Page 90 of Ruined in Vows

No matter how much we plan or prepare, things can always go wrong.

I just hope we all come out of it alive and unscathed.

Two days ago…

The wedding

Waiting in the garden room, I check my watch for what feels like the hundredth time, ignoring Leo, and a stoic looking Juliana, the Marchetti’s longterm housekeeper slash cook.

The priest clears his throat, drawing my attention to him and I shoot him a glare. Yes, he is doing me a favor but that doesn’t give him the excuse to be disrespectful. If Allegra wants to take her time getting ready, then so be it.

“I really have somewhere I need to be, Mr. Vitale.”

“That will have to wait. You are not leaving until you join me and my wife in holy matrimony.”

Leo chuckles, earning a glare from me. The only reason I haven’t punched the smug look from his face is because of his involvement in all this. To be honest, it’s because of Leo that our wedding is happening at all.

He sighs. “And you have the marriage license?”

Pulling the paper from my pocket, I hand him the license. Though it proved somewhat difficult to obtain the paperwork necessary for this, I spoke to Leo about a week ago, and he came through for me, managing to call in a favor and get what I needed to make Allegra mine.

Leo smuggled the priest in by hiding him in the trunk of his car. Father Michaels was not too happy about the arrangement, but needs must. The estate is locked up tighter than Fort Knox and only approved visitors are allowed through the gates. With that obstacle and the small detail of me being on lock down, we had to do all we could to make this work in the safest way for all of us. I am all but on house arrest and only a handful of Nico’s trusted men know I am alive. The rest have no idea. So, all this planning has been carefully constructed down to the finest detail.

Leo is the only one aware of what is happening today and will be our witness along with Juliana. For that alone, I know with certainty that we were good friends before all the shit that went down.

“Very well. And where is Miss Marchetti?”

“Here,” her soft voice coats my skin, drawing my attention.

Glancing over at the entryway, my breath hitches in my throat, when I lay eyes on my perfect angel in the white summer dress I brought for this moment.

“Principessa,” I breathe, moving toward her.

Taking her hands, I press a kiss to her lips.

Allegra smiles, before her head tilts and she looks at the priest. “What’s going on?”

“We are getting married,” I state, leaving no room for argument.

Her gaze snaps back to me, blue eyes bright and curious. “We are?”

Chuckling, I kiss the tip of her nose before leading her to where the priest stands waiting for us. “We are.”

Gripping my hands, she nods, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I have waited for this moment for what feels like a lifetime.”

“I love you,” I tell her honestly.

“I love you, too.” She smiles, radiating joy.

“Shall we begin?” Father Michaels asks, clearing his throat.

Turning us to face him, I nod.

With our eyes locked on each other’s, we recite our vows, but don’t exchange rings because of the obvious.

And when Father Michaels says til death do you part.

I mean it with every fiber of my being.

---