Page 25 of Memento Mori
He let out a sigh. “Look, I know you better than you know yourself. I’ve raised you as my own, so I know when you doubt yourself. If you don’t want to do this, then don’t.” He shrugged like it wasn’t the biggest decision of my life not to marry the man I loved. “No one will fault you. It’s your decision.”
After a few moments of silence, I gathered the nerve to voice my feelings.
“What if I’m not ready for the responsibility that comes along with being his wife?”
A laugh escaped him. “You, Aaliyah Solarin have been raised for this responsibility. I’ve made sure you are prepared for this world. No one and I mean no one is more suited to stand beside a Don of the Mafia, especially Antonio Rizzo Jr. You are gentle as a woman should be, but you are also deadly. Many will underestimate you and the power you will wield. And that will be their mistake. Be who I’ve raised you to be. Be the queen that you are, by not just standing by your king’s side, but by ruling by his side.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled, letting his words sink in. “You’re right.”
He rose and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m always right. I don’t tell you often, but your parents would be so proud of you, Aaliyah. Just like I am.”
I tightened my embrace. “I love you.”
He gave me a gentle kiss on my head. “I love you too, daughter. Now let’s put Tony out of his misery. The wedding should have started twenty minutes ago.”
My eyes grew wider. “Oh my god!” I shouted my voice raising an octave. “I’m late for my damn wedding.”
Abasi let out a chuckle. “It is fine.” He winked as he escorted me out of the room. “Queens make entrances.”
***
Antonio
I twisted my hands, as I stood before the priest and a congregation of at least four hundred people waiting for Aaliyah to walk down the aisle. We’d been waiting for what felt like hours and sweat had started to bead on my brow.
I didn’t think she would leave me standing at the altar, but we’d been through a lot to get to this point in our relationship. From the chaos involving Marisol to the pressure from the Lombardo’s and my mother to marry Francesca instead. The bullshit was causing tension between me and her, but I refused to let it break us apart. She’d questioned many times if we should do this since the pressure from others wasn’t stopping. But that was what they wanted. They wanted us not to be together. But as I stood here waiting for her to walk down the aisle, I wondered if it all had become too much for her to deal with and they accomplished what they set out to do.
I glanced at my watch and then at Alessandro behind me. Since we’ve been standing up here, he had been keeping me from going to find her.
“She’ll come,” he whispered in my ear for at least the fourth time. His reassurance did little to suppress the dread building inside me.
Despite that, I still nodded and took a deep breath to calm myself down. Despite the whispers from the crowd, I centered my focus on my breathing to push away my anxiety. I knew in my heart she’d come despite what my brain was telling me. After a few more minutes, the back doors of the cathedral opened, and I let relief encompass me.
“I told you,” Alessandro whispered, and I couldn’t help the breath of relief I released.
As the bridesmaids proceeded down the flower-filled aisle, classical music played. The beautiful lanterns cast a gentle glow, illuminating the white aisle runner, and making the golden dust sprinkled on it shimmer like diamonds.
First, Dani, the sister of the former president of Demons United. Next was Chantal, my oldest sister, then Kira, Abasi’s niece. Throughout all the strife, the ups and downs these three women had become sisters to Aaliyah. They had become her family. And I was so happy she had friends to turn to because reaching this day hadn’t been easy for her. I knew they helped her see the big picture even when she couldn’t see it for herself.
As they took their place at the front of the cathedral, each one greeted me with a warm, small smile. As the bridal march began to play, the room fell silent in anticipation. The entire congregation rose, and my attention was immediately drawn to the back of the church, where Aaliyah stood with her arm linked with Abasi’s, a radiant smile on her face.
My breath escaped from my body in a rush. It was like I’d died and witnessed an angel floating towards me. She was beyond beautiful, turning every head in the room. Regardless, if the people in this room agreed or disagreed with this union, Aaliyah made a powerful entrance. She made a statement. Things were about to change in thefamiglia. And she was the one who would do it.
With her head held high, she locked eyes with me until she reached the altar and stood by my side. Abasi kissed her cheek, then shook my hand before taking his seat in the front pew on the bride’s side.
Despite all of us wearing white tuxedos, his tuxedo with gold accents stood out from the rest of the crowd. Abasi loved to make an entrance, always commanding attention as he entered the room.
As Father Pietro began to speak, his voice faded into the background, and I couldn’t make out a single word. My body was on autopilot. As I gazed into her eyes, we repeated our vows to each other and said I do. Father Pietro pronounced us man and wife, and in that moment, the world felt perfect, as if nothing could disrupt our happiness.
As we walked down the aisle, the sound of applause and congratulations reverberated throughout the grand cathedral. The first time in a long time I had a positive outlook on life as head of the family. And I knew that was only possible because of the beautiful woman at my side.
As we stepped out of the cathedral, the sound of laughter filled the air as wedding guests tossed bird seed into the sky. However, in a matter of moments, our world shattered into chaos. The once lively atmosphere, filled with beautiful cheers and laughs, was suddenly shattered by the piercing screams and curses that filled the air, accompanied by the sound of multiple gunshots.
Without hesitation, I shielded Aaliyah with my body, waiting for the shots to stop. The guards, including Aaliyah’s and mine, along with the others protecting the wedding guests, swiftly retaliated by firing back at the suspected source of the shots.
“Aaliyah! Are you alright?” I asked with panic in my voice when the gunshots stopped.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she responded.
