Page 54 of Velvet Chains

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

VINCENZO

Istood tall, my gaze cold and steady, as I looked at the men before me. I had defeated their leader, Antonio, and I had to make sure I eliminated any possible threats. Now, I held their fate in my hands.

"You have two options," I began, my voice firm and commanding. "You can join me, swear loyalty, and become part of my Clan. Otherwise, there will be no place for you in Palermo anymore." I did not have to tell them what that meant. They knew the way things were done, if they didn't fall in line, they would have to die.

There was no way around it, this was the practice to prevent loyal subordinates from plotting to avenge their fallen Don. I had a family to protect and I would not allow any threats to their lives.

The group shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between me and each other. I could sense their fear, their uncertainty. They wanted to murmur but the sight of my men flanking them kept them from doing so.

The group hesitated, weighing their options. I could see the calculation in their eyes, weighing the risks and benefits.

Suddenly, a young kid, no more than sixteen years old, spoke up. I wasn't surprised to see a young person speaking first, he had probably joined Antonio's clan not long ago and hadn't developed a strong sense of loyalty before things went sideways.

“I'll join you, Don Enzo." His voice was shaky with fear but his gaze was steady. I liked him already.

The others looked at him in surprise, but I nodded in approval.

One by one, others followed suit, pledging their loyalty to me. But one man, the thin one with the scar, finally refused.

Others joined him. However, those who chose to join me outnumbered the ones who chose to leave. With the addition of these men into my ranks, my clan would grow larger and stronger.

I shrugged, and with a wave of my hand, my men ushered them out. Although the thick doors and walls of the villa insulated us from hearing the gunshots, everyone knew what was coming next.

"Let this be a lesson. Loyalty is everything. Betrayal will not be tolerated." I said finally.

The remaining group nodded, their faces pale, but resolute. They knew they had made the right choice. I had won, and they would follow me to the end.

Once they all left, I called Pietro over.

“Make sure every single one of them has a tail. We need to make sure there aren't any harboring thoughts of revenge.” I said, and he nodded.

Although I had accepted them into my clan, that was only the first step. I was determined to protect my people, so I could finally have peace. Everything had to be perfect for the wedding.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

ISABELLE

Iwoke up to the warm Sicilian sun peeking through the windows of my parents’ villa. Today was the day, our wedding day. I couldn't believe it had finally arrived.

As I yawned and got out of bed, my mother and father entered my room, beaming with joy.

"Buongiorno, Isabelle!" they chimed in unison.

I laughed. Ever since we started taking lessons, my parents insisted on speaking it whenever they could. I felt like a princess in my lace-trimmed white bridal robe.

"Buongiorno, mom and dad.” I responded.

“You're supposed to say papà and mamma,” my dad said, making me laugh.

My mother helped me into my wedding dress, a stunning mermaid gown. It was a lace creation that hugged my curves in all the right places while billowing out from my knee downwards. My father, meanwhile, couldn't stop gazing at me with pride.

"Isabelle, you look like beautiful. Just perfect." he said, his voice choked with emotion.

My mother added, "We're so happy for you, sweetheart. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I hugged them both tightly.

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