Chapter 33

Unspoken Desires - Chapter 33

Gabriella

“Mia cara,” Zia said gently through the phone, her voice laced with worry. “Your Zio and your father are both going crazy. Please, come home soon. We can all sit down together and discuss this calmly. Darius is a very nice man. He’s handsome and respectful. You could just meet him.”

I swallowed hard, staring out the sitting room window, my pulse thudding in my ears.

“Zia,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “I’m sorry I took off the way I did… but I won’t let them hurt Max. And I am not meeting or marrying Darius. So stop calling me.”

I ended the call before she could respond and let the phone drop onto the couch beside me. My hands were trembling. Whether from anger or fear, I didn’t know anymore.

I couldn’t let Dad or Zio hurt Max. Or worse, kill him—just because I fell in love with him.

I was about to go find him when Vincent walked in.

He looked like hell. His eyes were hollow and distant, his skin pale. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. Sareena gave him something that knocked him out, but whatever rest he got hadn’t touched the storm inside him.

As he stepped closer, I heard the muffled yelling from his phone.

“You better snap out of your bullshit. She was just a girl,” my father growled through the speaker. “You’ll find a million more like her. You’ll eventually forget she ever existed. It’s not like you could have married her anyway. Now bring Gabriella home, before this gets worse for all of us.”

I didn’t even think. I snatched the phone from Vincent’s hand and ended the call. He didn’t stop me. He didn’t even flinch. Just stood there like a zombie. Silent, but stiff. His jaw was clenched, but his eyes… his eyes looked empty. Like something inside him had died.

“Vincent,” I whispered, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t answer. Didn’t make a sound. Just stared past me, like he wasn’t really here at all.

My chest ached for him; for what he’d lost, and for the mistakes he couldn’t undo. Lessia had died protecting him. It’s going to take a long time to recover.

Damian and Maximus were the next to step into the sitting room, and froze when they saw Vincent.

No one said anything. They just sat beside him quietly, as if their presence alone might hold him together.

Matthew walked in next, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Yes, Mario, I heard you the first twenty times,” he said flatly. “We need to keep Gabriella here. Yeah. Got it. You and Luca are flying in to deal with Maximus and Gabriella yourselves.”

He hung up and looked at me.

“They’re serious. You need to decide what you’re going to do. They’re not bluffing, Gabby. They’re coming for Max.”

For a few seconds, no one moved. Then Vincent spoke. His voice was low and cracked.

“Marry him,” he said. “Don’t make the same mistake I did. They won’t kill your husband.”

Max’s head shot up, eyes wide; but he didn’t speak.

Matthew gave a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. “We’re in Vegas. What better place for a happily ever after wedding than a drive-thru chapel with an Elvis impersonator?”

Right then, Sophia and Matteo entered. “Who’s getting hitched by Elvis?” Sophia asked, clearly amused.

“I am,” I said. “We are.”

I turned to Maximus, my heart pounding in my chest. “This isn’t how I imagined it, Max. Not like this, but Vincent’s right. They won’t touch you if you’re my husband. And I know you’ll never leave the Familia. That’s not who you are. I’ve loved you since we were kids, since kindergarten, and there’s no one else I’d ever risk everything for.”

I took a breath, stepped closer, then dropped to one knee.

“Maximus Nazzaro, will you marry me?”

Max dropped to his knees in front of me, taking my hands into his. “Are you sure?”

I nodded and pulled him into a kiss.

———————-

Matteo

I led Sophia back to the room we were sharing when Gino stepped out of his bedroom. He looked older and thinner; leaning on a cane. But somehow he looked stronger than he had yesterday.

Honestly, I didn’t think he was going to make it through the night. Whatever Sareena had done… she saved him.

“You two; go get Damian and Sareena. I want to speak to all of you. Now,” he barked, already walking toward the kitchen.

By the time we gathered, the room was full: me, Sophia, Damian, Sareena, but Matthew strolled in a second later, followed by Gabriella and Maximus.

Gino didn’t waste time.

“I just got a disturbing call from Luca. You defied his direct orders by bringing Maximus here. You knew full well Gabriella is promised to someone else,” he began, eyes locking on Gabby.

She tried to speak, but one look from him shut her up.

“I don’t want your excuses. Just shut up and listen.” His voice was hard, absolute. “I’ve been in this life longer than your parents have been alive. All of you. I’ve seen what happens when emotion gets in the way of power, and it rarely ends well.”

Just then, Mom walked in, arms crossed, lips twitching with amusement. “He’s not wrong. I first met Gino at my wedding and he’s been through it all.”

Gino didn’t miss a beat. “I overheard your plan to get Maximus and Gabriella married. As stupid as that plan is…” he paused, his expression unreadable, “…I support it.”

Everyone froze. Even Gabriella stopped breathing.

“I’ll help break the news to Mario myself after the wedding.”

Gino cleared his throat, his voice softer now. “But I also want to ask my girls something.” He looked at Sophia and Sareena, then over at Alexandra and Constance as they hovered quietly in the background.

“I know my health has taken a beating, and I know my heart isn’t what it used to be. So I want to ask; would you consider taking your vows as well? I’d like to witness it before I die.”

His voice cracked slightly as he finished.

I turned toward Sophia. She looked stunned, like the moment hadn’t fully registered yet.

Maybe I shouldn’t ask her like this, and I should wait, but the truth was; I didn’t care about a big wedding or flowers or any of the rest of it.

I just wanted her. To be my wife and my future.

“Sophia,” I said, keeping my voice steady, “the decision’s yours. But I want to marry you as soon as possible. No fanfare, no waiting. Just you and me.”

She blinked at me, then smiled through the tears in her eyes.

“Yes, baby. Let’s do it,” she said, launching herself into my lap and wrapping her arms around my neck.

She kissed me deeply. I didn’t hesitate to pull her close, knowing I’d never let go.

—————-

Sareena

I watched as Matthew walked Gabriella down the aisle toward Maximus. She looked radiant, absolutely breathtaking.

“You almost ready?” Sophia’s voice came from behind me.

I turned to find my twin standing there, and my breath caught in my throat. She was stunning, elegant and graceful. Every bit the beautiful bride I always imagined she’d be.

“Oh, Sophia,” I whispered, tears already pricking at the corners of my eyes. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”

She smiled gently, reaching for my hand.

The chapel doors swung open, and there he was; our Nono. Dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, cane in hand and pride shining in his eyes He was ready. Ready to walk us both down the aisle.

I took a shaky breath and looped my arm through his, Sophia doing the same on his other side.

“To our happily ever after.”