Page 51 of Dangerous Devotion

How many times had I watched him take it and stare at it fondly and tell me that once you found the one woman meant for you, to love her and hold on to her with all your might?

I smiled at the memory. I hadn’t thought about that in so long, I didn’t even know I still remembered. But that piece of advice had been dormant, lodged somewhere in my subconscious until now.

Was that what attracted me to Jemma? Was that why I was so sure she was the one for me once I’d gotten to know her?

Because she was the one woman meant for me?

The soft glow of fractured light filtered through the multicolored windows and danced across her figure. I couldn’t see her face through the lace, though. Was she smiling? Or was she barely holding on?

Once all of this had blown over, I would give her the exact wedding she wanted. But right now, this was necessary. And despite all the tension, danger, and weight of responsibility on my shoulders, at this moment, everything else faded away—and all I wanted to focus on was her.

My heart pounded as she walked down the aisle, her arm linked with her father’s.

Craig Donnelly’s face was a mix of pride and reluctance, but I couldn’t blame him. I knew I didn’t deserve her, not like this, yet here she was, willingly walking toward me to become my wife.

As they reached the altar, her eyes locked with mine through the lace. Her genuine smile nearly brought me to my knees. How had I gotten so lucky? This incredible woman, who challenged me at every turn, who called me out and saw through my defenses, had agreed to stand by my side.

I took her hand in mine—a perfect fit.

And despite the craziness of this situation, despite the tension that had me buzzing all day, her touch grounded me and calmed me.

The priest began the ceremony, but I barely heard the words. A part of me remained alert, scanning the guests for any sign of threat. But the larger part of me was consumed by the woman beside me, by the magnitude of the commitment we were making.

As we exchanged vows, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.

She was mine, and nothing and no one would ever change that. This was the first step to ensure that nobody, especially not my father, would interfere with our future.

Jemma wasn’t just my wife—she was my partner, my equal—something I’d never expected out of my future wife. Was that the reason why I’d had zero intention to commit to anyone before her?

I silently vowed to cherish and protect her with every fiber of my being. And when it was time to seal our vows with a kiss, I lifted her veil, and to my surprise, her green hair was gone. Instead, it was a weird mixture of blond and brown.

Mousy, sedated, traditional.

I immediately missed her old style. I knew why she did it—to support me and to look more normal—but I didn’t want normal. I wanted her just as she was, with all her quirkiness and idiosyncrasies.

I needed to tell her that after all of this was over.

I leaned forward, smiled at her, then gave her a chaste kiss.

The chapel erupted in cheering and applause.

I pulled back and drank in her radiant smile. For a moment, it was just us, and the rest of the world faded away.

“I love you, Mrs. Salvini,” I whispered and rested my forehead against hers.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I love you, too, Mr. Evil Prince.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Even on our wedding day, she kept me on my toes.

We turned to face our guests, hands clasped tightly. The joy in the room was palpable, a stark contrast to the tension ofthe past few days. My brothers beamed with pride, and even Craig Donnelly managed a begrudging smile.

As we made our way down the aisle, I felt Jemma squeeze my hand. I glanced at her, seeing a mix of happiness and nervousness in her eyes. I gave her a reassuring nod, promising her silently that I’d keep her safe, no matter what.

And I would, and if it was the last thing I did on this Earth.

At the chapel’s entrance, I paused, scanning the crowd outside. I found Michele, who stood a bit removed, and he nodded at me. Then Hawk caught my eye from across the lawn, his hand pressed to his earpiece. I waited, my body tense, ready for any sign of trouble.

After what felt like an eternity, Hawk gave me a subtle nod, as well.

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