Page 129 of Forging Caine

Part of it was selfish. I wanted him there as my best man, but also knew she deserved to wear something as beautiful as she was. “That’s why I had to delay you with all the shopping. Chiara picked out the dress and he was on a plane right away, but I needed a few extra hours before he landed.”

Cassandra took Samantha’s hand. “There’s a changing room in back and we’ve got everything you need.”

Lucy snatched her other hand. “And I need to tell you about my insane night last night! You’re not going to believe what happened to me and Lorenzo!”

That was a story I’d need to have, as well.

The room emptied of its women, save my mother. She approached me slowly, raising one eyebrow. “This is how you tell me she said yes?”

I wrapped my arms around her and sighed. “We’ve been a little busy, Mamma.”

“About that whole debacle.” She stepped back, frowning. “Your father and I have been in touch with Giovanni to express our thanks for his assistance. I suppose it’s time to practice some forgiveness?”

“Grazie mille, Mamma.”

She followed where the rest had gone off with Samantha, leaving me with the men. My brother, father, two cousins, Samantha’s brother-in-law, Sofia’s husband, my nephews, Samantha’s nephew, and Nathan. “Thank you all for coming. I know it was short notice.”

Papa grabbed me by the shoulders. “Your mother would have killed you if you did this without her, you know this?”

“I know. Are the videoconference calls all set up?”

“They are.”

Chapter 46

Samantha

Itwasridiculous.Thenagain, everything with Antonio Ferraro had a touch of the ridiculous. I’d thought it would be a small chapel with just the two of us and maybe an Elvis impersonator. Instead, I was in a stunning white sheath dress with a neckline that was far too low, a bouquet of lilies and gardenia, waiting for my flower girl to follow the bridesmaids down the aisle.

Nathan leaned close. “You don’t think maybe you’re jumping into this a little fast?”

When I married Matt, I didn’t have anyone give me away. I’d always assumed my mother would take that duty, but the wedding was only months after her death and I was still reeling, so I gave myself away instead. This time, I was doing it right.

“You agreed to give me away.”

“I mean, you were kidnapped two days ago and nearly killed less than twenty-four hours ago. Shouldn’t you be under a doctor’s care or something?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “They checked me over and I’m fine.”

He blew upward, ruffling some hair which had fallen onto his forehead. “I still can’t believe you brought the whole thing down.”

“Can we hold off on talking shop until we get home and review the case?”

“I heard Dom Ferraro’s opening an investigative branch. Any possibility of you working for them?”

Emma bounced up and down, peeking around the corner through the doors. Cass was on her way to the front. Then it would be Emma, then me and Nathan.

“Elliot offered me a job.”

He nodded. Had he known? Or had he suspected? Elliot made no qualms about telling people he wanted me back in the fold, so maybe Nathan knew. “Private practice might be less dangerous.”

I chuckled at the way he was bouncing between subjects like Emma bounced on her toes. “Are you trying to distract me or yourself?”

Emma grabbed my dress and whispered as loud as she could, “I going now, Auntie Sammy!”

I kissed the top of her head and glimpsed the plastic FBI badge under her little white dress with the pink bows. I’d given it to her for her third birthday last summer. The day after I met Antonio.

Once Emma was through the doors, Nathan gave a shake, like he was the nervous one.

---