Page 91 of No Mercy

“I did.” I try to ease her confusion. “I only called you Francesca all those years to keep a wall between us, but now there are no more walls, Angel. All the names I call you from here on out will be backed by love. Only ever love between you and me.”

“Fu—” Her mouth crashes with mine before she finishes that one word response. I guess I got my message across.

I still the guilt trying to raise its wicked head for all the years I kept her at bay with nasty words. Instead, I kiss her harder, deeper. I have a lifetime to make it up to her.

We pick up the pace, my hands and hips helping her ride my cock like a rodeo champ. When she comes, I fall with her. This woman who loves me like I’ve never known. Who looks at me like I hung the moon just for her. Who’s carrying my baby and holds my future and my heart in her hands.

My Angel.

My bride.

My soon-to-be wife.

“Holy fuck.” I slam my hand over my mouth. Lili giggles behind me. I quickly release my mouth, not wanting to mess up my makeup some nice lady spent the last twenty minutes doing. I’m in awe of this place I’m about to get married in, with its pillared, marbled terrace surrounded by flowers and lined by golden chairs.

We hear footsteps and deep voices coming around the corner.

“He can’t see you.” Lili grabs my hand and drags me down the hall to the room I’m supposed to wait in until it’s time. Which is now, like, in five minutes.

“Everyone is arriving.” Lili peeks out the door. “Oh, Gabriel looks so handsome.” She quickly shuts the door. “No, you have to wait.” She urges me back.

I fuss with my dress, not because I’m not happy with it, but because I’m nervous. “What if he doesn’t like it?”

Lili blinks at me like I’m an idiot. “You could marry him in the t-shirt I found you in a few hours ago, and he’d be a happy camper.”

True. He did say he’d marry me in his old gym bag. “Thank you for this.” I point to my dress, my hair, my makeup.

“Thank Gabriel and Cap. They’re the ones who made a few phone calls to get the ball rolling. I only handled the finishing touches along with a handful of hotel staff.”

A quick knock on the door has my heart jumping.

“It’s time.” Cap sticks his head in. “Damn, honey. You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Cap.” I point to his black suit, black shirt, and black tie. “You look so handsome.”

He smiles. “Maybe I’ll get a date out of this.”

“No doubt.” I saw the way he looked at Gabriel’s mom. I know a little about her history with her husband, Gabriel’s father. He beat her. I’m not sure she could handle a tough, cantankerous guy like Cap. Except I know his heart is pure gold.

Lord help Gabriel if Cap decides to pursue her. I’m not sure Gabriel could handle both his mom and sister dating such virile men as Cap and Rowdy.

“I’m gonna go find my man.” Lili squeezes my hand. “Yours will shit a brick when he sees you. Don’t forget to breathe.”

“Yeah, okay.” I haven’t cried all day, but the closer I get to walking down the aisle, the closer I am to doing it.

Lili slips past Cap as he steps forward. “You ready?”

I bite my lip and nod. “Cap, thanks for giving me away. It means—” The tears start.Fuck.I look up and fan my face.

He captures my hand. “Don’t cry.” He kisses my cheek. “It means the world to me too.” Opening the door, he guides me out.

I slip my hand in the crook of his arm. “Let’s do this.”

“That’s my girl.”

When we step around the corner, “Falling Like The Stars” fills my ears, causing me to resume my fight to keep my tears at bay. My breath catches at the sight of Gabriel at the end of the aisle, chairs on either side filled with our friends and family. His suit and shirt match Cap’s, except he’s wearing a white tie to match my dress.

He waits for me at the pinnacle of the rounded terrace with a minister at his side. Each step feels like a lifetime, my nerves forgotten, my heart racing due to my excitement of making this man mine.

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