Page 21 of Arranged

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Standing at the altar with my brothers beside me, I look out at everyone who’s about to witness my nuptials.

My mother is sitting with my grandfather in the front row, and she smiles at me through her usual stoic expression, while my grandfather looks at me with a mix of pride and apprehension. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I know he trusts me to make the right choices for our family.

Behind them is a sea of my extended family, and across the aisle are the Carfanos in all their glory, staring me down like I’m the enemy and not the one marrying one of their own.

Weddings are neutral ground in our world, and occasions to be celebrated out of respect. So, sitting in attendance beyond both of our families are men and women from the other two families still in power – Melcciona and Capriglione – and high-ranking members from the New York factions of the Bratva, Triads, Yakuza, and Armenian and Irish mobs.

Sitting amongst them are the corrupt politicians, police chiefs and officers, business owners and CEOs, and even the goddamn mayor of New York City are all here. Security couldn’t be tighter if the fucking President of the United States was in attendance.

The second the music changes, I stand up straighter and keep my eyes trained on the French doors that will have my bride emerging from in a few minutes.

From my calls with the wedding planner, I know Mia is only having her cousins as her bridesmaids, and first to walk down the aisle ironically, is Katarina. She’s beautiful, but I know I never would have been happy with her. Because even if she wasn’t in love with Dante and we did get married to join the families, I still would’ve seen Mia at our wedding, and with one look at her, I would’ve known the colossal fuck-up I was making.

Next down the aisle is either Aria or Gia. I can’t tell the twins apart as I’ve never formally met them or had the opportunityto come to know their differences. The second twin walks down behind her, followed by her last cousin, Elena.

Each one takes their place beside the floral archway that makes up the altar, but I keep my eyes trained on the French doors.

I clasp my hands together in front of me, not knowing what to do with them and needing to hide the fact that I’m unwillingly nervous. I’m nervous she won’t walk through those doors or go through with the wedding. I’m nervous she’ll look at me with hatred in her eyes and not the white-hot desire she gave me in the club. I’m nervous someone in this fucking crowd will stand up and object when asked just to humiliate me and my family. I’m nervous Mia won’t ever forgive me for making her do this.

Fuck, I sound like a pussy.

But no one, not even Mia, is going to stop this wedding from happening. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want her, and she’ll come to realize that I’m hers as much as she’s mine.

Why is it taking so long for her come out?

Did she run?

Is she freaking out in there?

Fuck, I shouldn’t have given her these two weeks by herself. I thought space would help her, but now I’m second guessing that decision.

I’m about to make a move to go and get my bride and walk her down the aisle myself, but then the doors open, and I’m back to being glued to where I stand.

Holy shit.

Fuck me.

I don’t deserve her. Which is exactly why I’m taking her, because I’ll never deserve her.

Mia stands frozen in the doorway, with Nico and Vinny on either side of her. She takes a deep breath and her brothers lean in and say something to her, and then they all step forward.

Her head turns in either direction to take in everyone in attendance, and I catch the moment panic sets in, but then her eyes finally find mine, and I will her to keep them on me.

My chest fucking hurts, my heart pounding harder with every step closer she gets.

She’s a goddamn angel, covered in pearls.

Our eyes remain locked on the other’s, and I will time to speed up so I can finally touch her again, hear her say ‘I do’, and then kiss her until she can’t remember why she was against marrying me. I want to feel her give in to me again, even if it’s just a sliver of her defenses coming down. Everyone here will know she’s fucking mine.

Mia and her brothers take the final step up to the altar and Nico and Vinny take turns kissing her cheek before Nico places Mia’s hand in my waiting one. The second her hand is in mine, I feel a bolt of electricity zap up my arm and go straight to my heart, and by the whisper of a gasp she makes, I know she feels it too.

I told you, farfalla.

I give Nico and Vinny small nods of appreciation, and they give me nothing in return, telling me all I need to know.

I guide Mia to stand in front of me and take her other hand, rubbing my thumbs back and forth over the backs of her hands. Her beautiful burnt honey eyes begin to soften the longer I caress her, and the ache in my chest lessens like she’s my balm as much as I’m hers.

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