Page 16 of Married With Malice

A series of clicks comes from the camera of the wedding photographer. Otherwise, the church is silent. Everyone is waiting. They deserve to have something to look at.

Annalisa flinches when I coil an arm around her waist and pull her to me. She might be getting ready to throw a punch but I don’t think so. Her shuddery intake of breath tells a story and it’s not one of disgust. Her eyes grow heavy and focus on my mouth.

Meanwhile, I’m having a very obvious reaction to touching her. There’s no way she doesn’t feel it. I press harder to make sure. My free hand cups her chin, bringing her face closer. She comes willingly, her full, soft lips slightly parted in anticipation.

At the last instant I switch directions and plant a chaste kiss on her cheek. Then I move my mouth to her ear. “Your nipples are showing.”

With a gasp of panic, she jerks out of my grip and looks down.

Unfortunately, her nipples arenotshowing.

But that was pretty fucking funny.

Anni’s head jerks back up and she sears me with a lethal glare. With a smile, I take her by the hand and refuse to let go.

“Wave to our guests, sweetheart,” I say as I pump my fist amid cheers and clapping.

“Fuck you,” she replies through gritted teeth.

“Have patience. We’ll get to that.”

She digs her nails into my palm. Perhaps she thinks she can hurt me. That’s cute.

Aunt Donna blows me a kiss. Uncle Richie is already on his feet, bored and ready to leave. Annalisa’s mother ambles over with tears in her eyes and hisses a string of Italian words to her daughter. They might be obscure curses for all I know. Her husband hauls her away before she can really make a scene.

“You’re supposed to leave now,” Sabrina hisses and gives us both a push.

Anni gives up trying to detach her hand from mine and allows her unsmiling self to be lifelessly tugged down the aisle. This day feels like a weird dream as I spot the face of the New York State governor among the cheering wedding guests while I drag my new green-haired wife toward the exit.

Between Albie’s men and Richie’s men and a menagerie of private security crawling around outside while awaiting their VIP bosses, the whole place has the look of a black suit convention.

A vintage Rolls Royce from the personal collection of Albie Barone awaits to convey us to the reception five miles away. This hulking dude who I recognize as one of Albie’s most trusted bodyguards opens the door to the backseat and motions for us to slide in.

Annalisa, however, stops in her tracks. The word ‘Motherfucker’ passes her pretty lips but by the time I turn around she’s finished with her short outburst. She throws her father’s man a ferocious glare and moodily ducks into the car.

This is the first time since the wedding announcement that we’ve been alone. Sort of. There’s a driver at the wheel and Albie’s bodyguard deposits himself in the front passenger seat. Rocco is his name. Jowly, mid-thirties, comes across as a dim bulb who can take brass knuckles to the skull and feel no pain. He swivels around with a grunt.

“Congratulations to you kids.”

Before I can make a polite comment, Annalisa pipes up with, “Turn your fucking fat neck around before I spike one of my heels through your eye.”

Rocco, who must be used to the mood swings of his boss’s daughter, reacts with a raspy chuckle and orders the driver to move along.

“That was harsh, Mrs. Connelly.” I pat her knee.

She tries to kick me but misses. “Eat shit, Luca.”

So far, marriage has not improved Annalisa’s temper. This might be a long evening.

The reception is being held at a posh north shore country club belonging to the extensive list of Barone family properties. I’ve paid zero attention to the wedding planning but someone put in a high degree of effort to dress up the club’s big ballroom like a royal palace.

Anni sticks close to her sisters and I’m left on my own to make the rounds, shaking hands and accepting cheek kisses. Doesn’t bother me. Social interactions are no trouble and people are interesting. Cale and I have always been complete opposites in that way. He prefers quiet settings and has no use for small talk with strangers.

To my dismay, the past year has created a big wedge between me and my brother. Cale was the one person in my life who always thought the world of me, whether I deserved the honor or not. There’s no getting around the fact that I’ve disappointed him.

And yet I’d do nothing differently. Cale is with the girl he loves and he’s about to be a father. He spends his days rescuing homeless animals and performing hard labor on the ranch. He’s home. Knowing this makes everything worthwhile.

When an army of waiters begin delivering plates of food, I make my way back to the head table. The last time I saw the bride she was huddled on the other side of the room with her sisters. For all I know, since then she’s escaped through a bathroom window.

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