Page 24 of Memento Mori
His dad gave a nod.
“Well, Marco. I’m glad you stopped by, but I’ve got to help plan a wedding,” Antonio said, shifting his focus to Marco Lombardo. A name I’d make sure I remembered.
He was beyond livid. While he tried to portray calm and civility, he was definitely pissed. And pissed men do stupid things. The man stood with his hand out to Don Rizzo.
“Thanks for having us,” Marco said but his anger was barely disguised.
Don Rizzo gave a nod. “Alessandro, will you please see, Marco and Francesca out.”
“Sure, thing Pop.”
Alessandro escorted Marco Lombardo out of the study, shutting the door behind them.
“I hate that motherfucker,” Don Rizzo, mumbled before he slid behind his desk. “Excuse my language, darling. Have a seat. Let’s chat while we wait on my son.”
I wanted to say I didn’t like him either, but that wasn’t my place. At least not yet. But I would make sure in the future, Marco Lombardo, his daughter as well as any person who thought my place wasn’t beside Antonio, would learn otherwise.
Chapter Nine
QUEENS MAKE ENTRANCES
Aaliyah
The Wedding of Antonio Rizzo and Aaliyah Solarin
“There’s still time.”
His deep voice reached my ears, immediately bringing a sense of calm over me. Abasi’s six-foot five lean body was propped just inside the door frame like he didn’t have a care in the world. Humor danced in his eyes as he watched me fidget with the jewelry Antonio Sr. had presented me as a wedding gift. According to him, it was a priceless family heirloom that once belonged to Constance I, who was married to Emperor Henry VI.
Abasi popped a mint into his mouth like this was the most normal conversation to have with a bride who was freaking outand questioning every decision she’d ever made that led to this moment.
He had ordered everyone out of the room so he could have a final talk with his daughter before he gave her away. My heart always warmed whenever he referred to me as his daughter although we weren’t related by blood.
Abasi never had children. He never talked about why because although he was a dangerous man, arguably the most dangerous man in the world, he would make an excellent father. I was proof of that.
I stood in the mirror, staring at his reflection as he looked back at me. I wasn’t scared to marry Tony. The responsibility of becoming a Donna in a world that rejected me because of who I was, was what scared me. I thought I was equipped to handle the persistent undermining of our power, but now I was not so sure.
“There’s still time for what?” I ran my hands down my stunning wedding gown and adjusted the diamond necklace on my neck.
The moment I laid eyes on this dress at a New York fashion show, I knew it was the one for my wedding. One reason was because it wasn’t the traditional white wedding dress, and I wasn’t the traditional bride. In other words, it was perfect for me. ACeleste Washington Originaland part of her first wedding collection, the sleeveless, V-neck, champagne sequined maxi style dress, wasn’t what I envisioned myself walking down the aisle in when I imagined my wedding day. But it was absolutelyperfect. Tony pulled some strings and Celeste personally came to tailor it to my figure.
I faced him and he smiled. “Time to leave before you say yes,” Abasi said.
“Why would you say that?” I huffed. “I love Tony. I want to be his wife.”
He sat in one of the elegant chairs of the room in the cathedral. We were hustled in here as soon as we arrived two hours ago to put final touches on our hair, makeup, and dresses.
“I believe you want to be his wife, but I can see the doubts in your eyes.”
“Abasi...”
He interrupted me by raising his hand. “If you are going to do this, Aaliyah, there will be no doubts in your mind when you say yes.”
“There are no doubts,” I said, lying.
“Do not lie to me,” Abasi said, pointing at me, not in anger, but disappointment.
Shame overwhelmed me. “I’m sorry.”
