Chapter 14: The wedding

"My lady, I asked nicely, and you said you would be my wife. So I was thinking that we get married today."

"Today? Is today not too sudden, like I haven't prepared or even planned."

You don't need to bother your pretty, my lady. You never have to as long as you have me. Everything is on standby. All I need is your go-ahead. I just want to be your husband already."

"What if I say yes, let's get married today?"

"Then that's all I need to hear from you because all your vendors are available, giving you all your preferences at the spot."

"Okay then, let's get married!" She said happily as she sat up on her bed.

Ortega made a short call.

"Let them in. I will be in church waiting for you."  Some designers waited outside for Ortega as he flung the open.

"Come in, ladies. Please make her the most exceptional bride we have had in a long time." Ortega walked out of their suite as he let the ladies in rolling in a whole wardrobe of choiced wedding dresses, make up, and make over essentials.

"Oh my god, Ortega, you always outdo yourself."

*

"Hello, Don Pedro. I  am Nickolas,  the father of Ravenna, the bride of your rival."

Yes, Nickolas, to what do I owe this honour?

"Don Diego is getting married to my daughter today, and I am one of the few gracing her occasion,  and that's because I am her family. "

"So why are you trying to sell your son in law to me? What's the price ?"

"No price at all. I just wanted to torment Don Diego because I don't want to repay his debt, so if you can handle him, I won't mind at all."

So you don't want to pay the debt you owe? You know a debtor needs to pay off all of his debts right."

"Not only that,  I asked him to marry my first daughter, but he preferred to marry my last child, Ravenna."

"So, you're saying that you love your eldest daughter more than the younger one?"

"I don't like Ravenna at all. She is a wicked demon, and she is going scot-free with her wickedness. She killed my wife. Can you believe such evil?"

"So how do I get to your inlaw?"

"I will send you details of the venue, seeing that the venue is  private, and I will only get to know where it is only when I arrive there. That's how careful Don Diego really is."

"Okay, we will strike immediately. we get information about the venue.  Don't keep me waiting. "

"Okay, Don."

Papa Nickolas held Ravenna's hand as they walked down the aisle, her hair packed in a delibrate rough bon, but beauty showed its creativity. Her dress is simple long but traces every contour of her body. A smile of jealousy spread across Mariana face as her gaze fell on her younger sister.  Her veil covered her face as she walked like an actual angel in white.

Ortega couldn't control the tears in his eyes, except the people who knew him for who he really was could pass him for a weakling.

"Baby, you're crying?" Ravenna asked with the cutest smile any bride could have.

"My lady, I can't believe I will be spending the rest of my life with you." He whispered back into her ears.

All the phones of the attendees had been collected and put into a basket till after the wedding.

"Papa, how the heck are you going to text Don Pedro about the venue now that our phones have been taken?" Mariana asked in whispers to her Papa, who was sat in between she and Carlos.

"I am sure Don Diego knows how many feet he had stepped on and how many couldn't wait to see him fall." Carlos added as the watch the officiating priest pray over the now married couple.

"We call on Diego Ortega to take his vows in the presence of many witnesses. " Don Diego stepped forward open a sheet that he had written for his bride.

"For you, I can stop the world and fight till my last breath. Nothing can ever make me take my eyes off you. I will be your loudest cheerleader and the strongest shoulder to lean on.  He said, tapping his broad shoulders.

Your safety is with me. When the noise is too much in the world, come back home, and I will be you absolutely peace. I will hold your hands and walk you through every lonely part. I will make you test heaven even before you get the chance to go there. I will be your forever without a doubt." There was a resounding applauding after his vows. Then, with tears in her eyes, Ravenna began to speak.

"Hey Ortega, I never believed that love could find me in the most ridiculous of places. When I first saw you step into that room, the whole world came to a stand still. You were one son of murder fucking  beauty. Forgive my language, you all. There was an outburst of boisterous laughter in the hall. I told my best friend these are some of the most handsome men I have seen. She brushed me off, saying none of them were in my class. But today you made me off limit. You made me a limited edition. And for this, I will love for the rest of our lives together as husband and wife."

The outburst was beyond control as everyone in the room clapped in happiness or pretence.

"I hope you are absolutely ready to take a bullet for her indeed? Pa Nickolas asked, not audible enough for anyone to hear him."

After the wedding was concluded, the couple were on their way out of the altar when more than thirty armed men ran inside after overpowering a few of Don Diego's men who were on guard in the premises except the ones with Don Diego who guarded him out of the premises.  The rancour was so much that Diego didn't know when he was taken to safety by his men.

"Where is my wife?" was the first words that successfully proceeded from his mouth.

"She should be with one of your men in her car." Was Santiago's response.

"Find out you murderfucker!" Santiago came back a few minutes later.

"I'm so sorry Don she is now where to be found. "

"I can't make any sense of what you are saying right now. What do you mean my lady is nowhere to be found?"

"He car was abandoned and one of the guys with her was shot dead." "Don Diego ran out of his car running and shutting at a car that zoomed off the premises to no avail." He sat down on the floor devastated as tears flowed from his eyes.

Matoe who was hidden in the church premises walked towards Ortega who was now on the floor, his white tuxedo was already stained in dirt and flit.

"Hey man, calm down. You've got this?"

"No, I have got nothing this men took my world away from me. Why didn't they take me instead? Ravenna had nothing to do with any of this."

"You know you are untouchable,  nobody can touch Don Diego have you suddenly forgotten? You are the Don of Dons. You've got this."

I don't got nothing,  what if they do something to her? What if they kill her?"

"They know better than to dare you. I don't think it's her they want. Maybe he just wants to get your attention. "

"Man, you have to stand up let head home i am sure we will figure something out. If you keep sitting here like you lost a battle how will we know who took her?"

"Smart point,  I have to find out who took her." Santiago and Matoe who were standing bent down and help Don Diego up.

In no distant time Don Diego was back in his mansion. Don Diego kept pacing about in his living room.

"Who knew me so well to know that Ravenna was my weakness. No woman has ever made me feel so weak and confused. But when it comes to Ravenna I want her safe even if it will cost me my life."

"Nobody can match you Don. I know you've got this. I'm sure you need some rest and after which you'll figure out who those guys were from." Santiago finally spoke.