Page 134 of Gin & Trouble

Dante

I’d stoodat the front of the church and watched four of my brothers tie the knot, and each time was the same. We’d spend the hours before the ceremony stuffing our faces, talking the groom off the ledge, and make it to the altar in the nick of time. The ceremonies always lasted for-freaking-ever and by the time they were over, my knees would hurt from all the kneeling. However, once the reception had started, all of the nerves, second thoughts, and mishaps were forgotten.

Leo and Dahlia’s day was no different. Unless you counted the four-year-old ring bearer using his Batman whisper to provide comedic relief through the entire affair.

I love that kid.

There was another thing that was different. Me.

I’d changed since I’d dressed up in more makeup than a drag queen and met my very own Harley Quinn. Before Frankie, I’d been the guy who was more comfortable behind a screen than in the world. What can I say? Her crazy liked to dance the tango with my crazy.

Yeah, okay. She completes me.

Sipping a glass of champagne, I stood on the side of the dance floor watching Gunnar charm the socks off my soon-to-be-fiancé and her sisters. The little guy had serious moves.

My mother joined me. Without taking her eyes off of Frankie and Gunnar, she said, “Your father told me about your conversation.”

I turned and gave her my full attention. “He gave me Nonna Marchionni’s ring.”

“It was my idea.” She smiled the smile she usually reserved for her grandchildren.

I hated to poke the bear and get into a topic that could lead to drama, but I needed to know the truth. “What is it about her? What makes her different from Maggie or Shanna or even Nico?”

She hesitated as if trying to gather her thoughts. “I loved her father.”

“Pops told me.” The conversation should have bugged me, but it didn’t. “I can’t imagine being forced to marry someone while I was in love with another.”

“It was a different time.” Ma studied my face for a long moment. “As for my feelings about you and Francesca, I know you. You’re not like your brothers. You waited to fall in love, and when you did you fell hard. You two belong together.”

My throat tightened. “Thanks, Ma.”

She patted my face. “Don’t wait too long to make it official. We can’t have your brothers thinking I’m playing favorites.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Shhh.” She laughed and strolled away.

I turned back to Frankie and caught her doing something close to the twist with the two-year-old. She was absolutely stunning in her pale pink dress, but her beauty went far below the surface. She was by far the smartest, kindest, and most badass woman I’d ever met. I couldn’t wait to officially make her mine.

Frankie threw her head back and laughed as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Surrounded by her sisters and my family, maybe she didn’t. Or maybe, her new carefree attitude had something to do with me. I hoped it did anyway.

Enzo walked to my side and put his hand on my shoulder. “She’s something special.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.” I could feel the weight of my grandmother’s ring in my pocket. I’d carried it around the entire day, waiting for the perfect moment to give it to her, but my nerves were getting the better of me.

Sure, she’d already said yes, but we’d talked getting hitched one day in the distant future. That future seemed galaxies away and I was more than ready to take the relationship into hyperdrive.

“I’d ask where your head is, but it’s obvious.” He gave me a little shake.

I turned to him, my brother, and it hit me. With Frankie’s father gone, Enzo was the guy I needed to talk to. It amused me that even the time-honored tradition of asking for a woman’s hand in marriage was somehow screwy thanks to the mob.

“Something wrong? You look a little pale.”

Grinning like an idiot, I said, “You’re her older brother.”

“Yeah. We’ve established that.” The confused look on his face had me on the verge of laughter.

“May I marry your sister?”

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