Page 89 of Marco DeLuca

The music starts, and everyone turns to see the bridal procession.

Rashida is glancing all around, and when her eyes land on me, she smiles and gives a little finger wave.

Rashida was the one that contacted me and told me that Piper was going to get married today. She visited my club last weekend and specifically asked for me.

Of course, getting to me is not easy, but the club manager asked for her card, promising to pass it along. It took me three days to get that information, so I fired my club manager.

I met with Rashida the next day for brunch, and she told me about Piper’s impending wedding. Much like Massimo’s warning a year ago, she warned that this was my last chance to save Piper from making the biggest mistake of her life.

I had to let her go back then. Not only because I had promised her that I would but because I knew I wasn’t mentally right, and I couldn’t afford to hurt her any more than I’d already done. I wasn’t in a place mentally to love or be loved. Yet, every day I spend in one of my clubs or with the architects and construction workers building my new casino, something reminds me of her.

Whether it’s the flirtatious way a dancer performs for me with a myriad of tattoos on her body or the foreman constantly complaining about rerouting the piping system, I can’t help but think of Piper. My Piper.

It’s been hard, but I vowed to stay away, promising I wouldn’t hurt her again. That I wouldn’t come to her until I was whole. Although I haven’t closed the last loop in my vengeance plan, I’m better than I was a year ago.

So when Rashida showed up and told me about the wedding, I took that as a sign that it was my time. She said she knew I was married and wasn’t trying to disrupt my marriage, but she hoped I could talk some sense into Piper.

She said marrying Kenneth was like sentencing her to a lifetime prison sentence. Piper learned that he had forged paperwork with her name and entered negotiations to sell her tattoo shop. Although Piper had apparently been angry, she still hadn’t broken off the engagement.

I shared with Rashida that my wife had died. A sad smile had formed on her face, and she’d begged me to please tell Piper. She’d thought that news needed to come from me. She immediately apologized after saying she shouldn’t be happy about a thing like that, and I’d assured her that I understood and that she was okay.

Some days I realize that I’m more hurt by the betrayal of those I love than by losing Graziella, a woman I deeply cared for but couldn’t trust.

Other days, I realize the pain I carry is the least of what I deserve for all those I’ve hurt.

I know now that I am worthy of love and that despite all the fuckups I’ve made, everyone has a person out there for them.

Piper is my person. Always was, and I was too foolish to see it. I’ve spent most of my life honoring a commitment to those who weren’t committed to me.

When Piper passes me by, I stand and turn along with the rest of the guests, and I see the fury in Kenneth’s eyes as he looks at me and then at his bride. He quickly replaces it as though recalling that he has an image to uphold.

Everyone settles down again once Piper takes her place. My nerves are on edge as the minister talks about the vows of love and quotes some scripture from the Bible about what love really means.

Not long after that, Kenneth speaks up and says his vows.

I can’t stomach much more. I’d decided to speak up and object to their vows, but I won’t. I’ve hurt this woman enough, and if she’s determined to go through with it, who the fuck am I to stop her? She has placed her life on hold for me long enough, and it’s not her fault I couldn’t get my shit together. I exit the sanctuary, through the church hall, and into the bright sunny late afternoon.

This day shouldn’t be as beautiful as it is. Lives are changing worldwide today; some are for good, and others are not for good. Unfortunately for me, none of it is positive. Not even what I’m about to do now.

I glance at my watch. It’s now four-thirty, and I must be somewhere in five hours.

Time to head home, eat and shower, and prepare for the final phase of my vengeance plan.

***

THE DRIVER PULLS UPto the club, and one of my men waits outside to open the door for me. No sooner than my feet hit the pavement than my men flank me on either side as we step inside the club. I have men across the street on the jewelry store roof and men on the bank roof behind this club.

This shit is going down tonight, and if I’m going out, I’m going out in a blaze of fucking glory, baby! I ain’t got shit to lose! For the time that I had Piper, I enjoyed her. Whatever happens tonight, I hope I walk up out of this shit alive.

But when it comes to my name, I have nothing to lose. I’ll sacrifice it all to let these muthafuckas know who they’re fucking with!

The security atClub Fiammainstantly goes on alert when they spot me. Most people would have snuck into or infiltrated the club using special tactics. I ain’t that muthafucka. Whatever I do, I’m gonna do it right in your face, and I make no apologies for it or who I am. I’m not a sneaky muthafucka, but I’m an “In-Your-Face-Muthafucka!”

“Sir, we’re at capacity right now,” one bouncer says.

“I suggest you clear this bitch out then because I’m about to exceed the maximum capacity and violate every fucking fire code in Atlanta,” I growl.

The other two bouncers stand side-by-side with him crossing their bulky arms over their chests.

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