Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I was on FaceTime with Emmie and Melina earlier. I’m sorry for taking you away from your wife and little Izzy.”
“Nonsense. If I hadn’t been here for you, Lina would have never spoken to me again.”
I nod. Antonio will stand up as Victor’s best man and I know that he’s who Victor would have asked, regardless. He’s also here for another reason, though. He’s here to show the guests that I will be a DeLuca from today on. I also know he’s set to give a speech at the reception to say just that.
Victor has assured me he’s confident the wedding will go off fine, but that the reception is when Abram and the others will try to attack. He took me to where I’ll be staying during the attack and explained to me that I won’t see all the men they have, but I will be protected at all times. He needn’t have worried about that. I’ve seen the number of men that have been arriving quietly in the dead of the night, and it still astounds me. I just want him to be safe. That’s where all my worry comes from.
“Have you spoken to Victor?” I ask.
“Yes. He’s just waiting to say I do. He really loves you.”
“I know. This just isn’t how I imagined saying I do,” I laugh.
“Just let Victor take care of you. It is what he has wanted since the moment he first saw you. All will be well. You’ll see.”
“I will,” I agree.
We say our goodbyes as Sam enters the room. Sam and Antonio are still a little tense around one another, but I see respect in both of them when they talk. That makes me feel good. Since learning exactly what my stepfather has done, I’ve learned to forgive Sam for everything he did. He wouldn’t tell me everything his father made him do over the years, but what he did tell me was enough to make my heart break. He cried when he spoke about my attack. I tried to make him let that go. What Abram did, had nothing to do with Sam as much as the evil inside the man he was forced to call father. I find myself hoping someday Sam can forgive himself and realize everything was out of his control as much as it was out of mine.
“You look beautiful, Angie,” Sam says.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, big brother.”
He laughs and holds out his arm. “Are you ready to get this show on the road?”
“More than. Hopefully, after today, Abram Levkin will never hurt either of us again.”
He wraps me up in his arms, giving me a hug. He hands me my bouquet of white roses wrapped in a large silk lavender bow, right before the music outside starts. I put my hand on his arm, and together we begin walking down the aisle. It really is a beautiful wedding done in white and lavender accents. Large, beautiful bows in the accent color are at the back of the seats. Huge pots of live lavender hydrangeas are scattered about, and the archway is also adorned with fairy lights.
It's all perfection, but when my gaze lands on Victor, my heart stops. He’s staring straight at me. When I see the way that he’s looking at me, tears sting my eyes. I decide to ignore that this wedding is supposed to be fake. It’s perfect, and I’m walking toward the man I love. That’s all that matters because I know there’s no way to top this. Victor and I could have a million weddings and they wouldn’t be as perfect as this one—impending shootout or not.
As I make it to the end of the walkway and stand in front of Victor, my tears begin trailing down my cheeks. The music dies down and Victor’s eyes hypnotize me. They’re so intense.
“You are so beautiful, Kitten. I can’t believe how blessed I am to be the man you love.”
I take in my man, in his dark black tux, and know that I would never want anyone but him. He's everything I dreamed about—everything I didn’t know I wanted. He’s perfect.
“I was just thinking that I’m the blessed one and every blessing in my life begins and ends with you, Victor.”
The priest begins speaking with an opening prayer. I know we’re supposed to bow our heads, but I can’t look away from Victor.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” he finally asks, and my smile deepens because I know Victor hates this part. He’s made it clear ever since the impromptu wedding rehearsal yesterday.
Sam clears his throat. “I do as her brother,” he announces. He holds my hand, giving it a squeeze, before removing it from his arm and putting it over the top of Victor’s.
“Take care of her,” Sam murmurs to him.