Chapter 33 - Marco

"Everyone ready? I don't want anything going wrong today—nothing at all!"

"Yes, Marco. For the thousandth time, everyone is in position. There are more soldiers here than anywhere else. No one can take a step onto this property without setting off an alarm," Frank repeated, trying to calm me down as I approached the window and snatched the whiskey glass from Nero's hand.

"What..."

"You can't get drunk today. I need all of you sober!" I said before he could finish his whining and stared out at the garden of our house.

Everything was perfectly decorated for the wedding. White and lilac flowers adorned the path we'd take to the arch, where the altar was perfectly aligned for our vows.

It wasn't exactly how I'd imagined it. The original plan was to marry in the church where my parents had wed and where my siblings and I were baptized.

But I wasn't going to make the same mistake as Mancini. A church and a separate venue for the reception left too much room for errors—there were a thousand possibilities for an attack.

It was a last-minute decision, but Angel agreed without hesitation. I had my doubts that the attack on the church during her wedding to that bastard was still fresh in her memory, as she even seemed relieved not to have to marry in one.

"You can relax, Marco. Nothing bad will happen at your wedding, brother," Nero said, placing both hands on my shoulders and shaking me.

"I hope not. If that bastard Mancini decides to attack today, I swear I'll kill him this time!"

"Did you tell her?" Frank's question made me tighten my fingers around the whiskey glass. "Did you tell her that her father is disfigured and offering her sister as payment to anyone who kills one of you?"

I downed the liquid in one gulp, letting the alcohol burn my throat and chase away the ice inside me. It wasn't news to any of them that I was a heartless bastard, but maybe that was starting to become obvious to Angela.

"No, I didn't tell her anything, and I hope you both keep your mouths shut," I turned to the two of them and raised a finger in warning. "I don't want anything worrying Angela's head today. As long as nothing happens to the two of us, her sister will be safe."

"Hope she agrees with you, or you'll spend your honeymoon in jeans and let your hand continue your relationship," Nero laughed as he said it, causing Frank to laugh with him.

"You fucker, shut up!" I smiled, slapping the back of his head, but the topic was serious. If Angela knew I'd decided to go ahead with the wedding despite her father's announcement about her sister, she'd hate me.

"It's time!" Melissa burst into the room shouting and stopped as soon as her eyes landed on me. Then her sweet eyes filled with tears. "You look handsome, brother. I can't believe the day has finally come to see you married."

"I think the correct term is 'tied to a woman.'"

"Shut up, Nero. Soon it'll be your day, and we'll watch your fall from the horse up close," Mel took a few steps toward me and pinned some lavender sprigs to the pocket of my tuxedo. "If you don't love her yet, I'm sure you'll start when you see her as a bride."

My sister smiled as if the world were pink, when a second ago we'd been laughing about a very different situation—one that didn't involve love, but Angela's hatred.

"You said it was time, so go to her and be the maid of honor my wife deserves," I said, pushing her to leave quickly.

"I'm going, just one more thing," she ran to her husband and whispered something in his ear that made him smile before leading her to the door. "I'm not kidding, Frank! Say it, or the trouble will be between the two of us."

"I'll say it on the way down. Now go, love," he gave her a quick kiss on the lips, and she rushed out.

"Are you going to tell us, or will you get in trouble with the troublemaker? Because I really love watching my sister fight with you, Frank."

He pushed my brother out, even though we were all supposed to go down together. Melissa was right—that was the time to head down and end it once and for all.

"Go to hell, Nero. All I have to say is for the one about to get married: you can back out."

"What is my sister scheming now?" I took one last look in the mirror, already following the two out.

"Your sister asked me to have a talk with you about... virgins," he said after a pause, and I stopped at the top of the stairs while Nero descended laughing. "I know it's weird, but Mel thought it would be good to ask for patience."

I grabbed his collar and pulled him hard and fast until we were face-to-face. Frank didn't seem scared or intimidated by my scrutiny.

"Did you hurt my sister, Frank?" I questioned, watching his expression shift from confusion to disbelief.

"What? Of course not, damn it!" He placed his hands on my arms, trying to push me away. "Your sister knows your reputation with women, how insatiable and rough you are—those were her words."

I released him quickly and shook my head in denial. They weren't lying—I was known for that among women, and I didn't deny finding pleasure in brutality and dominating them. But with Angela, things were different. She pushed me to the edge so easily, with just a few touches, her moans, and that hot pussy making me lose myself.

"With Angela, it's different, Frank," I affirmed, heading toward the altar and waving to the guests already in their seats. "She makes everything different."

Maybe that was a problem. God had made her custom-made to make me lose all the reason I was always proud of. And that scared me.

I stopped in front of the priest and turned to our few friends who were there. It would be a small, intimate wedding—very different from what I wanted to give her.

"So let's marry you already. I'm eager to see the two of you ruling everything together," Frank said, joining Nero's side at the altar.

It didn't take long for the wedding march to start, and Angela appeared at the end of the aisle, taking my breath away with her beauty.

She held a bouquet of white roses with some lavender sprigs, but what caught my attention most was how even more angelic she looked in that white dress.

The delicate sleeves covered her shoulders, and the sweetheart neckline framed the breasts I'd come to know so well in recent days. It hugged her waist before flaring into a light skirt with just the right volume.

With every step she took toward me, my heart beat faster. I was eager to reach her and lift the veil covering her face, just to tease it even more.

When she finally got close enough, I couldn't hold back and took a step toward her, extending my hand to take hers. I saw a small smile emerge from behind the veil, lighting up her face even more despite being covered.

"Eager, Mr. Falcone?" I heard her whisper as she gave me her hand and joined me at the altar.

"Eager to make you Mrs. Falcone!"

The priest began with a passage from the Bible and then turned to me to make my vows. In our family, only the men made promises.

But Angela surprised me by taking the lead and starting to speak.

"I don't know you well enough and that there's a sea of differences between us, but I have hope that you'll cross that sea to meet me, just as I'm coming to meet you," I shifted uncomfortably as she held my hand, with the ring ready to place on my finger. "With this ring, I promise to fight and honor the Camorra, as well as your name. And to stand by your side, in joy and sorrow, in war or peace. I am yours, Marco Falcone."

She slid the gold ring onto my finger and kissed it, while we heard some emotional sobs like Melissa's and murmurs of agreement. But all I could focus on were her words repeating in my mind.

"You've made my life difficult like this, angel. But I'll try to top your speech." A small smile took her lips, and I took her hand and the ring from the cushion Nero held. "With this ring, I promise you'll always have my body to love and use as a shield, you'll always have my gun and fists to protect you." Then I turned my palm up, letting Frank make a small cut on it before doing the same to hers, who stared at everything confused. "I promise to be faithful in joy and sorrow, in health or sickness, beyond death. We will be one flesh and one blood, bound forever in sacred matrimony!"

I joined our hands, letting our cuts touch and mixing our blood, sealing my vow. Angela seemed surprised and awed at the same time, completely unable to say anything.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!" the priest exclaimed, giving me the cue I needed.

I held the edge of the veil covering her face and lifted it slowly, revealing every bit of her angelic and delicate face. Our eyes met, and she smiled slightly as I leaned in, focused on her mouth.

"Nothing will separate us anymore, Angel!"