Page 49 of Dangerous Devotion

I snorted with laughter.

Bella handed me a tissue and shot Hero a look that would kill a lesser man. “If you ruin her makeup, I’m gonna make it that you can’t yield your sword.”

“Well, if any of you’re having second thoughts, there’s still time. We could cover for you, and you could make a run for it,” Dante said, offering his arm.

Matt tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Tempting, but I think I like my limbs—and my sword—where they are. Vince would probably rip me apart.”

“Probably?” Dante snorted. “He’d definitely rip you apart. The ability to yield your sword would be the least of your problems.”

We all laughed again, but I felt a flutter in my stomach at the mention of Vince. Despite everything, despite the danger and the complications, I couldn’t deny I had fallen for him…hard.

Dante’s eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned in close. “You know, Vince has been going absolutely batshit all night.”

“Really?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual. But I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Served him right. In keeping with tradition, we’d spent the last night apart—me in his room, and he stayed with Dante.

“Oh yeah,” Dante continued, grinning. “He’s been pacing like a caged animal. I think he’s worn a path in my carpet.”

I shook my head, a mix of amusement and exasperation washing over me. “Maybe it was pre-wedding jitters. Are you sure he’s waiting out there and not already halfway to Maui?”

Hero smiled. “He’s out there and sent us in with strict orders to keep you in our sight at all times.”

It was so typical of Vince—this intense, all-or-nothing approach to everything, including me.

My mind drifted back to the last two days. Following the shooting, Vince had been relentless in his protectiveness, barely letting me out of his sight, his eyes constantly scanning for potential threats.

It was sweet, in a way, but also incredibly suffocating. It was such a contrast to before when he was so distant and aloof. When he was focused completely on his plans and barely spared me a glance.

It was like living with two different men—one who couldn’t bear to be apart from me and another who seemed to forget I existed. “He’s either all over me or completely distant. There’s no in-between with him, is there?”

Dante chuckled. “Welcome to the Vince Salvini experience. It’s picture-book duality. He’s always been like that—all in or all out. But I’ve never seen him quite this…intense about anyone before…you.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words. There was something undeniably thrilling about being the focus of Vince’s intensity.

“In all seriousness,” Matt said, his tone softening, “Vince is a lucky bastard to have you by his side.”

I swallowed hard, touched by his sincerity. “Thanks, Matt. That means a lot.”

My dad approached our little group, and Vince’s brothers stepped aside to give us some space.

“Ready to face the wolves?” Dad asked, his attempt at humor not quite masking the tension in his voice. He had been hovering, as well, though he clearly accepted Vince’s new role as my number-one protector. It was as if his beating up Vince was enough. Or maybe it was that he just accepted my choice like he’d accepted Sophie’s choice in the end.

I swallowed around the huge lump in my throat and nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

“Just say the word, and we’re out of here, Button,” Dad said, which earned him stern glances from Dante and Hero—which he completely ignored.

I nodded and walked into his hug.

Just two weeks ago, I would’ve given anything to hear those words from my father.

But that was before.

Before I realized I could find joy and happiness without changing my whole life.

I thought I needed everything to change, needed to forge my own way.

And maybe this was it. I was forging my own way, but I was strangely content being on Vince’s side. Maybe I just needed the right man who wanted and accepted me for me.

Who was there when I was weak, who got turned on by just looking at me, who thought my sassiness was endearing and sexy, and who needed a woman who was strong enough to call him out, just as much as I sometimes needed someone to lean on.

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