Page 45 of Sins of Bliss

Enzo and Sully shake their heads, but Nixon is tapping his pointer finger against his lips—something he does when he’s deep in thought.

“What is it?”

His eyes snap to mine. “It all seems too easy.”

I am about to respond when Sully’s laughter overtakes the room. “Just wait until you see this family. Their events are more secure than the presidential motorcade.”

Yet, not secure enough for me to sneak in undetected. I’ve done it once, and I’ll do it again.

Like the little thief she is, Vincenza stole my heart. Now, I’m prepared to doanythingto steal her back.

Chapter 16

Vinnie

The moment my makeup artist spritzed my face with setting spray, the process of my hair began. The remanence of brunch sits in my esophagus like burning acid as the hairstylist curls and pins my hair into the wedding look of my dreams.

“Oh, sweetheart, you look stunning!” my mother coos as she watches through the mirror from the plush tufted couch behind me. She glances at the diamond studded Rolex on her wrist. “I’m so sorry I won’t get to stay longer and see you right before the wedding. Your father insists that I ride in the limo with him.”

A weak smile tugs at my lips. “That’s okay, Mother. Go get ready.”

“I have about five more minutes. Oh, Cecilia, don’t you look picture perfect?”

Cecilia emerges from the en suite where her hair and makeup was being done as well. She’s barefoot, wearing a light pink silk robe, and smiles warmly at my mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Paladino.”

Raina passes her a flute filled to the brim with bubbly champagne as she passes by. She’s wearing a matching silk robe, and is on her way to the en suite to trade places with Cecilia.From the small smirk on Lia’s lips, I have a feeling Raina rolled her eyes at my mother’s comment.

We’re all a bit on edge with her presence. My two best friends know how much I’ve been dreading this day, and they’re as frustrated as I am by my mother’s ignorance about the emotions of her own daughter.

Time drags on as those five minutes tick by, but finally, my mother stands to gather her purse and air kisses me goodbye. “I’ll see you when you walk down the aisle.”

She turns again to give me one last look of adoration before the hotel door closes softly behind her.

“Thank fuck,” Raina says from the en suite. Cecilia bursts into laughter, as do I, but the hairstylist doing my hair looks unamused. “Now we can get this party started.”

Immediately, music blares from the bathroom she’s in—a top 40 something I recognize but don’t know the name of.

“Champagne?” Cecilia asks, lifting a fresh flute in offering.

“Sure.”

“How are you holding up?” she asks as she passes it to me.

Bringing the glass to my lips, I drink a gulp while the stylist releases one of my curls from the styling wand. “Mmm hmm,” I hum as cheerfully as possible. “T-minus one hour.”

“Just say the word,” Raina yells from the other room. How she even heard me is baffling.

“I’ll go check on her,” Cecilia muses, walking into the bathroom and leaving me to my thoughts.

Behind me, my hairstylist grabs an aerosol bottle, and a plume of chemicals clouds around my head as she sprays my hair. “Final touches, Miss Paladino.”

I say nothing, but take another large gulp of my champagne.

Moments later, she tells me she’s finished and encourages me to look in the mirror.

My hair and makeup are as beautiful as they were on the day of my final dress fitting. Absolute perfection and fit for a bride who is head over heels in love with her fiancé—not a woman who would rather be anywhere else, in anyone else’s shoes.

“It’s stunning,” I tell her truthfully.

---