Page 152 of The Mafia's Broken Vows

I hear the bedside drawer open, and my breath catches. What new toy has he added to our collection now?

“Close your eyes,” he commands.

I comply, my heart pounding with anticipation. I feel something cool and smooth touch my lips.

Suddenly, Dante’s phone vibrates on the nightstand, the harsh buzz shattering the moment. He lets out a string of colorful curses, and I groan, burying my face in the pillow. Of course, Dante can’t not answer his phone, even if the world were ending. Especially if the world were ending.

Dante sighs, his warm breath tickling my ear as he reaches for the phone. “Text,” he mutters.

I peek at him from under my lashes as he reads, watching his brow furrow slightly.

“It’s your father. He’s picking me up in ten.”

I turn to face Dante fully and my gaze immediately snags on the ball gag dangling from his hand and the butt plug on the pillow.

Oh my. A hot flush of disappointment washes over me, quickly chased by anxiety when Dante says, “He wants to go over security protocols for the wedding.”

“Again?”

We still don’t know who wants me dead. The thought sends an icy shiver down my spine. Moving from the Fortress to this slightly less secure (but still heavily guarded) beach house was one thing. But a wedding with hundreds of guests? That’s like painting a giant bullseye on my back and screaming, “Come and get me!”

Dante, being Dante, has maintained his cool about the whole thing, but Orlando . . . well, that’s another story.

“Orlando is, um . . . freaking out, isn’t he?” I ask holding back a small smile.

Dante’s lips quirk into a half-smile. “He’s losing his shit a little bit, yeah. Or maybe he just wants an excuse to see you. So why don’t you get dressed and give him one of your goo-goo smiles? He’s much less prickly when you do that.”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound breaking some of the tension in the room. “He’s nothing but sweet.”

“He is not the least bit sweet. He’s just crazy about you. No less than you deserve, but, yeah, he’s not sweet.” Dante gets out of bed, and my gaze runs over his sculpted body. Then he’s pulling me up too.

Dante leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “FYI. We’re moving this party to the beach when I return,” he growls. “I plan to get you filthy tonight.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

Adele

WEDDING DAY

The heavy scent of roses mingles with the crisp notes of perfume, filling the air of the bridal suite. Sunlight streams through the tall windows of the De Luca mansion’s chapel, casting a warm glow on the polished wood floors and illuminating motes of dust that dance in the air.

I stand before a full-length mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. My fingers, slightly trembling, trace the intricate lace of my sleeve, feeling each delicate bump and swirl. The corseted bodice hugs my curves tightly, almost restrictively, before giving way to cascades of white silk that rustle against the floor with each subtle movement.

My eyes are drawn to my face, transformed by the artistry of makeup. The weight of the intricate updo pulls slightly at my scalp, and I watch as a few rebellious red tendrils fall around my face, softening the look.

“I’ll have to hand your stunning, gorgeous self over to the rest of the girls,” Antonella says, a vision in sparkly midnight blue herself.

“They’re dying to catch a glimpse of you before Orlando whisks you to the altar. And I need to go preen a little as the mother of the groom.”

Before she can turn to leave, I catch her hand. “Mama V,” I start, my voice thick with emotion, “thank you. For raising Dante. For letting me love him.”

Antonella’s eyes soften, a tender smile gracing her lips. She cups my face gently, “Oh, cara, it’s only ever been you. Those two years apart, my son wasn’t really living. You brought my son back to life.”

Her words wash over me, the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink rapidly to keep them from falling.

With a final gentle squeeze of my hand and a soft rustle of fabric, Antonella leaves, the click of the door echoing in the suddenly quiet room.

I adjust my veil, becoming aware of the sounds filtering in from outside—the low rumble of car engines, the muffled voices of the security detail. It’s a stark reminder of the world beyond this room, a world where danger still lurks.

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