I hold Valentina’s hand in mine as we walk along the beach, taking the long road to the restaurant we agreed to meet everyone at for breakfast. This is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful resorts we own. Everything about it is romantic, and it definitely is hard to stay mad at my family in this environment. It’s so rare for us to all have some time off together that I don’t want to waste time arguing with them, but no doubt, that was something Grandma took into consideration when she brought us all here.
She’s such a sly fox, but I have to admit that perhaps, I was wrong about her. I always thought that she didn’t truly care about our happiness, but it’s clear that she does. She’s been scheming for years, but ultimately, it was because she had my best interests at heart. She was trying to abide by my mother’s wishes, and in doing so, she ensured I ended up married to the love of my life. I can’t exactly fault her for that.
“Is that Dion?” Valentina asks, pointing ahead. “Why is he walking so far behind Faye?”
I frown and narrow my eyes. “I think so,” I murmur. “What are they doing?”
My wife and I watch from a distance as Dion slowly catches up to Faye. It’s obvious that she’s startled and didn’t realize he was behind her, because she whirls around and nearly drops her phone.
“Looks like they’re arguing,” Valentina says, her tone concerned.
Just a few weeks till their wedding, and they don’t seem to be doing well at all. Based on Dion’s body language, I suspect it’s her boyfriend she was speaking to on the phone. What a fucking mess. I’ve never seen Dion lose his shit like that, but I suppose it’s only right that the only one who can make him lose his cool is his soon-to-be wife.
Valentina gasps when Dion grabs her phone and pulls his arm back before throwing it far into the ocean. “Fuck,” I mutter, before bursting out laughing. “Fuck.”
My wife elbows me and throws me a glare. “It’s not funny, Luca.”
I shrug. “It kind of is. He always said he didn’t want to marry her, but does that look like a man who isn’t interested in his fiancée? Dion is usually so fucking uptight and unshakeable, but look at him now. She’s going to break down all his walls and it’ll be funny as fuck. It’s his own fault for keeping his distance from her for so long, baby. Faye is unintentionally going to make him pay for his indifference, and I’m here for it.”
Valentina shakes her head and drags me along. Dion and Faye make it to the breakfast venue before we do, and I’m not at all surprised to find them sitting on opposite ends of the long table. Everyone falls silent when we walk in, and the girls look at Valentina with puppy-eyes, clearly remorseful for keeping Grandma’s plans from us.
“You made it,” Grandma says, rising from her seat. She points to the two seats closest to her and smiles. “Come sit.”
Valentina squeezes my hand and throws me an encouraging look. Goddamn it. She’s right, isn’t she? Our marriage is much stronger now than it was before. It truly feels real now. There’s nothing standing between us anymore, and whether I like it or not, we have my grandmother to thank for it.
I help her into her seat before joining her. My brothers all stare at me, most of them barely able to face me. Even Ares looks guilty. Fuckers, all of them.
My wife places her hand on my thigh, and I glance at her. She smiles at me so sweetly, so pleadingly, that I can’t help but give in. I turn toward my grandmother and sigh. “I’m not any less mad, but I understand where you were coming from.” My gaze roams over each of my siblings, my anger simmering. “I’ll let this go, but if any of you ever touch my wife again, I’ll walk away from every single one of you. Fuck with me all you want, I’m used to it — but you don’t touch her. Telling her she lost her job? It’s unacceptable, and one way or another, I’ll make you all pay for your deception.”
Valentina pinches my thigh and sits up. “What he means is that we love all of you, and while we’re hurt by your actions, we understand that it came from a good place. Ultimately, we’re better for it, and that’s all that really matters. You guys are the family I never had, and even if you’re a bit meddlesome, I couldn’t bear losing you. I wouldn’t have made it through the loss of my grandmother if not for you, and honestly, I don’t think I’d be who I am today without you guys.”
She turns toward my grandma and smiles. “If not for you, Grandma Anne, I wouldn’t have had the job that became such a big part of my identity, and I wouldn’t have had a chance to get a degree. I definitely wouldn’t have learned enough to become the COO of Windsor Finance at such a young age. Besides, you’re the reason Luca and I ended up together at all, and I’m grateful for you in so many ways.” She leans back in her seat and glances at me for a moment before turning back toward my family. “Just like Luca, I am hurt, but we’ll give all of you a chance to make it up to us.”
“Anything,” Grandma says, her expression one I’ve never seen before. She looks remorseful, grateful, and so incredibly loving.
Valentina looks at me, and I nod, a smile on my face. “We’d like to get married,” she says, her voice soft. “Right here, with all of you around. I’d love for my mother to be here too, but I’m sure we can make that happen, can’t we?”
Sierra squeals and grabs Raven’s arm, and my brothers all smile. The relief in the room is palpable. I wrap my arm around Valentina, and she leans into me. “While we’re legally already married, we never had a proper ceremony,” I say. “Out of respect for Abuela, we want to keep our ceremony small, and this place seems perfect for it.”
Raven rises to her feet, her eyes wide with excitement. “Oh God,” she murmurs. “There’s so much to do! I have the perfect dress for you! I can get it flown in within hours.”
Sierra rises alongside her and smirks. “Leave everything to us,” she says. “Give us two days, and we’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”
Valentina looks at me and smiles, her eyes twinkling. I never would’ve forgiven them so easily if not for her. She truly is everything to me. The calm to my chaos. The light to my darkness. The love of my life.
