Empire (Eagle Elite Book 7) (23 page)

I frowned and stared at the bat, really stared at it. “Where did you get that?”

“It was a gift.”

“From?”

“A secret admirer.”

“Guys don’t get girls bats. Sorry, that’s not how love works. A bat is a weapon. Someone gave you a weapon?”

“He or she said I’d need it where you were concerned.”

My happy mood faded enough for me to feel a slice of pain through my chest as I struggled to breathe. “Just like the shoes, huh?”

Who the hell was sending Val Andi’s stuff?

“You should go get ready. It’s bad luck to see me before the wedding.” Val offered a polite smile. “And maybe try to sober up before you say ‘I do.’ I’ve been dreaming about this day a really long time.”

Feeling like shit, I hung my head and scratched down my neck. “I’m sorry it’s not how you envisioned it.”

She grinned. “It sorta is.”

“How so?” I frowned, taking the bat out of her hands and pulling her into my arms. “You always dreamed of chasing a horny Italian out of your bed with a bat? Is that it?”

“No.” She stiffened a bit then whispered. “But has anyone ever told you… you look like a medieval prince? Or a knight from a story book?”

“I’m no knight.”

“No, you’re the beast.”

I froze. “Right…” The list in my pocket might as well have burned a hole and singed itself on my heart. I’d gone to Beauty and the Beast but done nothing else to honor her memory.

She’d told me something similar before she died.

“Be the man. Not the beast,” Andi whispered one night. “Girls want the guy to storm the castle with a sword and a smile, not all snarling and angry. I would never suggest you become tame, but maybe… not as scary.”

“I’m not scary.”

Andi’s eyebrows shot up as she choked on a laugh. I didn’t join in. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were making a joke. Next time warn me when you’re trying to be serious.”

I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

“Sergio, girls look at you and see physical perfection. It’s intimidating. Don’t make it harder for her than it’s already going to be.”

Anger slammed through me. “We aren’t discussing this.”

“But—”

“No.” With an angry kiss I stole her breath and tried to make us forget, make me forget, that she was dying and yet cheerfully talking about the next girl who would warm my bed.

“Sergio?” Val exhaled against my chest and stepped back. “Are you okay?”

No.

“Sure,” I lied. “I just — you’re right, we don’t want bad luck. I’ll see you at the church.”

I frowned the entire way down the stairs, my head throbbing between my temples.

“Morning, sunshine!” Chase yelled from the kitchen.

Phoenix groaned and covered his head with his arms.

Chase snickered. “He’s not used to drinking as much as us.”

“Because I like my liver.” Phoenix fired back in a tired raspy voice. “Never again.”

“Cheer up!” Tex yelled loudly in Phoenix’s right ear. “We’ll have you feeling great in no time!”

“Let me shoot him, Nixon,” Phoenix begged. “Just once.”

Nixon glared at Tex from behind the newspaper. “No violence, it’s Sergio’s special day.”

“And we had the best bachelor party ever…” Chase nodded. “Good thing, since we didn’t get one last time.”

It didn’t even occur to me that I hadn’t had one before.

Had they planned it?

Chase slapped me on the back. “Stop trying to figure shit out and just say thanks man for the best night of my life.”

“The best night of my life doesn’t include making snow angels with you on the wood floor while Tex sings Home on the Range.”

“Amazing baritone.” Chase nodded. “Too bad Nixon’s harmony wasn’t on point or we could have made a killing on the street corner.”

Phoenix groaned. “You don’t sing on corners you strip on them.”

“And he would know,” Tex added.

“Is everyone ready to—” Frank stopped in his tracks. “You have exactly one hour until you need to be at the church.”

I glanced down at my wrinkled clothes and just barely managed to hide my yawn while Tex cut loose with a loud burp and pounded his chest.

Things got progressively worse when Phoenix actually slumped out of his chair onto the floor.

Chase died laughing while Nixon shared a humored look with the rest of us.

“Dear God, not only are you mafia, but you’ll be in a church still drunk!” Frank made the motion of the cross over his chest. “Your occupation is bad enough; better send some prayers to the saints so you don’t get struck by lightning once you enter holy ground.”

“We’ll send Phoenix in first just in case,” Tex said seriously.

“Why do I have to be the martyr?”

“So all the secrets die with you.” Tex shrugged.

“Man has a point,” Phoenix grumbled. “But I’m not going first, Sergio’s the one getting married, he gets to walk in first. If he doesn’t die, then we all go.”

“Happiest day of your life, yeah?” Chase met my gaze and chuckled. “Just remember, we all do shit we don’t want to do for the Family. But something tells me it’s more about wanting to do her and feeling guilty about it.”

I blinked, and opened my mouth to defend myself when Frank yelled. “Could you women stop bickering and get dressed! It’s like herding a bunch of toddlers with weapons!”

“I support gun control.” Tex placed a hand over his heart. “How dare you!”

“Oh hell,” Frank muttered curse after curse. “Just — go.”

TWO HOURS LATER
and I was in the exact same spot I’d been in over six months ago. Only this time, it wasn’t with as much trepidation as it had been then… just an eerie sense of
déjà vu
.

But she was nothing like Andi.

Nothing.

There were over a hundred family members present. Dante made his way to my side and tapped me on the shoulder just as the last few shuffled to their seats. “She needs to talk to you.”

“What?” I tried to force a smile. “Is she okay?”

Dante didn’t answer right away and then rolled his eyes. “Just come with me, all right?”

My heart did that thing, where it jolts in your chest but you aren’t sure if it’s out of anxiety or sadness. Was she really going to back out? Holy shit, why did that bother me so much? Not that it was an option anyway, but I felt sadness.

Actual sadness at the thought that she would take the easy way out.

That she wanted a life away from what I could give her.

Not that I’d offered her much.

But still…

I went out the side door and followed Dante to the room she’d been waiting in.

“Val.” Dante knocked loudly on the door. “I got him.”

The door opened swiftly, Val pulled me in and slammed it shut again.

I stumbled back and swore aloud as she wrapped her arms around her mid section. “I can’t do this.”

“You’re wearing a table cloth.”

“I know what I’m wearing!” She snapped.

“Okay…” I took a cautious step toward her. “Was that the plan? Put on a white tablecloth and pretend to be the ghost of Christmas future?”

“Hilarious,” she said through clenched teeth.

Damn she was beautiful. She’d put on makeup.

Not that it made her prettier, just older.

A lot older looking.

I swallowed my nerves.

How had I never noticed how big her eyes were? Or her lips?

That mouth.

I instantly hardened as she pursed her lips together and gave me an angry stare. “It’s bad.”

Shit she was fierce when she was angry.

Her eyes flashed. “Sergio, are you even listening to me?”

“Honestly?” I winced. “No, but you look beautiful.”

“I’m wearing a table cloth.”

“I like your hair.”

“Thanks.” She reached up to touch the simple white veil causing the table cloth to fall to the ground and pool at her feet.

“Holy mother of God!” I whispered in a hoarse yell.

It was her turn to wince. “That bad?”

Words. Damn I needed a lot of them. A shit load of them. “No.”

“It was in the stupid package! And I ruined my own dress so I was like hey, what do I have to lose? I brought a back up simple white dress just in case but it made me look like a first grader, and then I opened the box and it’s my size and—”

“Stop talking.” My hoarse voice sounded foreign as I took two steps toward her then tugged her body against mine, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Her arms went around my neck, there was no hiding my arousal as it pressed against her core.

And for once, it didn’t bring me shame.

But this fiery, tempting need to toss her over whatever object I could find and lift up that damn lacy skirt. Shit. Who the hell would buy her something like this?

Val pulled back. “I look like a prostitute.”

“A very highly paid one.” I kissed her again and again. I couldn’t help it, something had snapped, I was hungry for her, starving for another taste.

Shaking, she pulled away. “What will the uncles say?”

“They’ll probably try to shoot anyone who stares.”

“Right, so the table cloth happened soon after Dante saw me.”

“What did Dante say?”

“It was more what didn’t he say,” Val admitted.

“You’re going out there, in this dress, it looks gorgeous on you.”

“I feel naked.”

“Nobody sees you naked…” I said in a harsh voice. “…but me.”

Her eyes went wide. “Getting territorial.”

I gripped her ass with my hands and jerked her body against mine. “You were mine before you even knew you were mine. So yes. I’ll be damned possessive about you. And I don’t give a fuck what anyone says — you’ve belonged to me forever — and it’s going to sure as hell stay that way.”

She nodded slowly and then looked down, drawing my attention to the completely see through bodice, literally the only piece of fabric that wasn’t see through was covering her nipples. The lace gave the illusion that there was more than skin — there wasn’t.

The skirt wasn’t any better, it was a long satin that had a giant slit up one side showing an expansive shot of thigh.

I instantly gripped her thigh with my hand.

She let out a little moan as her head fell back, exposing her long neck. I kissed my way down as someone pounded on the door.

“You guys ready?” Dante poked his head in.

“I’m ready.” I crooked my finger into her lace underwear and gave a little tug. “You?”

She licked her lips and nodded as I moved my hand over her tight ass.

I needed to stop before I took her next to the altar.

That probably wouldn’t go over well.

Finally, I released her, and took a deep breath.

With shaking hands Val pulled a note out and handed it to me. “I was instructed to give this to you right before I walked down the aisle.”

The white piece of paper looked pretty non-threatening. Plus I needed a distraction.

“Val!” Dante pounded again, then barged in. “Oh hell, where’s the table cloth.”

“No table cloth,” I barked. “See you in a few, Val.”

She gave me a nervous look and sauntered off with Dante cursing after her.

I followed and made my way toward the front of the church.

Thank God people were still shuffling in.

Curiosity finally won out as the last of the family finally found their spots in the back pews.

I pulled the paper out and unfolded the sheet. People would probably think they were my vows, nothing else.

Italy,

Remember, I never wanted our love story to end with tragedy. I’d like to think that there’s a bigger plan out there for both of us, otherwise, what’s the point?

I love her.

I more than love her.

In the times I’ve spoken to her — I adore her, just as much as you will.

She doesn’t know she’s met me.

Maybe she never will know.

There will be no going back after you read the next line. One last promise. Can you do that?

Promise me you’ll fall in love.

Promise me you’ll have children.

Promise me you’ll try to make her happy as much as she’s going to try to make you happy.

Promise me you’ll give everything to her.

Promise me you will give her the chance we never had.

Until death do we part.

Well, Sergio, I died.

We parted.

Now it’s time for a new promise.

A new vow.

A new beginning.

A new story for my prince.

There is beauty in life, beauty in death, you just have to look for it.

Sergio.

My love.

I release you.

Be happy,

From Russia, With love.

With a shudder I dropped the note to the floor just as the organ started playing the bridal march.

And I was faced yet again with a choice.

Make a promise.

Or run.