Page 68 of Unholy Vows (Original Sin)

Renato took my hand in his, failing to rise to the bait. “Isn’t she? If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dance with my wife,” he simply said and swept me out to the dance floor.

The band paused whatever they’d been playing and struck up a waltz as soon as we reached the middle of the dance floor.

“I don’t know how to dance like this,” I worried as Renato pulled me toward him.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll lead, and you follow, just like in life,” he said and smirked when I glared at him. “Ah, there she is. I’ve missed this angry look all day.”

“Meaning?”

He turned me with ease, and I found he was right. I didn’t need to do much but go the way he guided me.

“Meaning, you show me a part of yourself you don’t show many others.” He spun me under his arm, and I nearly tripped on my long gown. His hands were there, falling to my waist and keeping me from tripping. “I like it.”

“What can I say? I guess you just bring out the worst in me,” I muttered through clenched teeth.

“It’s a talent,” he agreed, making me smile with his easy acceptance of my accusation.

We danced on, and the feeling of hundreds of eyes watching me lingered. Everyone watching, judging, wondering what the hell had happened between us that had brought us here.

“What’s the matter?” Renato asked, reading my change in mood.

“I hate being the center of attention. Today is my nightmare, everyone watching us.”

“I thought it was a nightmare because you’re marrying me?”

I blinked up at him and his self-satisfied smirk. “You’re still at the top of the list, don’t worry.”

We danced on in silence for a while, and I gradually became aware of how the heat of his hands on my back made me shiver. The smell of him, and the way I missed it as soon as he pulled back, haunted me. It was all too much. It was just enough. It was more than I’d ever expected from life. It was everything I’d hoped would never happen to me. Thoughts of the cops andLucyfell away for just a moment, and I was just a woman who’d married a man who turned her heart inside out and had no idea what that meant. I feared him and I wanted him in equal measure.

Most of all, standing there under the intimate lights, dancing in this man’s arms, it felt like fate had finally caught up with me. It was all inevitable, really.

That shouldn’t have been as comforting as it was.

21

CHARLIE

Despite being the longest day of my life, as we drove up the long, winding driveway to Casa Nera, I saw that it wasn’t over. The house was lit up like a Christmas tree in the darkness.

“What’s going on?” I wondered. A huge number of men had gathered outside in the front courtyard.

“The family are here to pay their respects,” Renato answered. He didn’t look tired at all. If anything, he had a restless energy, like the day hadn’t been enough for him. Apparently, he needed more than a mere wedding to tire him out.

Elio pulled to a stop beside the house, and over a hundred heads turned our way as we left the car. Renato held my hand to help me out, steadying me in my wobbly heels and restrictive dress.

As we stood there together, the moon shining down on us, a clap started and spread across the entire group of collected men. I looked over the crowd. They smiled, cheered, and shouted congratulations.

Overhead, a loud bang sounded. The gangsters had clearly been expecting it, as no one pulled a gun. I jumped out of my skin, and Renato’s arm came around me. He was so solid and warm. I looked up and smiled as fireworks burst across the sky, dazzled by the display.

“What do you think,bambina?” Renato asked me. His eyes were reflecting the jewel-colored lights, and it was hard to look away.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured.

“Yes, it is, isn’t it?” Renato agreed, his gaze never leaving me.

We watched the fireworks until a bell sounded. “Time to go inside.” Renato wrapped my arm around his and turned me toward the house.

“Where now? Doesn’t this day ever end?” I asked. “I don’t know if my feet can take much more.”

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