Page 196 of Lovely Venom

Nonna confirms it when she takes one look at the two of us and wallops him in the arm with her sandal.

“Madonna santa, Cristiano Vittorio Vitale!” She shoos him off. “Go outside, and think about what you’ve done.”

“Yes, Nonna.” He gives me a not-at-all-apologetic look. “I’ll see you out there, baby.”

“See you soon.” I bite back a smile.

My amusement dies as Nonna examines my face and shakes her head. I try to look properly chastised, but I’m not sure I succeed.

“You must leave a little mystery for the wedding night,” she says.

“I think it may be a little late for that.” My lips quirk as I press a hand to my belly.

Nonna slides a finger across her lips. “We won’t tell the priest.”

“Okay,” I agree, though I’m not sure Cristian’s cousin Pepe—who’s officiating the wedding—could actually be considered a priest.

“Let’s get you fixed up.” Nonna grabs some tissues to clean my face.

She grumbles in Italian, presumably about her robust grandson, and when she’s finished, I reapply my lipstick.

“Alright.” I blow out a breath. “I think I’m ready.”

Nonna’s eyes get a little misty as she cradles my face in her palm. “Your mother is watching over you, and she would be so proud.”

“Oh, Nonna.” I pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to swallow my emotions. “Here come the waterworks.”

“It’s okay.” She smiles softly. “A few tears on your wedding day are expected.”

“Thank you, Nonna,” I whisper.

“We’re your family now.” She presses her fingers to the gold cornicello pendant around my neck. “And we protect our family.”

It takes me a minute to gather myself before I can verbalize my thoughts.

“Nonna, why did you give this to me before my wedding day? Mariella said you never do that.”

“Sometimes you have to give fate a little push.” Her eyes glitter mischievously. “And I’m always right.”

“Women usually are,” I agree.

She gives me a conspiratorial smile as she takes me by the arm. “Exactly.”

Five minutes later, I meet my small army of bridesmaids, and an eager Nella ready for her role as flower girl.

We opted to have the groomsmen stand with Cristian while my bridesmaids do a solo procession. And because I’m already late, there’s only time for a quick round of hugs before the ceremony begins.

After my bridesmaids make their journey, Mariella leads a string quartet in an instrumental rendition of “La Vie En Rose,” and Nonna walks me down the garden path.

Everything is beautiful and perfect. Golden sunlight shining down on us, roses in bloom, salt air carried on the breeze, and citrus perfuming the air. I’m not looking over my shoulder, or scanning for threats, or running through a mental checklist of all the things that could go wrong.

I’m happy, relaxed, and…free. All because of the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle. He’s my safety. My calm in a world of chaos. My home.

As I meet him and he takes my hands in his, I have an unshakable confidence for once in my life that everything is exactly as it should be.

Everything will be okay, because I have him.

And when cousin Pepe pronounces us husband and wife, I know I’m never letting him go.