Page 246 of Forced Vows

In my mind, Allessio is the only choice.

It wasn't easy to convince Miceli though, because he wants his best man leading my protection detail, but I also want the best man at his back.

There are a lot of men and women in the Genovese that would make excellent and conscientious bodyguards, but there is only one who can be the underboss Miceli needs.

I'm so glad that between us, Severu and I were able to convince Miceli of that fact too.

His brother suggested Angelo for my primary bodyguard, but the head enforcer/assassin is kind of intense, and I'm glad Miceli chose someone else.

Ultimately, he assigned the next in line after Allessio, two members from Angelo's crew and handpicked eight more. It feels like overkill to me, but that's Miceli, over the top. Especially when it comes to my safety.

The dinner that follows the ceremony is filled with jovial chatter and celebratory toasts. I don't know this group of men very well, but to my untrained eye, it does not look like there is a single person here that is unhappy Miceli is their don.

I am glad. Because my fiancé is not a man who will tolerate mutiny.

If any of the capos try to undermine his authority, my Aries will not choose diplomacy over violence. He will destroy any obstacle in his path.

That should not make me feel safe, much less aroused. But it really, really does. I know that with Miceli De Luca, I will always be safe. I will always be protected.

There will never come a time that me, or our future children, are not the most important people in Miceli's life.

I stepped in as a sacrificial lamb in this alliance, seething with frustration and desperately wishing for a way out.

Now, I would not change my place in the world with anyone, for anything.

My beloved owns my heart and soul and I am his queen.

We spoke our vows with blood on each other's skin and our coming wedding is a ceremony for other people. We already know the truth.

Miceli and I are bound for eternity.

He is mine and I am his and together we will lead the New York Cosa Nostra.

The End

Epilogue

The Rehearsal Dinner

RÓISE

Putting my fork down, I shake my head at the waiter trying to put the pasta course in front of me.

"What's wrong, Róise?" my soon-to-be mother-in-law asks. "Would you prefer different pasta?"

Unable to stifle a grimace at the idea of eating yet another plate of food, I shake my head. "The pasta alla norma looks delicious, but I'm full."

"On antipasto?" Big Sal asks, his tone tinged with disbelief.

The thing is, we've been eating for three days. Apparently Sicilian prewedding celebrations include food. And lots of it.

The official festivities kicked off with a simple three-course dinner on Friday night for the two families. By breakfast the next morning, wedding guests had started arriving.

Every successive meal hosted by the De Lucas has had more and more guests and competed with the meal before it for the abundance of mouth watering food.

"Lunch did me in," I say apologetically.

There were five courses, and it took three hours to finish.

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