Page 125 of The Deadly Candies

She turned to face Ely fully, her voice dropping to a whisper. "While his father draws breath, while Lucky's trapped in Italy, that boy's bound to the Family, and that love affair is doomed. He may not want it, but he's theCapo di tutti Capiprodigy now. Don Ricci owns their world." Her dark eyes bored into Ely's. "You stay her friend. You get her out of harms way. Because that boy? He'll come for her again, consequences be damned. Love like theirs makes men reckless."

Ely swallowed hard. "That's my plan, ma'am. To save her life. Even if she hates me for it."

Mama Stewart's laughter was soft as worn velvet. "Kathy sure is something, ain't she? Got two fools playing hero." She patted Ely's cheek before heading to the kitchen. "Lord help you both."

Alone in the silent room, Ely sank like a condemned man into a chair. The judge's abandoned whiskey glass caught the light, tempting him. At eighteen, he'd never touched liquor - his father's belt had taught him that lesson early. But tonight, with the woman he loved preparing to pledge her heart and her virginity possibly to another man just feet away, Ely poured himself two fingers of courage and drank his first bitter taste of heartbreak.

* * *

Matteo crossed the threshold first,and before the judge or Carmelo could step inside, Debbie was in his arms—a blur of white satin and taffeta. She buried her face in his neck, her wedding veil slipping askew as silent sobs of relief shook her shoulders. Carmelo shook his head at their drama but quickly shut the door behind them to join in. He’d sealed away the cold Harlem night in favor of the world they created inside.

The scene before him unfolded like a surreal dream: Judge Foly embraced José with quiet affection near the fireplace, their silhouettes framed by flickering candlelight set up all around the room. The two men kissed in front of them. Matteo looked away, but Carmelo did not. It was a love he didn’t understand but he had found respect in their bravery, because he knew the consequences were as grave as the ones he and Kathy faced. Then his breath caught - Kathy stood by the staircase, bathed in lamp and candle light.

She was a vision in blush pink satin, the dress hugging her curves before cascading to the floor in soft folds. Baby's breath nestled in her upswept hair like scattered stars, and when she turned toward him, the delicate pearl earrings caught the light. For a heart-stopping moment, Carmelo forgot how to breathe. She looked every inch a bride - his bride - and he suddenly hated his rumpled suit, the scuff marks on his shoes, knowing in his closet he could have chosen better. She deserved so much more than stolen moments in secret rooms.

Then she was moving toward him, tears glistening on her dark lashes. When he swept her up in an embrace, the satin whispered against the wool of his coat, permission for him to go further, her weight nothing in his arms as he spun them both. Her laughter - that bright, musical sound he'd missed more than air - filled the room as she clung to him. Around them, the others tactfully melted away, leaving them in their own private world.

Carmelo showered kisses around her lips and along her jaw. His lips returned coaxingly to hers. There was a dreamy intimacy to their kiss now. It was a series of slow shivery kisses that neither could stop. Unlike their first desperate reunion, charged with guilt and sorrow, this moment felt like coming home. It was Carmelo who ended the kiss. Kathy pressed her lips to his ear, her breath warm: "A whole week you've been here, and I'm just now getting to hold you.”

Carmelo closed his eyes, memorizing the feel of her in his arms. He feared if he spoke or breathed too deeply, this fragile happiness might shatter. But reality demanded he set her down, though his hands lingered at her waist.

"Are you okay?" he murmured.

She nodded, fingers tracing the fresh scar above his eyebrow. "Are you? What happened here?” she asked with concern.

“Nothing, I was just in a little boxing match. I won,” he grinned.

“Me too. I won this night with you,” she smiled. “Are you happy?”

The simple truth spilled out: "I am now."

"We have all night," she promised, pressing closer. "Just you and?—"

Debbie's sudden peal of laughter broke the spell. They turned to see Matteo running circles with Debbie thrown over his shoulder like a sack of flour, her wedding dress hiked up to her knees as she shrieked with laughter. All their troubles fell away in that moment - they were just themselves again, stealing joy where they could find it.

Kathy squeezed Carmelo's hand, her smile radiant, until José's announcement sobered them all: "It's time. We should start now."

The laughter died as Matteo set Debbie down, wrapping protective arms around her from behind as they faced José and the judge. With visible pride, José gestured to his companion. "Everybody, this is my best friend, my boyfriend - Judge Samuel Foly. But you can call him Sam."

The men exchanged stiff nods, while Debbie and Kathy moved first to greet the judge properly. They exchanged cheek kisses, friendly hugs that made José beam brighter with pride and happiness than anyone had seen on him since this entire matter of marrying Debbie began.

"Alright," José continued, producing a stack of papers. "First, we get married and I mean officially. Fill these out so Sam can sign them properly with the state seal. We will be each other’s witnesses. And then you guys will need to be the witnesses for me and Sam.”

Matteo immediately pulled Debbie onto his lap, nuzzling her neck as she filled out both their forms with shaky handwriting, while fighting off his advances. Kathy led Carmelo to a quiet corner, pushing the paperwork toward him once they were seated. But he couldn't stop staring at the way the candlelight played across her skin, at the delicate flutter of her pulse beneath her pearls.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she whispered, cheeks blooming with heat.

"Every time I see you," he said hoarsely, "you're more beautiful than the last. I'm afraid if I blink, you'll disappear."

With an exasperated smile, she pulled his form toward her. "Let me do yours so you can keep staring." Her pen moved in careful loops and curls, Carmelo murmuring answers to her questions between stolen kisses. They finished first, watching reverently as Judge Foly signed their certificate with an official seal and Matteo and José as witnesses.

"Show this to any lawman," the judge warned, "and it's as good as gold. You are legally married unless challenged in court because you didn’t follow due process. Then we're all in trouble."

Kathy's hands trembled as she held the document. After months of pretending their love didn't exist, here was tangible proof - their names entwined in ink, stamped with the seal of New York State. No longer something shameful to hide, but recognized and legitimate.

She threw her arms around Carmelo's neck. "Let's go upstairs, right now.”

“Wait! It’s our turn,” José laughed.

---