Page 14 of Bloody Union

“You did,” he says simply. “I sent you away hoping to protect you.”

I know he did, if only he knew the life he had sent me away to.

“You hate me for it, don’t you?”

“Da, I don’t hate you…” not anymore. “You did what you thought was right. That’s all that I can ever ask of you.” I place a kiss on his cheek, “I don’t hate you, Da, I don’t. So, we’re going to put a smile on our faces and I’m going to get married. Besides, I’ll be back on Sunday.”

He smiles, “Yeah, you will. You’re not allowed to miss Sunday dinner unless you're dying. That includes that husband of yours.”

I lift my brows, “Dante doesn’t seem to go anywhere without his brothers.”

Dad’s eyes narrow, “Fuck, do I really have to sit around a table with those Italian bastards?”

“Da!” I gasp, “you’ve got to stop calling them bastards.”

He laughs and I can’t help but smile. “Let’s get you married, huh?”

He holds out his arm for me to take and I do. A few sharp turns from my dressing room and we come to the doors of church. “I love you, Da,” I whisper as the bridal march song starts.

“And I love you, Makenna.”

The door opens and my breath is taken from me when I see Dante standing at the front of the altar, his eyes on me.

Kinsley walks ahead, I notice that Romero’s eyes follow her every move, her body tenses ever so slightly as she passes her father and brother on her way to the altar.

My arm tightens on Dad’s as we move toward Dante and the priest. My mother has outdone herself today. The church is full to the brim, the who’s who of the Mafia world are here and then some. The men of the East Street Kings are here, Landon, Scantor, Miller, and Prior. In front of them is Hudson Brady, along with his wife Mia, and his right hand man, Jagger, and his wife, Sarah. Dante’s family take up a huge portion of the church, each and every single one of them are armed to the teeth.

I finally make it to Dante and once again, my breath is taken from me; his gaze is piercing me as he stares at me. He shakes Da’s hand and the priest begins to talk, but I’m unable to concentrate on what he’s saying. Dante has a hard grasp on my hand, his thumb rubbing circles against my palm. I’m in a daze, I can’t help but glance up at him throughout the ceremony, and whenever I do, he always seems to catch me.

When the priest says, “You may now kiss the bride.” My heart speeds up and I glance at Dante once more. His eyes are filled with lust and need as he lowers his lips down on mine, gently and yet promising. It’s a promise of what’s yet to come. I cling onto him as though he’s my lifeline and I’m wondering when the hell I became this woman? The woman that wants someone in their life, to be a part of it, in ways that no one else has?

“Dante…” I whisper and his gaze hits my lips.

“Kenna…” he replies and I practically whimper.

The sound of glass shattering breaks through our moment and I cry out as something hits my arm. I’d have fallen to the ground if Dante had not been holding onto me. His eyes narrow in on my arm and I’m too scared to see what’s wrong; what’s made that dark look come onto his face?

Then all hell breaks loose as the doors burst open, showing the Bratva holding guns. Dante pushes me behind him as he pulls out his own gun.

Shit, this is going to be a bloody wedding.

Five

Dante

My heart battersagainst my chest as I watch Makenna walk down the aisle, there’s something about this woman that fucking gets to me and I don’t even know her. When my father told me that I’d be marrying, I had assumed that the relationship I’d have with my wife would be cold and sterile. I know the way things work in our world, women are to be seen and not heard. They’re to make a home and look after the children, but as I watch Makenna walk toward me there’s no way things will be cold or sterile. The woman makes my blood run hot, she’s brought out a protective instinct I never knew I had. When Finn told me that Makenna wanted me, I didn’t know what to expect but walking into the room and watching her kneel in front of a panicked Kinsley wasn’t it. Hearing them talk made me realize that I’ve underestimated my soon-to-be wife. Her words hit me like a fucking sledgehammer,“I survived that shit. We’re here. Together, we’ve overcome so fucking much. We’re fine.”

She’s far from fucking fine, seeing the two women huddled together, heads touching, made me see that there’re things Makenna hasn’t let anyone see. I’m determined to find out what the hell she’s been through and I’m not going to stop until I find out all of her secrets. I’m unable to take my eyes off her, she has a bright smile on her face. You’d think we’ve known each other for years the way her smile lights the room. Whereas the truth is so much worse, she’s been handed to me in a fucking deal, and yet she’s not showing an ounce of fear. She’s strong and vulnerable. She’s a walking, talking contradiction and yet I crave her.

I shake Seamus’ hand and instantly grasp Makenna’s, my thumb moving in circles over her skin, needing this contact. Goosebumps break out over her skin and I bite back a smirk; she’s affected by me. When my lips touch hers, it takes all my restraint not to take it further. Instead I pull back, my hands on her hips, holding her tight. Her eyes are heavy with lust. She’s fucking gorgeous, she’s holding onto me as though she needs the strength to keep her upright.

“Dante…” she whispers and my cock stirs, my gaze goes to her lips, plump and kissable.

“Kenna….” I reply gruffly, pissed that we’re in a church and not near a bed.

Glass shatters and she jerks in my arms just as a cry escapes her, I reach for my gun as the doors to the church burst open.

The fucking Bratva.

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