Page 71 of Mafia Darling

“Oh.” Her cheeks grew an adorable shade of pink. “Fun. I’m ready.”

We both held the delicate wine glass. “Uno, due, tre,” I said, then we dropped the glass.

It bounced but didn’t break. The stem broke off, but otherwise the glass remained intact, rolling sideways until it came to a stop. Francesca gasped, while Zia quickly made mano cornuto, the sign of the horns, toward the glass to ward off any evil spirits.

“Fausto!” Horror laced Francesca’s voice. “It’s supposed to break.”

I put my arm around her waist and spoke quietly in her ear. “It means nothing, a stupid tradition from the past.”

“No, no.” She clutched my tie. “This is bad. Like very, very, very bad.” Wild eyes stared at the glass as if it was some harbinger of doom, while it was just nonsense.

I had to reassure her. “Francesca, the glass broke into hundreds of pieces at my first wedding, but Lucia and I were never happily married, nor did our marriage last long. Do not put faith into silly wives’ tales.”

Her fist tightened around my tie, crushing the silk, as she tugged me closer. “You had a healthy son together and you’ve lived this long. The ’ndrina is prosperous. To spit on your good luck is wrong.”

“You are spending too much time with Zia,” I muttered.

She shoved my stomach. “I am serious. Let’s do it again. We’ll really throw it this time.”

The guests were waiting, talking amongst themselves, eager for this to be over, but I knew my bride would not let this go. I didn’t want Francesca thinking about this all during the wedding dinner or—more importantly—the wedding night.

Walking over to the glass, I lifted my foot, brought it down, and smashed the bowl beneath my leather shoe. Shards of glass went everywhere, tiny pieces that glittered in the late afternoon sun.

“There.” I announced to the crowd, “Let’s go eat.”

Francesca didn’t move, her mouth open. “I can’t believe you did that. That’s worse, Fausto!”

Shaking my head, I scooped her up in my arms so she didn’t cut her bare feet on the glass. Once on the ground I was reluctant to let her go. I kept walking and she nestled her face into my throat. “We’re married,” she breathed, as if she’d just realized it.

“We are married, Francesca Ravazzani.”

“Oh, shit,” she whispered. “Why is that so hot?”

I chuckled. If she liked that, she was going to love what I had planned for later.

I carried her toward the winery. When she realized where we were going, she lifted her head. “Wait, we aren’t eating in the castello?”

“No.” I continued over the threshold and set her on her feet, then kissed her mouth. “I wish there had been time to give you a big wedding and party. It’s what you deserve. But I hope you like what I arranged for tonight instead.”

“I don’t need a big wedding and a fancy party. Just you.”

My chest expanded, the words falling easily from my mouth. “Ti amo, cuore mio.”

She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to mine. “Ti amo, paparino.”

I smiled, feeling lighter than I had in years. “Come. Your paparino wants to feed you.” I took her hand and led her into the tasting room, which had been transformed for the wedding dinner.

Sheer fabric and tiny lights criss-crossed the ceiling, while candles burned all around the room, their soft glow bouncing off the wine casks and exposed brick walls. Tables had been pushed together to form a hollow square, chairs on the outside, with candles and flower arrangements every few place settings. Boxwood trees and more flower arrangements dotted the edges, giving the tasting room a romantic, intimate feel. I hoped she liked it. Giulio and Vincenzo had worked hard on this together today, knowing how much my wife loved the grapes and the process of making wine.

“Oh, my God. Fausto,” she said with a sigh as she took it all in. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe it. How . . . ?”

“Giulio and Vincenzo oversaw this. For you.”

“It’s perfect.”

Everyone filed in and began taking their seats. Francesca and I sat at the head of the table together, where a basket of wrapped bomboniere waited. She leaned over. “What is this?”

“Those are wedding favors. You give them out to the guests.”

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