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When we pass the clearing, I get my first glimpse of everything. Everyone turns to stare at me. There are a ton of strange faces here and a few familiar ones from my neighborhood. Being the center of attention makes me nervous, especially with so many strangers around. And given Sansone’s circle, I can’t guarantee I haven’t disappeared a man or two who works for these men.
Jinx waves at me, a smile on her face and a basket in her other hand. Her joy goes a long way in calming
Then Sansone shifts at the end of the aisle and the itchy skin, racing heartbeat, and beads disappear. No one exists except him in his tailored tux and bright white shirt as he preens with satisfaction.
The tugging on my arm reminds me of Omari’s presence and that I’ve been rooted to the spot too long. I begin the trek toward the pavilion where Sansone and the priest await me. Everything is out of focus, the flowers trailing the columns, the men and women watching me as I walk by, the ones flanking Sansone who are here to represent us. Only Sansone is in hi definition, and I’m not missing out on any second of watching him grow larger the more I close the distance.
As I step up to the landing, Omari releases me and someone, who I assume is Max, takes my bouquet.
Sansone takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Thank you for not making me wait.”
I switch the hold on our hands and reciprocate with a kiss on his knuckles. “Thank you for this punishment.” I wink and he breaks out in laughter.
“Ragazzaccia,” he murmurs in his special way while pressing his nose to mine, making my heart flutter with every type of love I’ve withheld from myself my entire life.
Because of Sansone, I no longer hide from the blessings of the heart, and life has never seemed more worth savoring. His blue eyes blanket me in warmth. The gentle heat stays with me as Elaine’s son, Leo, presents our wedding band, as we exchange our vows, as we seal our commitment with a kiss, and as we sign the document legalizing our union.
Sansone leads me to the dance floor he had put down in the pool house. Soft candles float on top of the pool’s surface, and a live band plays with the indoor waterfall serving as their backdrop. Guests mill about drinking, eating, and laughing. I spy a few men in the life, and I’m sure they’re brokering alliances through marriage or other business opportunities.
Sansone twirls me into his arms and holds me close, blocking my view of everything not happening between us.
I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder. “I haven’t learned to dance since the last time you brought me onto a dance floor.”
“Your skills on the floor have never mattered. It’s the way holding you in my arms transports us to another realm where only the two of us exist, and I can basque in the magic of your touch.”
“You know, I realized something. You’ve been calling me your wife for a while now, yet I haven’t once reciprocated.” I twirl the hair at his nape around my finger while staring into his eyes. “And today of all days, I think it is more than appropriate to say, my husband, I love you.”
Sansone stops, his stare heating alarmingly fast. “Mia ragazzaccia, say it again.” When I do, he responds, “Rest your voice while you can because by the end of the night, you’ll lose it.”
Someone touches Sansone’s shoulder. “Can I cut in?”
“Hell no. Find your own bride.” My husband swings me away to sway with me again and whispers all the ways he would make me beg for mercy.
After the third person tries to cut in, I poke his chest. “Don’t be rude. We need to mingle with our guests.” Despite my attempt to adopt a stern tone, my humor ruins the effect.
“The only thing we need to do is love each other.” A tug on his pant leg interrupts him. We glance down to see Jinx standing beside us. “Do you want to join us?”
Before Sansone finishes his question, she raises her arms in expectation of being lifted. We sandwich her between us and continue swaying to the music, ignoring when the tempo changes from dance beats to slow love songs.
By the time Sansone leads me and Jinx to the car, the sky is dark and Jinx rubs her eyes to stay awake. Upon arriving at our house, she’s dead to the world.
“I’ll put her to bed and join you.” Sansone kisses my forehead and leads the way upstairs.
While he goes to her bedroom, I continue to ours, already relieving my ears of the dangling diamond earrings.
In the middle of taking off my shoes, a feminine voice in the darkened corner by the curtained window says, “I sure chose an auspicious day for this visit.”
I straighten and round the bed, trying to get a closer look, but the glint of a shiny gun barrel makes me slow my pace. “Who are you?”
“Who am I, you dare ask?” The woman pulls the chain of the table lamp beside her, illuminating her face.
“Nedi Gianopulos?” My question is more because the woman sitting in front of me looks far from the put-together woman I met the night of the gala.
The woman sitting in my bedroom is unkempt, her hair stands at various angles, her clothes are mismatched, and her buttons don’t align with the proper holes.
“Do you destroy so many women’s lives you still have to question who I am?” She sneers and motions me toward the chair in front of her. It’s angled to give me a view of her on the left and the bedroom door on the right.
I take the chair as best I can with the excessive material from my dress puffing over the armrests of the furniture. “You’re here to kill me.”
