Page 99 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince
“I had to do something.”
“No, you didn’t. Plenty of people wouldn’t have. You did, Siena. Because you’re different. You’re special.”
“I just did my best to do the right thing.”
“That’s what makes you special.” His voice is starting to grow sleepy. “That’s what makes me want to forget thishere and nowthing and think about the future, Siena. Siena the Savior, Mother called you, and she was right. You didn’t just save her. You saved me, too.”
I’m relieved when he begins to breathe slowly, drifting off. I gently stroke my hand across his bare torso, being careful not to get too close to his bandage.
He wants to think about the future. Before all this insanity, I wasn’t sure about that. I’m still uncertain. Something’s changed, though. Before, the idea made me nervous.
Now, not so much.
Can we go through all this together and then just let each other go? Do I seriously think I’ve got it in me to just forget about him, about us?
I listen to the soft sound of his breathing, his heart beating steadily.
The best thing I can do is focus on being here for him today, then committing to making the vow renewal as flawless as it can possibly be tomorrow.
Then it’ll be time to go home.
Time to decide.
But no–not yet, not now.
Now, I just close my eyes and snuggle closer to him.
CHAPTER 34
DARIO
Istand at the front of the palm-tree altar with the groom’s side of the party, my gaze moving over the crowd as my mother and father say their vows. I watch the faces of the men for any signs of doubt or disrespect.
Word has spread fast.
Rocco is on his way back to the East Coast, ready to stand a mafia trial for what he did. The best he can hope for is a quick death. It’s a sad ending to a damn sad story, but when he put a gun to Siena’s head, he sealed his fate. There’s no going back from that.
“…stand together,” Father goes on, as Mother watches, her eyes glittering with tears, looking angelic in her white dress. “You have always been there for me, my love, and I promise to do the same. We are strong when we’re together, when we understand we present a unified front, when we have trust and confidence, and we don’t succumb to doubt.”
My father worded his vows purposefully to send a message to the men while honoring his love for my mother. From the way several of them flinch and swallow nervously, the message hits.
Siena is by far the most beautiful woman in the clearing. She stands at the back of the crowd, her hands intertwined, staring at my parents as if she’s waiting for something to go wrong. She looks at me and smiles when I wink.
She doesn’t fight the smile anymore. She lets it come.
It’s been a day since the standoff. I haven’t seen much of Siena. She spent all day yesterday running around, making final arrangements, checking, and double checking everything. But she came to me last night.
We made slow love, less ferocious than the first time, more like a hug that melted into sex and became a hug again after we were done. As we shifted together, I whispered in her ear, “Stay with me, Siena…”
She moaned, a sound that might’ve beenyesor might’ve just been a moan.
“You’ve always meant everything to me, Vito,” Mother says, speaking through tears. “Since the day we met, I knew you were the one. Themomentwe met. Some people don’t believe in fate or love at first sight…” She aims a sly look at me. “I know it’s true. Because I felt it the first time I saw you.”
Everyone applauds when they finally kiss. After so much stress, it’s a sweet, well-earned moment.
As the crowd makes its way to the beach for the festivities, I walk up behind Siena and slip my arm around her waist. She doesn’t even notice. She’s staring down at her phone, her mouth wideopen, reading her mother’s latest text. Ah, so the funds have finally arrived.
Siena looks up at me. “Was this you?” she whispers.
