Sunlight filters softly through the glass panels above, casting delicate, golden patterns over the floor. It feels like a dream, one stitched together with moss, light, and love.
I pause, my hand resting lightly on the frame of the doorway, eyes sweeping over the transformation that's still in progress. There's a quiet hum of motion as decorators flit across the space, fixing, hanging, adjusting. But none of the activity takes away from how peaceful everything feels. If anything, it adds to the anticipation blooming in my chest.
The greenhouse was always beautiful on its own, walls made of crystal-clear panes with vines creeping up the iron frames like nature's lace. But now, it feels almost sacred.
Long rows of wooden chairs, soft chestnut in color, line either side of the narrow aisle, their legs gently sunk into a thin carpet of white petals that dusts the ground like snow. Every chair is adorned with a sprig of olive or eucalyptus tied with cream ribbon, swaying slightly in the quiet breeze moving through the open door.
The aisle itself is framed by a soft scattering of moss and tiny fairy lights woven discreetly into the ground. They haven't been lit yet, but I can already imagine how they'll glow by evening, like stars that fell to earth just for us.
At the far end of the aisle is a circular arch made of intertwined vines, white garden roses, baby's breath, and sage. It's simple, but it steals my breath. To the side, a few staff members set up the reception area, still under the greenhouse roof but slightly apart, where the walls open to overlook the garden outside.
Long banquet tables are dressed in ivory linen, with centerpieces of low glass bowls filled with floating candles andsprigs of herbs. The name tags are handwritten in calligraphy on torn-edge cardstock.
Overhead, strung from beam to beam, are clear-glass bulbs glowing with soft amber light. I breathe in deeply. This is the kind of wedding I would have imagined for myself years ago. Not the over-the-top ballrooms or extravagant guest lists. No. This feels intimate and simple.
Finn and I thought about where we should have the wedding, and he came up with the idea that we have it here. When I asked why, he said he loved how my face lit up when we first came here and he wanted to see that again.
I smile, remembering he actually wanted to send me off to Vito when we first arrived here.
Finn and I shopped for my wedding dress together, and it didn't take long before we decided on the one we wanted.
"Gianna, move out of the way," Rina's voice comes again. I move out of the way as a decorator carries a stack of chairs past me. I can already imagine Rina dragging me everywhere, from food tasting to wine tasting, to picking the right fabric to the right color, and although it'll be exhausting, whatever makes her happy goes.
I glance at my watch. Finn should be at Costello Motors by now. When he told me he had some business he needed to see through, my stomach twisted with worry even though Costello Motors is a legal business. I still worry that something might go wrong. I really don't want him close to anything that might hurt him. He should be there by now, though, and I hope he returns quickly.
I walk further into the greenhouse, checking on every detail, even though I know Rina won't miss a thing. The truth is, I need to distract myself. Sitting alone in my room without Finn is letting me stay in my head for too long. I run my hand along the flowers, checking for something, anything.
That's when I hear her voice. "Gianna."
I turn my head so quickly it almost snaps. "Sofia," I whisper, my heart racing with joy.
She looks like she's coming from a meeting, dressed in a suit. I don't know who moves first, maybe both of us, but we're in each other's arms. Her embrace is warm and familiar.
This is home.
Sofia pulls away with a big smile. "I'm so proud of you," she says with so much empathy, and I can't believe how much I missed her voice. My eyes glisten with tears I try to hold back. She looks around like she's just taking it all in. "Look at this. This is all for you."
"Yeah," I answer, pulling my lips into a thin line. Sofia tilts her head slightly, narrowing her gaze. "Talk to me. What's bothering you?" she asks, concern dripping from her voice. She's always been good at detecting when something is bothering me.
I sigh, looking around the greenhouse again, the reality of everything hitting me. "It's just, I'm a bit terrified. I'm scared something might go wrong and everything would just go back to how it was, or even worse," I confess, my heart racing as the words escape my lips.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Sofia says, her hand sliding down my arm to grab my hand. "It's okay. It's only normal that you feel like this." I nod, meeting her gaze, trying to gather even a bit of her confidence and certainty.
"Do you remember how all you ever wanted was freedom?" she asks. I relax, my heartbeat slowly stabilizing. I nod. She's right, freedom is all I've ever wanted and craved. "Well... this is it," she says, squeezing my hand gently.
"You claimed this freedom, and you did it on your own terms. All you have to do is enjoy it, Gianna."
CHAPTER 38
Finn
I tightenmy knuckles around my steering wheel, and my car purrs softly as I drive into the gate of the Costello estate. My jaw tightens, and my body tenses. How did somewhere I considered home for a long time become a sight that sets my body on fire? I pass through the driveway, security stationed at every area of the house. My brows knot. The estate is always crawling with security, but this is different. There's literally security everywhere I look.
I turn the wheel slowly, turning into the garage, finding a good spot to park.
I kill the engine and step out of the car, closing the door behind me. I slide my hands into my pockets, walking past the many vehicles in the garage. My eyes land on the secret passageway entrance, and I wonder how she did it. How did Gianna drag my unconscious body through that hallway? I owe her my life. Without her, Declan would have had his way.
