Page 141 of Poison Vows

Holy God, thank you!

I take her in, in all her gorgeous, unparalleled beauty. I can hear the blood in my veins rushing hot, as an inexplicable feeling takes hold of my chest.

Ripley suddenly appears and offers Angel a bouquet of white daphnes—my mother’s favorite flowers.

I stare at them, then I glance at the old cripple who looks thoroughly amused.

Now’s not the time…

But of course, some dying flames will do their best to act out in their final moments.

“Grandfather, this isn’t right.” Vaughn struggles to get up from his seat. “Since the girl is not Senator Hughes’s daughter, then there’s no logical way that?—”

“What I said is what will happen,” Grandfather answers in a heavy tone, cutting him off.

“But—”

“I know understanding is not your forte, Vaughn, but just in case any of you here think you can outdo me with cheap tricks and pathetic schemes, I’ll repeat myself,” Grandfather states, his words laced with a steely resolve I haven’t heard in years. He raises his hand, then points at Angel. “I chose that girl and that girl alone.”

“But she’s not a Hug?—”

“And thank God Almighty for that! Now, she chose Alessio, so they will marry. Vaughn, if you are so set on the Hughes daughter, then there she is. Marry her on your own time,” Grandfather says sardonically, glancing at Melissa.

Vaughn doesn’t even look at Melissa before he flat-out denies, “I’m not marrying her!”

“Then sit your fucking ass down. My grandson is getting married!”

I can’t help but look at Grandfather, noting the things I once ignored, or outrightly dismissed.

Grandfather turns back around, his steely gaze catching mine, then he turns to look at that bastard senator’s father who is still shell shocked.

“Henry, I believe you’re aware of the consequences of playing me for a fool, right?”

“But my son! Look at him!” Henry Hughes cries. “He’s a cripple now!”

“Anyway, you should tune into your American news channels. I believe the breaking news is already airing on every media outlet as we speak.”

“What?”

“Hmm, it’s impossible for your son to still run for president of the United States now that the world knows just how pathetic, corrupt, and disdainful he is. Oh, and whatever deal we had is null and void. You may leave.”

Before Henry can respond, he’s gagged and quickly escorted out by Grandfather’s men.

“Oh, I’d wouldn’t do anything rash if I were you. That is, if you want your son’s remains after we’re done with them,” the old man calls out just before Henry is dragged out. “Now, as you were.”

Seeing the old man in a different light now, I turn to face Angel as the ceremony starts.

The whole thing is succinct and sweet.

In front of Grandfather, Scar, an angry and still bleeding Vaughn, and my uncles who are all seated at the edge of their seats with extreme anxiety and panic, Beverly and Melissa, I marry the only woman who I’ve always craved.

The priest gives a Biblical account of marriage, explains the seriousness of this holy matrimony. When he’s done, he then asks the most crucial question. In Italian first, then in English.

“Do you, Emmett Alessio Damian Easton, take Ivy Marie Irving, to be your loving wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love, cherish, and protect, in sickness and in health, through all the trials and tribulations of life, forsaking all others, till deathdo you part in the presence of God and all who are witnesses here and now?”

Two weeks ago, this never would’ve happened.

No matter how much I’d dream, fight, or pretend, this was not in the cards simply because I wasn’t physically able to give her this…

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