Page 7 of Fragile Union

"Ma was in a rage after Danny boy’s wedding, she was pissed and decided some truths were to be had."

My heart sinks, why is she so evil? "I'm so sorry," I whisper as I rest my head against his shoulder. "You know this doesn't change anything right? You're still my brother and I love you dearly."

"Love you too, Hols," is his gruff response. "Come on, let's get you ready so you can get married. Where's Makenna?"

"She'll be here in a minute, she's bossing everyone around."

He chuckles. "Sounds about right. Thanks, Hol, I'm sorry for being an arse and dropping this shit on you."

"Don't be. Ma did this, not you."

There's a knock at the door and we both glance to see Da walking in. "Come on, kiddo, it's almost time to go."

Mal drops a kiss on my cheek. "I'll see you in there."

"You ready, baby girl?" Da asks once we're alone.

"Yeah," I whisper as my nerves start to hit me.

"He's a good man, Holly. Makenna would never have agreed to it if he weren't."

I nod because I know he’s a good man. I also sense there's a darkness swirling inside of him. He's so intimidating, it takes everything in me not to squirm under his gaze.

"Get your dress on, and then we'll get you married."

I suck in a deep breath and smile. "Okay, Da."

* * *

"You look beautiful, babe,"Romero whispers quietly as we're greeting our guests.

The wedding went off without a hitch, and thankfully, it's so much different to the way Makenna's and Dante's ended.

"Babe?" I ask while trying to hide my smile.

He grins, knowing that I'm fucking with him. "It's either babe, baby, or doll face."

I blink. "Doll face?"

His grin widens. "Your skin is so fucking pale and soft it reminds me of those fine china dolls my mom used to have."

Butterflies swarm my stomach at his words.

"Yeah, doll face it is." He leans forward and places a hard, chaste kiss against my lips. "I know things are going to be weird for us," he says as he pulls me close to him ignoring the people who want to wish us well. Thankfully, Da, Danny, Makenna, and Dante greet them for us. "The way things started with Georgina and her crap, but you're my wife now, Holly."

"Do you want a marriage like Makenna and Dante?" I try and keep the hope out of my words.

He sighs. "I'm not capable of love. I can promise you that I'll care for you, but I doubt I'll ever love you. It's not who I am."

I lick my lips as the pain slashes through me. "So, what is it that you want?"

His eyes blaze with lust. "I want you, we're married, and that means something to me. I am not my father and I'm not your mother. We took vows, ones we're going to live by."

I stare into his beautiful brown eyes. "I can do that," I promise him. "I'll be your wife, Romero."

"Rome," he tells me. "My brother's call me Rome, and you can too."

I sink further into his embrace. "Rome," I repeat and can't help but think that maybe, just maybe I've made a little headway with my rugged made man.

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