Page 41 of Vincenzo's Promise
“Of course,” Cheryl replied, walking over to the vanity. “I’ll see you two in a few minutes.”
“Are you ready to meet the clan?”
I squared my shoulders, looping my arm around his. “I am.”
He nodded and escorted me out of the room.
* * *
The meetingwith the members of the De Maio clan went better than expected. While Vincenzo introduced me to most of his members, I could see the confusion on the face of many of them when they found out I was Cyrus Lombardo’s daughter. There were many questions and concerns about what the backlash would be, but Vincenzo informed everyone he would revisit their questions and concerns next week. Tonight, they were only here to celebrate finding their Donna.
Some offered their congratulations while I could see not necessarily hate, but definitely disdain for me in the eyes of others. However, Vincenzo assured me that regardless of what any of them felt, I would be respected, and he made sure everyone in attendance would do no less than that or face his wrath.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked as we walked around the spacious living room, greeting guests as they arrived.
“You have.” I stopped in front of the large fireplace. “But I can’t get enough of hearing it.” I kissed his lips, then rubbed my thumb across them to remove the lip gloss.
“I’m going to be telling you how beautiful you are until the day I die, Bella.”
My father walked up, interrupting our intimate moment. “Hello, my Bella. You look beautiful, Princess.”
I kissed him on the cheek, embracing him. “Thanks, Papa. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He ran his frail hands down the lapels of his suit. I noticed the shaking immediately, but I knew there was no point in asking how he was feeling. He’d only lie about it.
“Vincenzo, it’s good to see you,” he said, grasping Vincenzo’s outstretched hand.
“Good to see you too,” Vincenzo responded. “We’re ready to make the announcement. Do you want to join us up front?”
He nodded and followed us as we made our way to the front of the living room.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Vincenzo called out. As we waited for all the chatter to cease, my father wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer to him, and kissed me on the forehead.
“I love you, Bella,” he whispered. “Always.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
After my father had asked me to do this for him and my brothers, I’d questioned whether he loved me, but now, looking at him, I wouldn’t question his love for me anymore. It no longer hurt that he and my brothers were the reason Vincenzo was in my life.
“I love you too, Papa. Always,” I whispered.
“Thank you all for coming,” Vincenzo said. “I know you all have heard the rumors, and I wanted to put everyone’s assumptions to rest. If you look around the room, you will see members of the Cosa Nostra as well as the Camorra. You may have heard I’ve decided to marry, and those rumors are true. I’ve found the woman of my dreams and tonight we, both the Camorra and the Cosa Nostra, are coming together to celebrate my engagement to the lovely Isabella Lombardo, the daughter of Cyrus Lombardo, the head of the Scuderi Family.”
Vincenzo wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his embrace.
After a few minutes of murmuring and looks of disbelief and anger, applause slowly echoed throughout the room like a wave. There wasn’t any doubt everyone here wasn’t happy with the turn of events. A De Maio marrying a Lombardo. Not only that, but a Lombardo who didn’t exactly look how they expected. With one organization gathered on one side of the room opposite the other, me and Vincenzo were definitely causing a shitstorm to stir.
“So please enjoy the food and drinks,” Vincenzo continued without a care in the world, though I knew he’d observed everyone’s reaction. “And help me and Bella celebrate our upcoming wedding. Thank you for coming and enjoy!” Vincenzo held up his flute of champagne, followed by me, then my father. “Salute!”
“Salute!” everyone echoed.
Most of the praise wasn’t genuine.
“Bella, I want you to meet some of the heads of the Camorra clans,” Vincenzo said, placing his palm against my lower back.
“Let me go use the lady’s room first, Zo. Then, when I come back, I’m all yours.”
“Use the one in my study. You’ll have more privacy.”
