We pull up outside the quaint church; the parking lot is filled with guests. I tug on the neck of my collar with nervous energy. My Rosa is in there.
“Are we all set?” I ask Frankie.
We’ve planned for two outcomes, the latter ending in a bloodbath. We are, however, trying to avoid that option. I won’t risk Rosa. He tugs at his sleeve, and I catch the briefest glimpse of the handle of his pistol poking under his arm.
“Jax and Keller are parked down the road. We have back up arriving now. It looks like Romano has five SUVs with his men outside. Enzo is ready and waiting for the security footage to give them their orders. A few of our men will be inside the church with us.”
I spark up a cigarette. “And Maria?”
“She’s waiting for you. I wouldn’t expect a warm welcome, but she’s under her dad’s orders that the wedding is still on. Watching you sit through Rosa’s wedding should be enough to keep her where we need her for now.”
I can’t wait to end that bitch.
My jaw ticks, the anxiety building within me. I could walk in there with my army and take them all out.
I can’t, no matter how much I want to. That risks Rosa. She wants me here for a reason. She needs me. Dante has a hold over her, which I very much intend on finding out today. Even if it means he has to think he has won.
Discarding my cigarette onto the ground, I turn to Grayson getting out of the back seat, his stern face scanning the area. Even a man who has come face to face with terrorists doesn’t have complete confidence in our plan. None of us do. But, right now, it’s all we have.
An army and a group of men who would die for their family.
“Are you good, Grayson?”
He drags his gaze away from the line of cars parked along the road. “Let’s do this.”
Maria is the easiest to spot in the crowd in a short white dress and a diamante headband. Her bloated lips turn into a scowl when she spots me.
“Oh, Luca. You decided to come.” Maria’s high-pitched voice has me balling my fists.
Don’t fucking kill her–not yet.
Her ridiculously high heels click against the pavement. I bite down on my tongue.
“Of course. We have a deal, right?”
She tuts and closes the distance between us. I step back. I don’t trust myself not to wrap my hands around her throat and strangle the life out of her.
“We’re giving you one last chance, Luca. You’ve embarrassed me, you’ve embarrassed my family. You’ve lost our trust. I don’t know why, but Daddy has let it slide this time. I like New York. I want my own empire here. Once that little slut is out of the way with Dante, we should be good. I expect better from you.” Her long fingernail trails down my crumpled shirt, and my blood boils.
“Plus, I really can’t wait to watch you fall to pieces on little Rosa’s big day,” she cackles, and my hands shake with pure rage. “Luca, it has to stop–this fantasy you’re living in. Look at the state of you. You reek of booze. Man up. Otherwise, you’ll be planning at least ten more funerals this month.”
Chills run down my spine, the image of Mom tormenting me again.
“Today is a test. You’re going to show my family you can be trusted and that you’re not swayed elsewhere. You are mine.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. I don’t think I can do it. She tugs my tie, and I hiss.
“Just because they’re in a safe house doesn’t mean we won’t find them.” She grins at me like the sadistic bitch she is. I simply nod and she releases me.
“I can’t wait to watch you squirm, Luca.”
“Fuck y–”
“Luca!” Antonio puffs on a cigar, flicking his gaze between me and Maria. Where is Romano?
I lock eyes with Frankie across the parked cars, he shakes his head.
Fuck.
“If all the guests would like to make their way inside, we are almost ready to begin,” the priest announces from the double doors into the church.
I stiffen as Maria releases her hold and her heels click against the gravel. My spine goes stiff as my eyes lock with Antonio. The guests flood the church, but I stand my ground.
He sticks out his hand to me. I hesitate, gritting my teeth. Maria narrows her eyes at me, so I force myself to clasp his hand, tighter than he does mine.
“How are you coping?” His eyes are hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses.
“Fucking fine,” I say through my teeth, holding onto the little ounce of self-restraint I have. The gun in my waistband is itching to be pulled out and pressed into his forehead.
“Are you going to behave today, Luca? My father is very concerned that your intentions are not sincere,” Antonio says.
I’m seething. Imagining wedging my bullet into his brain and it splattering across the stones beneath our feet.
Where is the old asshole, anyway?
“He’s made his point, loud and clear. Don’t worry.” I can still feel my mom’s warm heart against my fingers.
I turn on my heel and head to the church.
“You have plenty more family members to pick from, Luca. Quite the family man, aren’t you? Mrs. Russo was us being kind to you. Little Darcy, however, now that’s a different story.” His smooth Italian accent hits like a brick.
I stop, bile rising up my throat at Darcy’s mention. My two-year-old niece. I wish I had another drink this morning. Rubbing my jaw, I try to relieve some tension.
I turn and hold my hand out, nodding to Maria. She smiles up at her brother, like the cat who got the canary, and saunters over to me, lacing her fingers through mine.
“Good choice. We aren’t joking.” Flashing me an exaggerated smile, she swings her hips next to me.
I take a step into the church, the weight of the world on my shoulders nearly crippling me. I look up at the array of colors shining through the stained glass window.
The room is filled to the brim with guests, white roses lining the ends of each aisle. A gold cross sits at the head of the church, and I laugh to myself.
If there is a fucking god, he hates my guts.
With what I have planned, I won’t be getting welcomed into heaven anytime soon.
I have a one-way ticket to hell.
