“You can buy anything for the right amount of money, and if it means calling you mine, I’ll spend every dime I have.” I didn’t come anywhere near doing that, but I would if it came down to it, and I want her to know it. I close the distance between us and cup her face in my hands, bringing my lips to her cheek. “Please, little thief. You’ve stolen my heart. Put me out of my misery and say you’ll be mine.” I craft each softly spoken word in the hope that it forms a tether between us, anchoring us to one another.
When she pulls back and I see the tears in her eyes, I know I’ve succeeded.
“You better not make me regret this, Tommy Donati,” she says, laughing through her tears.
I sweep her into a hug, spinning us in a joyful circle like I haven’t done since I was a kid. When I set her back down, I bring my lips to hers, sealing the deal with a kiss. Somehow, she tastes even more irresistible now that I know she’s about to be mine. The only reason I’m able to pull myself away is the knowledge that every minute we’re in here is another minute of delay, and I’m done waiting.
“I’ll send in the ladies to help you get ready. You have one hour.”
CHAPTER 29
DANIKA
“You’ve been crying.”Those are the first words out of Gran’s mouth when she and Mom join me in the small chapel. She scrutinizes me with the eagle eyes of a septuagenarian who can read a room ten times better than she can read a crossword, even with her glasses.
“I have, but in a good way, I think.”
Mom and Gran exchange a look. Mom closes the chapel doors, and Gran guides me to sit with her. She takes my hand in both of hers and levels me with a no-nonsense stare.
“Dani, girl. What on God’s green earth is going on here?”
“I’m getting married?” It’s supposed to be a statement but comes out as a question.
Her thin lips purse until they’re just a collection of wrinkles. “Is that what you want?”
I try to come up with the right words to answer her, then decide there are none. “I’m not sure how to answer that, Gran,” I admit softly. “None of this was my choice, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it. I want my family safe. I want to be with someone who wants me, and if I know one thing at all about Tommy, it’s that he’s crazy about me. It’s just all so fast, and he’s Mafia. I never saw that for myself.” I look from Gran to Mom, who is inthe pew in front of us, and search for answers in their familiar faces.
Gran gives a single affirmative nod. “If I told you that you could walk out that door today and never see him again, what would you do? Because I could make that happen, so answer honestly.”
My chest constricts as I look at the double doors and genuinely envision that outcome.
Would I leave? If my family’s safety wasn’t at stake, and I could leave of my own free will, would I do that and choose to never see Tommy again?
A flood of memories washes over me—the feel of his body wrapped around mine at night, the way he always makes a plate of food for me first, the terror in his eyes when he jumped out of the shower to protect me when DiAngelo broke into the apartment. I can’t think of a single time he’s been anything other than kind to me, even when he soothed my fears after taping my mouth shut. From that very first night all the way to moments ago when he cradled me protectively, Tommy has gone out of his way to care for me.
You quiet my demons and fill me with hope.
I suddenly realize I’m slowly shaking my head. “No, Gran. I don’t want to leave. I’m scared, but not scared enough to walk away.”
She grins broadly. “Well, child, that tells you all you need to know.”
Mom doesn’t look convinced. “They haven’t known each other for two weeks, Ma. That’s not enough.”
Gran waves her off. “Sure, it’s fast, but time isn’t a great predictor of how well you mesh with someone. Milo and I only knew each other for a month before we got married. How long were you seeing that degenerate Biba before you learned his true character?” Gran knows exactly how long. We all do. But thequestion makes her point—relationships are always a gamble to some degree.
Mom’s frown doesn’t waver. She leans forward to hiss at her mother, “And what about his business? What about the danger Mafia brings to our Dani?”
Gran shrugs. “Life is dangerous, Petra. Better she’s with a man who knows how to protect her.” Gran grins at me while Mom makes a disgruntled scoffing sound. “You know your heart, Danika. The rest will work itself out in time.” She scoots closer and gives my cheek a kiss.
“Should have known you two would overrule me. You always do,” Mom grumbles with just enough dry humor for us to know she’s not actually mad. “I suppose if we’re going to do this, we better get started. We’ve eaten up too much of our time already.”
I jump to my feet. “I don’t even have my makeup here. What am I supposed to do? I can’t get married likethis.”
The chapel doors burst open at that exact moment to reveal Amelie with a man and woman flanking her.
“Did someone say makeup?”
My jaw drops. “Were you waiting outside the doors for me to say that?”
