He takes my hand, lifting it to his lips, and he places a kiss to the back of my fingers. “You’re committing to us all today. It will just be his name on the paperwork.”

I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing the implication of what he’s saying. Then I smile. “I like that idea.”

“It’s just a marriage on paper to protect you and your assets, it won’t define any of us or what we are to each other,” he says, and I know that comment was for himself just as much as me. Before I know what’s happening, his hands are lacing through my hair and he’s shoving me up against the doorframe, kissing me desperately. My hands run up and under his shirt, and I tug him in closer, taking in his masculine scent as he ravishes me.

When he finally pulls back, I’m breathless and panting. “Come on, we need to get going. The boys are on edge having you out of the apartment.”

“Okay.” I take his hand in mine and close the door of the farmhouse, fixing my lipstick as we walk through the tree-lined forest toward where the boys await me. As we get closer, I stop and gasp. “He said there would be no fuss.”

“Did you really think they would let you just sign some piece of paper? They love you, Harley. This is special even if it’s not real.”

But I think it is real. The trees are draped with fairy lights. Under our feet there are pale pink rose petals sprinkled down the path that leads to the boys. Behind them, a soft piece of silk is draped between two trees creating an arbor. And there at the end of the altar stand my Moretti boys. All three of them.

I smile softly at Geovani. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It’s what you deserve.”

I squeeze his hand a little tighter and keep walking the final steps to the others. By Alessandro’s side is a striking middle-aged woman, with long almost black hair, impeccably dressed in a crisp white pantsuit. She smiles pleasantly at us.

I smile at the other boys. Ricky’s beaming from ear to ear, and Maddox looks like he’s teary. My big tough guy is a softy after all. Geovani releases my hand, and I go to them, kissing Ricky then Maddox quickly, before turning to Alessandro and the lady.

She smiles warmly, not at all surprised by our unconventional wedding. “I’m Rose Maclary, I’ll officiate your marriage,” she tells me.

“Okay.” I return her warmth, a flutter of excitement running through me.

“Alright then, let’s get all this sorted for you.” She pulls out some paperwork from the binder she has tucked under her arm. “Miss Harley Havardi?” she asks me.

“Yes,” I respond, a wave of uneasiness coming over me as I glance toward Alex. “Isn’t Harley dead?” I question why he’s marrying the real me and not my new identity.

“That paperwork was never filed with births, deaths, and marriages. It was more a media story we made sure was spun to look like you had died to Enzo. For this to work, I have to legally marry Harley. It’s you I need to protect from him.”

I nod, agreeing and not wanting to get into it any more in front of this lady.

She turns to Alex when she is satisfied we’re done talking. “Mr. Alessandro Moretti?” she checks with him.

“Yes,” he agrees.

“Right.” She adds a cross to a couple of places on the paper. “Sign here, please.” She taps the pen and hands it to him.

Alessandro signs first then hands the pen to me. I bite into my lip, nibbling nervously. I glance at the paperwork, knowing thereis no going back from this. If I sign this, I will be legally married to him. I glance at the others nervously, knowing I have to trust them. This isn’t just about me anymore. And even if it was, what’s so bad about being married to a man who is dedicating himself to protecting me and the other men I care so deeply about. This is my life now, why am I still trying to fight it so desperately? I love him, and the truth is, I want to spend the rest of my life with them all. I already know this is it for me, so why not dive right into the deep end.

Alex’s hand comes to my arm, and he squeezes gently. “You don’t have to do this. If you can’t, we will work out something else to force him to back off.”

My stomach churns like crazy, but when I look into his caring dark eyes, I know I can trust him. He only wants to help me. To protect me. With an iron grip around the pen, I sign the paper. A weight lifts off my shoulders as soon as I do, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I stare back at my gorgeous man in his dark tailored suit.

Rose smiles at us happily. “You can kiss the bride if you want.”

A grin stretches across his face as he gently cups my cheeks, his lips meeting mine in a loving kiss. I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him in closer, making sure he knows I feel the same way about him as he does me. When we eventually pull back from each other, panting, I can’t stop staring into his eyes. Something has shifted between us. We’re no longer warring over his need to dominate me, but I feel like we’re two equals traveling down the same path. “I love you, Harley Havardi,” he says with confidence.

“I love you, Alex Moretti.” I smile back.

Hearing a whoop, whoop from Ricky, I glance back at him. “Well finally, you two sure took your time to get your shit together.” He laughs playfully.

I get a nod from Geovani, and Maddox crosses his arms over his chest, but I can tell he’s okay with this. Strangely, they all are. My safety is more important than their egos.

Rose clears her throat. “I will need to process these papers in the morning, as our offices are closed for the day now, but the two of you are now husband and wife. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Moretti.”

I’m married!