“One of Trenton’s… you mean that dark-haired girl Vannessa? She doesn’t look that much like you…”
I interrupt him again by digging in my purse and pulling out the blue surgical mask I’ve been wearing while coming and going in the hospital. “Once we put on our hats and covered our faces, we could pass for twins,” I tell him as I attached it over my ears. “See? I bet you couldn’t have picked out which of us was the real one.”
“I would have known,” he says. “But it sounds like you planned well. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect womanto come into my life. Someone so brave, who would have my back through anything. Someone to be a perfect queen for my kingdom.”
We both turn towards the door as it opens slightly and Trenton eases back into the room, quietly shutting it behind him. When he turns to look at us, his face brightens in surprise. “You’re awake!” he beams as he strides over to the other side of the bed. “You look awful, Maximo. How are you feeling? Has Constance had a chance to tell you what a busy little bee she’s been?”
“She was just filling me in on some of the details.” Maximo grimaces as he shifts around in the bed trying to get comfortable. “Truth is, I feel fucking puny, but having her here is giving me a new lease on life. Constance says you have been busy while I’ve been in this bed.”
“Busy isn’t the half of it, boss. But we’ve held things down, thanks to her. I didn’t know what we were going to do at first, but Constance stepped up. I wasn’t sure if Jamie would listen to her. Hell, I wasn’t sure I should listen to her, but she ran with your plan and pulled it together better than I ever could have. She’s a keeper, take it from me. I’ve been looking for one for years, and this one is a keeper.”
“Well, I’m glad to know that she’s got your approval,” Maximo snorts at him. “Especially since you’re going to be the best man at our wedding.”
“No, Maximo. Come on. Me? I’m just the hired help!”
“No, you’re not. You’re as much family to me now as Leonard. As much as Enzo was, or Joey. You’ve bled for me and you risked your life to keep her safe. I owe you, Trenton, and I don’t forget my friends. You’ve proven your loyalty and your courage.”
“I didn’t do any of this so you would owe me, boss. Enzo brought me onto his crew when I was just a dockworker scrapingto get by day to day. He was good to me and gave me a life I couldn’t have imagined. He told me all the time he learned how to treat his people from you. I owed him, and I owe you for everything you do for me. Even without all that, though, I would have taken care of Constance for you.”
Trenton turns to me and adds, “I would have protected you, no matter what. But you didn’t need me to. Not really. You’re as much of a leader as he is.” He nods toward Maximo. “You’re so much like him that it almost felt natural when you picked up where he left off and finished his work.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, though. You, Jamie, and all the rest of the people that work under the name of the Luciani family,” I tell him.
“They all feel the same way I do.” Trenton shrugs. “The Luciani’s take care of us. They give us opportunities we never would’ve had. You can’t buy that kind of loyalty. You have to earn it. You two both have that same quality. You earn the respect, the loyalty, hell, the love of the people that work for you.”
“I appreciate you saying that,” Maximo tells Trenton. “It’s one thing my father always hammered into me. We don’t forget our friends, and we always take care of our family.” He takes Trenton’s hand while still holding mine in his other. “And together, we can get through anything.”
“Speaking of family…” Trenton shuffles his feet awkwardly. “I’m going to go call Leonard and tell him you’re awake. I’ll let him know it’s safe to bring Adeline over to the hospital. Your mother has been freaking out and is desperate to come see you.”
“Go, call them,” Maximo agrees. “Constance and I will be fine.”
“And tell them to be ready to start planning a wedding.” I smile at Maximo as Trenton starts to walk away. “I’d like to geta dress and get our pictures before I begin showing too much,” I add in a whisper that only Maximo can hear.
He holds up his arms and motions me forward for a hug. When I carefully wrap my arms around him and he holds me close, I feel a surge of relief.
And I know, for the first time since I buried my father, that things are going to be all right. I’ve found a new family after losing the only one I’d ever known. A new family and a new life. A life that’s more exciting, more fulfilling, than I could’ve ever imagined. I came to Maximo seeking vengeance. He’d given me that, but even more, he’d given me hope for the future and dispelled the clouds of misery that had haunted me.
“I love you,” I whisper to him. “I’d do anything for you, Maximo Luciani.”
He caresses my hair and turns my face to him, pressing his lips to mine. “Be careful making promises like that to me, firefly. You never know what I might do to hold you to them.”
17
Maximo
“Are you okay?”Constance glances over at me in concern as I struggle to rise from my chair.
“Just stiff,” I grunt as I grab the cane I was given yesterday at my therapy appointment. “I need to walk around a little bit.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks as she starts to rise from her seat at the table in my library.
“No, you and Melissa keep getting the announcements ready.” I smile down at Constance as she resumes her seat.
Melissa looks up at me with a grin and says, “You’re just tired of going through the guest list. They’re mostly your friends. Are you absolutely sure this is everyone? I bet there are at least three people in New York you’ve forgotten to warn to save the date. We’ve spent the last hour just filling out cards for this gang of bikers. What did you call them? The Savage Kings?”
“Yeah, maybe we don’t have to invite Vanessa,” Trenton adds as he stabs a finger at the list of names in front of him. “I’m sure one of the Kings would bring her as a plus one, anyway.”
“We’re inviting her,” Constance firmly overrules him. “I don’t care what she’s been to you in the past, she’s been a friend to me.”
