Page 94 of Brutal Intentions

The ceremony is short and sweet. Just like the first time I got married, I’m looking only at Mia.

She’s looking only at me, and the smile that lights her face as she says, “I do,” takes my breath away.

As we walk out of Town Hall, I spot a familiar figure standing at the bottom of the steps.

The smile vanishes from my lips. What’s my brother doing here? I give Mia a kiss and leave her with her sister, and I walk down the steps to where Faber is standing by his car.

“It’s bad manners, crashing a wedding,” I tell him, not bothering to smile.

“I’m not here to interfere with your wedding. Congratulations to you and—”

“What do you want?”

He presses his lips together in annoyance. Screw his well wishes. He couldn’t have made it any clearer what he thinks.

“To give you your wedding present.” Faber passes me an envelope that’s thick with sheets of paper.

I open it warily, wondering if I’m being sued by the Bianchis for breach of promise or some other nonsense. When I unfold the papers, I see that it is a legal document.

Not suing me.

Faber is signing over the inheritance that’s owed to me.

I stare at them, my teeth grinding together. I thought I’d be deliriously happy the day Faber finally gave me what was rightfully mine.

“I’ve seen how you’ve pulled your life together in the past few months, and I’ve been impressed. Well done, Lazzaro.”

I’m being patted on the head for being agood boy.

“You’re such a pompous dickhead, Faber.” I hold the envelope up, glaring at him. “Just so we’re clear, this was never your gift to bestow, and I’m not saying thank you. You held what was rightfully mine hostage and made me jump through your hoops. I didn’t marry Mia in order to get this money. I married her because she’s my reason to go on living and being a better man.”

“The fact that you—”

“I’ll be able to hold my head up around my son or daughter knowing I’ve never compromised my own code or been a flaming hemorrhoid to my family.”

“You’ve been a flaming hemorrhoid plenty of times,” Faber reminds me.

“For fun? Sure. But the difference between you and me is that I don’t destroy anyone’s dreams.”

I turn around and walk back to Mia, shoving the envelope inside my jacket and greeting my bride with a kiss. For a moment, I think I’ve had the last word with my brother.

I should have known better.

“Lazzaro.”

For fuck’s sake. Can’t I have any peace on my own damn wedding day? When I turn around, Faber is looking supremely uncomfortable, shifting on his feet with an expression of both irritation and regret on his face.

“About withholding your inheritance. I... may have been wrong to do that.”

I wait, brows lifted.

Faber takes a deep breath. “I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

I watch him with narrowed eyes. “What do you know, my big brother knows what an apology is, after all. I’ll think about forgiving you when that money is in my account.”

“I would like us to be brothers once more.”

“We are brothers. There’s not much we can do about that. Can I enjoy my wedding day now?”

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