Page 70 of Rescued By the Mafia

“You can even sell it if you’d rather.”

She shook her head. “No. I want to rebuild, something better.” She pulled in a breath and tipped her head back to look up at him. “I want to open my own business and contribute to the family that way.” Even as she spoke, she knew what she wanted. She’d known for a long time what she wanted, if she had ever had the opportunity. “I want to open a flower shop.”

“A flower shop.”

“Yes.” She glanced toward the space again, this time seeing not the open land with the wildflowers and cliffside, but a freshly painted building with large windows. It would have a greenhouse attached and a small, carefully maintained garden area for customers to rest and calm their minds. It wouldn’t be the largest shop, but she could make it the nicest. A flower shop for Jersey’s under-served elite—and visitors from New York, of course. Satisfaction with her idea settled in her chest and Iris met Dante’s gaze again. “I’ll call it Snapdragon Blooms.”

Epilogue

Just Married

As if Dante himself had willed it, the pre-winter storm in the forecast had dispersed into nothing more than a light breeze when the day of their wedding finally arrived. Iris was buttoned and tied into the gown she swore never to quote the price of to another soul, but which fit her better than she’d ever dreamed, and their guests arrived. Most of their guests were under Dante’s employ in one way or another, of course, but Iris had no problem with that.

Megan had accepted her invitation, with some reluctance, and even brought Parker along. Iris looked forward to speaking with her friend at the reception after the ceremony. Not that they hadn’t spoken in the month and a half since Megan and Parker’s abduction, but it was always nice to catch up in person.

Iris pushed the memories away as she studied herself in the mirror one final time. Her dress sparkled under the can lighting, her hair was bouncier than usual in its updo with the spray-enhanced curls on the sides, and the light touches of makeup really did flatter her skin tone. She looked herself over, taking in the sweetheart neckline of the dress and the cap sleeves at the shoulders and the long, fingerless gloves that reflected the light. The way the dress hugged her torso and unfolded in beautiful, silken waves just below her hips. The beading, the lace, the sheen of the pure white silk. She truly loved the way it had all turned out.

This was exactly the look she’d wanted for herself when she’d first dreamed up that silly fantasy, so many years before.

A light, almost hesitant tap at the door proceeded its opening and Lucia leaned into the room. “Aunt Iris, everyone’s ready.”

Iris smiled. “Thank you, Lucia.”

It was finally time to walk down the aisle. She was mildly nervous and horrendously excited all at once. Very soon, Dante would be hers and she his. It was hard not to run down the hall or urge her innocent little flower girl along, especially when she finally caught sight of him. Standing, ever so patiently, at the altar that had been crafted for this very occasion. He stood there for all to see, waiting for her to join him. Dante De Salvo, the Dragon of the De Salvo crime family and CEO of DS Industries, was waiting for her.

Iris made no attempt to hide her smile as she drank in the sight of him, excited anticipation making her almost lightheaded.

As always, but maybe more so than usual, he looked sharp in his crisp and fitted suit. Black slacks, black coat, he even wore a black silk dress shirt beneath. A bright, fiery red tie overshadowed the gold cufflinks which themselves popped against the dark sleeves. His hair was neatly combed, hanging just a little forward in a way that helped his eyes seem as if they were glowing.

Iris practically floated through the ceremony.

She remembered Dante taking her hands, squeezing her fingers and stroking her knuckles gently. She remembered hearing her cues in the recesses of her mind and melting into a puddle for all to see when Dante said his vows—a declaration of fierce, devoted love without an ounce of discomfort or shame. He even called her his treasure. Her own vows felt a little lackluster in comparison, though the way his eyelids lowered and his hands held a little tighter to hers suggested that might have been a subject on which they disagreed.

She didn’t actually feel any nerves until it came time for the rings. She was so eager to give him the ring she’d designed, but she was also terrified he would be disappointed somehow. She’d made a bold choice, after all.

But first came her ring, and when she finally saw it, another wave of tears came over her. It was beautiful, of course. A white gold, diamond encrusted band woven in an infinity style, with flowers blooming out of it as it approached the center. The middle flower was raised, and where the two outer buds had glittering red rubies, the centerpiece was seated with a sparkling blue topaz.

The blue reminded her of his eyes. She knew immediately he’d chosen the color on purpose.

Somehow, through her tears and overwhelming emotions, Iris pulled herself together enough to smile up at Dante. She couldn’t yet tell him how much she loved it, so she hoped he understood.

Then it was time to slide his ring onto his finger, and Iris found herself holding her breath. She hadn’t wanted to give him some ordinary, boring band. She expected her husband to wear his ring, and if she was going to ask this man to wear a piece of jewelry, it was going to be worthy of him. That had been her goal, at least. So she’d been picky.

The ring was a thick-banded black, polished band and instead of having a stripe of color down the middle as she’d seen during her internet searches, she’d added a touch of personal flare. Wrapped around the band was the figure of a dragon, in the same style as was tattooed on Dante’s body. The dragon was depicted in glowing orange-red hues, with enough detail that even its open mouth could be discerned.

Dante rolled his fingers together, as if testing the weight or examining the product, then met her eyes again. There was nothing innocent or wholesome about the smile he offered her, but it was genuine all the same.

Relief flooded her, chasing away her nerves, and Iris barely kept from sinking against him as the ceremony proceeded. He approved of her design, of her choice for him.

The elation helped to dry up her tears again and she was smiling wider than she could remember having ever smiled before by the time the ceremony wrapped up. The officiant’s time-honored words hung in the air and Dante pulled her close, their lips connecting for a too-short kiss that made her knees buckle. He straightened while the applause continued to echo around them and moved his lips to her ear. “Come on. I rented that limo you’ve always wanted.”

She laughed against him and tucked her arm into his as they stepped off the podium.

For just a moment, the view of their family, front-and-center, struck her. His brothers, Romeo’s young daughter, her new mother-in-law, and his cousin—all of them smiling and clapping. Eleonora had tears rolling down her cheeks. Carlo, Ernesto, Enzo, and a couple of the full-time staff from the house filled out most of the next row. Iris could see Dante’s assistant from DS Industries, Grace, sitting beside Aurelio and his wife. She recognized Benny and a couple of other faces from the restaurant where she’d barely worked. She was pretty sure Benny was crying. Carlo definitely looked emotional.

There were people whose names she couldn’t as easily recall, and whose plus-ones she didn’t know at all, but the yard that had seemed spacious when she’d first decided on it was definitely overpacked. And while she knew most of the attendees were there to witness the apparently historic-event level concept of their hard-ass boss getting married, she also knew they had still chosen to attend. It was something she’d asked Dante for. She didn’t want him to scare anyone into showing up. If they were going to have a full house, it was going to be because those guests opted to take the time and put in the effort.

She stood by that logic, which had arguably originally come from him, even though she knew it meant her own mother had chosen to spend her time and energy elsewhere. All she’d gotten in response to her letter and invitation was note the size of an index card that amounted to “no, thank you.”

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