Blood Wedding: A Mafia Romance

AL

the dark. There were maybe thirty people scattered in the pews, most of them wearing expressions that ranged from uncomfortable to ope

Rosa had arranged for me was simple. Black, because apparently wearing white twice in one week when your first husband died on yo

didn't work. Three days ago I'd married Rafael. Three days ago I'd watched him die. And now I was ab

s my li

green dress, her face carefully composed in that way people

e," she s

supposed to do? Argue? Run? I'd

ional, nothing that made this feel like an actual wedding. Just Rosa's hand on my arm and

ust before we reached the doors. "Dan

er but I appreciat

opened and

, and he stared straight ahead like I wasn't even walking toward him. His jaw was set so tight I could see the muscle jumping. The scar

r wedding. Nervous but genuine. L

was attending an exec

wice. Said once was enough, said this second marriage was Torrisi business and he'd already

enough that I could feel the heat coming off him, and he still wouldn't l

ed his son was now marrying off his remaining son to that same son's widow, and there

uty and family. The words ran together into white noise. I was too focused on Dante'

priest asked Dante if

le

ough that people started shifting in their seats. Lo

t. Emotionless. Like he was con

me. Asked if I took

this man I was about to legally bind myself to, and I wanted to scream. Wante

e. I was staying. I was going

," I

steadier than I fe

husiasm of someone reading a grocery list. Th

ere two plain gold bands, nothing like the ornate rings Raf

d around mine with clinical efficiency. He slid the ring onto my finger like he was checking

finitely killed people. I slid the band on and it fit perfectly. Of course it did. Someone had measured,

the bride," th

his eyes met mine. They were the same brown as Rafael's but completely differe

in. I held

t. So fast I almost thought I'd imagined it. Then he pulled back,

th obvious relief that this was almost ove

e sound of people standing up, r

e aisle without waiting, without offering his arm, without acknowledging I existed. I watc

again. "Come on, cara. Th

le

kno

ried me and

on my arm. "He's gri

g me. Like time would make this marriage anything

l celebration and not the saddest thing I'd ever been part of. My family clustered on one side, the Torrisis on the oth

sn't eve

nutes and he'd already disappeared. I

ing alone near the

it m

"Dad wants to know i

chine woul

miled. "Fresh

I was definitely the topic of conversation. Probably discussing how to handle their new daughter-

Dante go?

te does what Dante

s comf

voice was matter of fact, not unkind but not particularly sympathetic either. "You wanted to stay, to.... investigate.

d chosen this. Did

hand with the enthusiasm of someone touching a dead fish. My brothers each hugged me, told me to call if I n

and Marco in that too-big dining room with

o your room," Salvato

d corners, walked past closed doors and family photos that felt like they wer

," she said,

sive linens, furniture that matched, windows overlooking the gardens. It was also comple

r end of the hall," Rosa con

ne word for it. Iso

you," I

s isn't what you wanted. But you're part o

nte clearly didn't see me as family. Didn

d at the ring on my finger. Mrs. Dante

he closet, my toiletries arranged in the bathroom. Someone had unpacked fo

nly seven in the evening. Washed my face. Braided my hair. Went th

lock on the d

he fact that I'd just married a man who hated me, who'd left me standing al

be so much worse

rom Nico: Security is t

back: Saf

ed, then disappea

wouldn't tell me who I

rt my investigation into Rafael's murder. But exhaustion pulled at me like a

I'd star

away from me. Tried not to think about Rafael, about how different this should have been. Tried not to thin

me easy but eve

oke up twice gasping, heart pounding, convinced someone was i

ndow. The compound grounds were lit up, security lights everywhere. I could see guards pat

the lawn toward the main gate. Even from this dista

nto the night. He'd been my husband for less

'd survive long enough to find Rafael's killer. Wondered if Dante would ever stop hating me or if this cold d

e. Gold band, simple and plain, binding me to a ma

s my li

idea how to