Page 20 of Reign Of Triumph
My heart melts. Eros isn’t the man my brother says he is. I have to tell him about Giusto. When I do, my brother will die. I’ll be responsible for my own brother’s demise. If I keep quiet and Eros finds out, our marriage won’t stand a chance. In the meantime, Bianca and my nieces will be under Giusto’s thumb, and Bianca is at the breaking point as it is.
Giusto steps forward, taking me with him. “Smile, sorellina. This will be over soon,” he whispers in my ear, gripping my arm more tightly. I glance up at his face and miss my footing, nearly tripping over my gown. Thankfully, I catch myself in time, but when I look up, Eros is eyeing me attentively. He knows something is amiss.
Eros doesn’t wait for Giusto and me to reach the altar. He comes to us. Giusto stops in his tracks, forcing me to do the same. Eros doesn’t say a word, but holds out his hand for me to take. My hand is trembling as I place it in his, and he gives my brother a murderous look, then leads me to stand in front of the priest.
“What did he do?” Eros asks in a hushed growl.
“Please,” I beg, “let me have this moment. I want our vows to be true. For just a few minutes, let this be about us.” Eros searches my face and nods, then turns to face the priest. My wedding day will be filled with bloodshed. There’s no way Eros can let this go. And even if he does, Giusto will not. If I do not use the dagger he gave me, Giusto will find another way to eliminate Eros. I can’t let that happen, because I’ve fallen in love with him.
“Do you, Serafina, take Eros to be your husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, forsaking all others until death do you part?” Father Francis says.
“I do,” I state clearly, my eyes meeting his.
The priest asks the same of Eros, and in a firm, loud tone, he says, “I do.”
There is a roomful of guests in this charming old church, but in this moment, no one exists except Eros and me. A shy smile forms on my lips, and I close my eyes, memorizing this moment in my mind because this is what I want to remember from this day. When I open my eyes, Eros is smiling down at me.
“Now for the best part,” Father Francis says with a chuckle. “You may now kiss your bride.” Father Francis has been at this church for a very long time and is a jovial man. The congregation loves him, and he was very kind and sympathetic when Dad passed, and continues to come visit Mom and me often.
Eros tilts my head up, his lips swooping down onto mine for a soft, tender kiss. It’s over quickly, but the warmth of his breath lingers and runs through the rest of my body. I’m in a daze from his kiss, but Eros is firmly in control, taking me by the hand, taking my flowers from Bianca, and placing them in my free hand, walking back up the aisle.
I stand next to Eros as he waits for his parents and my mother to join us. Marco and Gloria are the first to offer their well-wishes. One by one, the guests walk past us to congratulate us, all but Giusto, who has stepped back to chat with several men off to the side, one of whom is Livio Sergente. He’s a cruel man, and it’s no wonder that he gets along so well with Giusto.
My stomach tightens when Giusto meets my eyes with a menacing grin and nods.
Eros
At first glance, Serafina is a vision of beauty. It’s the woman who makes the dress. However, the dress is stunning and accentuates her amazing curves and slender throat. My elegant siren’s luscious lips are trembling, and as she comes closer, I can see the trepidation in her face. Then she stumbles, right when Giusto murmurs something in her ear. I feel her fear in my gut. It’s only a few more steps until they reach me, but I’m not waiting. I need to get her out of his clutches.
Serafina releases a sigh of relief. I ask her what he said, but when she says she wants this moment to be special, I relent. A woman’s wedding day is special. My mother remembers every detail of the day she married my father. Throughout the years, I’ve heard the story a million times, and each time, she ends with “I want that for you and your bride.”
I’m going to give Serafina the wedding she wants, but I won’t stand for her brother putting his hands on her again. The car pulls up outside to take Serafina and me to the reception. Serafina settles into the car, and I climb in after her. I see her gazing out the window, searching for someone.
“Who are you looking for?” I ask.
“Mom,” she replies.
“She is with Marco and Gloria.”
“Did you see her with them?” Serafina turns to me, sounding edgy and unsure. “And Bianca?”
“What the fuck did he threaten you with?” I exclaim, but I don’t wait for her reply. I tell the driver to wait, then say to Serafina, “Do not leave this car.”
Luciano is putting his family in his car when he sees me and jogs to where I’m standing, searching the parking lot for Vera and Bianca. “Who are you looking for? Giusto?” he asks.
“He said something to Serafina, and she’s worried about her mother and Bianca,” I respond. “Giusto’s making his move, and he’s going through Serafina.”
“Hold on.” He takes out his phone. “Hi, Capo, is Vera with you?” There’s a pause. “Great. No. Just making sure.” There’s another short pause, then Luciano says, “He’s making his move, and Eros is worried about the women. Right. I’ll find a way to separate them from him.” Once he hangs up, he says, “Vera’s safe.” He then makes another call, this time to Nero. “Hey, the tracker is still live on Giusto’s car, right?” He waits for a second, then says, “Where’s he at?” Then, “Okay, good. Once you get to the reception hall, find a way to keep Bianca and the girls away from him.” I can hear Nero on the other line, but can’t make out what he’s saying. “No, we’re not sure what yet. Serafina is upset, and Eros wants her fears set aside before getting into it. We’ll reconvene when we get to Il Castillo.” Luciano hangs up and tells me he’s right behind Giusto and won’t let him out of his sight.
When I get back to the car, Serafina has her bag on the seat opposite her and is wringing her hands in her lap. For a bride who should be happy, it seems that she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She’s been carrying the burden of caring for her mother, as well as supporting Bianca and her nieces for so long that it’s taking a toll on her. In the last month, I’ve seen a lighter, happier Serafina, but today, it’s as if she’s drowning in the deepest waters of the ocean.
Our driver, Jack, is waiting for my instructions. I nod, and he gets on the road. Jack is really Giacomo, but since he’s named after his father, he prefers to go by Jack to avoid confusion. He is a good soldier and a man loyal to La Famiglia. In the short time since I’ve taken over, I’ve discovered that Giusto is neither well-liked nor respected. There are a few men who are resistant to the change in leadership, but I’m finding that these men were doing fuck all and were kissing up to Giusto. They’re the same men he was conversing with at the church.
“Serafina—”
“He’s ruined this day for us. For me. I knew he would.” She glances at me, and I see tears welling in her eyes. “I’m falling in love with you,” she blurts out. “This isn’t the right time to talk about love with what else I have to tell you, but I want you to know. It’s not because you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. It’s the way you take care of my mother and found a way to give me time with Bianca and the girls. Nero and Luciano consider you their brother, and I can see that you are a good man.”
“Serafina—” I try again to speak up, and again she stops me, placing her fingers over my lips.
