Page 122 of The Deal

A fleet of black cars waits on the tarmac, ready to take us to the family estate. My father’s home here feels more like a castle than a residence, but there’s enough space to accommodate us all.

Personally, it’s not the place I would’ve chosen; it was my brother’s idea. He said he had some business to attend to while we were here. I didn’t press him for details because I feared the answer.

I know my father had a lot of connections here in Italy, so my gut tells me it has something to do with theCosa Nostra, but the less I know, the better.

He’s a stubborn man, so I can offer all the advice I want, but ultimately, it’s his decision to make … his life to live. I hate it, but I can’t stand in his way if he chooses this.

Taormina is just under an hour’s drive from the airport, along the east coast. My father’s home is perched atop a cliff, offering a breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea below, its clear, turquoise waters stretching out to the horizon. It will be a fabulous backdrop for our wedding ceremony.

We’ve planned something small and intimate, just our nearest and dearest. Giovanni, Dante, Angelina, Theodore, Carmella, Antonio, and his wife will all be there to celebrate with us.

I can hardly believe I’ll be married in a few short days, and Chloe will be mine to keep forever.

This trip has been two long months in the making, though most of the decisions were left to Chloe, with a bit of help from her mother. I wanted the day to be perfect for her, so I handed over my credit card and told her to spare no expense. As long as she’s mine to keep by the end of all this, nothing else really matters.

I glance at Chloe, sitting with her head tilted back and eyes closed, my sleeping son nestled in her lap. My heart feels so full it could burst.

Who would’ve thought, when I first showed up at her house that day—and her father and I set our plan in motion—that everything would fall into place like this? That we’d end up here?

Certainly not me.

It turned out better than I could’ve ever imagined, and not a day passes that I’m not grateful to have this woman by my side.

When I gently brush the hair from her forehead, she opens her eyes and a soft curve tugs at her lips.

“Did I wake you?” I ask.

“No, I was just resting my eyes.”

“We’ll be there soon,amore mio,” I whisper. “You can shower, change, and sleep when we arrive.”

“Hmm, sleep,” she hums, her eyelids fluttering closed again. I sit there, watching her, basking in the quiet marvel of my fiancée.

Chapter 36

Chloe

“Oh,donzella,” my mum whispers, dabbing the corners of her eyes. “Sei Bellissima… like the princess I’ve always known you to be.”

Her words, a mixture of Italian and English, wrap around me like a warm embrace, filling my heart with a quiet, unshakable joy.

“Thank you, Mamma.”

I turn to face the mirror as my fingertips lightly brush over the fabric of my wedding dress, grounding me in this dream-like moment. The gown exudes an enchanting, sophisticated charm, and I genuinely feel like the princess my mother claims me to be.

The strapless sweetheart neckline glitters with shimmering crystals and intricate beadwork, catching the light whenever I move. The bodice fits like a second skin, and the voluminous tulle skirt cascades effortlessly to the floor, its hemline adorned with delicate lace appliqué. My veil is weightless and trails down my back, its edges skimming the floor with a quiet, graceful elegance.

For a brief moment, everything fades as I inhale a deep breath. I don’t just see a woman about to marry the love ofher life. I see someone transformed, glowing with the promise of a brand-new chapter, ready to embrace her happily ever after. An ending, I thought, eluded me.

“You look so happy, baby girl. I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me.”

I glance at my mother over one shoulder. “I’m deliriously happy,” I reply, smiling softly. “Are you happy, Mamma?”

“Si, si. I’m right where I always dreamed I’d be. Being with you and your Papa again is all I’ve ever wished for.”

I have so much to be grateful for. Alexander didn’t just give me my life back; he also gave me my family. My parents have somehow found their way back to each other, picking up where they left off, putting old grudges aside, and simply cherishing the time they lost. It’s as if the years of separation and hurt never happened.

My attention moves to the door when someone knocks. “Come in,” I say.

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