Page 76 of Obsession

I nod, holding the dress open as she steps in. The last time I did this for her, the circumstances were far different, and I’m pretty sure both of us were crying. She was about to marry a man she hated, one who bruised her and made her miserable before he even got her down the aisle. And now, it’s completely different. There’s nothing but love and joy in her gaze as she slides into the white garment.

“What about your mom?” I ask, the words come out quietly.

“Oh, fuck her,” Lana says, spinning to look at herself in the mirror as I zip up the dress. “She can rot in hell, for all I care.”

I laugh. “Same, bestie. I hope Caterina joins her.”

Lana smiles and spins, wrapping her arms around me. “We’re safe now.” The words wash over me. She’s right. We’re finally safe. No longer pawns in a war our families created.

“Don’t make me cry,” I say, pulling back and wiping at my eyes. “Come on, let’s get you ready to get married!”

Thirty minutes later, Lana is dressed and Zoe made up her face. She looks stunning as we lead her down the grand stairs in Sam’s house. He’s waiting at the bottom, dressed in a suit.

“You look amazing, Lana,” he says, holding out his arms to embrace her. “Now, you sure you want to marry him? Say the word right now and he’s gone.”

She laughs, playfully smacking his chest. “Stop that. You know I want to marry him!”

Sam shrugs. “Just checking.” He leads us to the patio doors. “I did the best I could on short notice.”

One look outside shows the backyard now has a white runner down the patio and to a small arch that the men must have set up. There are flowers entwined in it and vases on the tables that were pushed to the side.

“It’s beautiful.” Lana smiles. “Thank you.”

He nods. “See you out there, cousin.” With one last grin, Sam pushes open the patio door and goes to the end of the aisle where Naz is waiting.

“Congrats,” Zoe says before she exits to join John in the seats that have been lined up.

Music begins to play, and I walk down the makeshift aisle first, waiting at the end as the music changes and Lana opens the door. Naz gasps upon seeing her in the simple white dress, and then he’s dabbing at his eyes as she makes her way to him.

The priest Sam hired goes through the whole spiel and my cousin commits herself to the man she loves. But my focus is on Adrian, who sits in one of the white chairs, his eyes glued to mine.

We made it.

Everything is going to be okay.

The priest pronounces them husband and wife, and Lana and Naz kiss, the group of us cheering.

Afterwards, we celebrate, popping open champagne bottles and enjoying the meal that suddenly arrives, courtesy of Sam, I assume.

Everything feels calm and peaceful as I look around at the group of my family that actually matters to me. For once, I don’t feel ashamed to be a part of this family.

Not when I feel surrounded by love.

FORTY-TWO

Adrian

Fede angrily takes a sip of his whiskey. “So you joined them, then?”

“It’s all over, Fed.”

“After what they did-”

“The man who murdered our father is dead,” I interrupt. “And so is everyone in that family with any ill intentions.”

“So you trust Sam?”

“With my life.”

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