Page 81 of Brutal Legacy

I tore my eyes from mycapoand watched the couple.

“Come on. I want to kiss my wife,” Jimmy grunted and managed to fit his mouth over Georgia’s, and something inside me snapped.

She’s not yours. How dare you.

My self-control went out the window. The patience that had been growing smaller and smaller every single day dissolved… and my gun was in my hand before I could question it. I’d had a lingering suspicion that Jimmy was dirty, and it turned out I was right. Stealing from a De Sanctis casino proved just how stupid the motherfucker was. But really, it was just an excuse, right when I needed one.

I stalked toward the couple. My approach sent Jimmy’s casino friends fleeing. The priest collapsed back, his face etched in fear.

Georgia managed to tear her face from Jimmy’s kiss. She twisted toward me, and I stepped past her, putting her behind me.

Then I brought my gun to Jimmy De Luca’s temple.

He staggered back against the altar and froze.

“For the crime of stealing from the De Sanctis family and breaking your oath of fidelity, I find you guilty,” I said without emotion, then stepped in and spoke in a low tone, just for him. “For daring to put your worthless hands on what is mine, I find you guilty.” I stepped back and pulled the trigger.

The bang echoed around the room, and silence fell over the remaining people in the chapel. Renato and Charlie. Carmella and the priest. The good father scrambled to the side and attempted to run, but I was there, hauling him back.

“We’re not done here, Father,” I told him, my tone rough.

With a hard kick, I sent Jimmy’s body tumbling from the dais.

“What do you want?” the priest asked, looking at me like I was the Devil himself.

“What else? You have a wedding to perform.” I turned and grabbed Georgia’s hand.

She was standing stock-still, her face a picture of frozen shock. Her side was spattered with blood, making her a gruesome work of modern art in her white gown.

“Marry us,” I commanded the priest.

The father gaped at me. “I couldn’t possibly — this is a great sin in the house of God.”

“I don’t think you heard me,” I ground out, my voice low. I lifted the pistol again and pressed it to his forehead. “Marry. Us. Now.”

The priest wet his lips, wiping the spray of blood from his eyes and straightening his cassock.

“Dearly beloved…” he began, his voice shaking.

I didn’t look at Georgia. I couldn’t. My emotions were too close to the surface. I was a volcano that had only just started to rumble. Nothing would be left in its wake.

“Do we have a witness?” the priest glanced around, fearful.

“I’m here, Father,” Renato said smoothly. “Charlotte and I will be witnesses.”

The priest nodded weakly and picked up the bloodstained register.

“I — the bride’s name is the same, but what name should I write for the… groom?”

Something loosened in my chest at the inevitability of it all. Since the moment I’d heard that Georgia would marry a De Sanctis man, hadn’t I known it would be me? Hadn’t Renato known?

Like I could have ever let another man marry her. It was always going to be me.

“Elio. Elio Santori,” I announced.

“Do you Elio Santori take this woman…” he droned on.

I finally turned and met the eyes of the only woman I’d ever loved. The only woman I could ever love.

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