Page 156 of Florian's Bride
“The ceremony shouldn’t be long.” Santiago leans back and wipes away the tears falling down my cheeks. “It will be over before you know it, and we’ll be there with you.”
“I hate all the attention.”
“With our family names, attention is a given.” He kisses me on the forehead and steps back. “See you there, hermanita.”
He disappears inside the church while I remain in the same spot. My heart speeds up, but I can’t move for whatever reason.
It will be…an ending of sort to one story and the beginning of another.
A life I never expected to have, yet here we are.
Inhale.
Exhale.
My dad emerges from the back door as well and reaches me in two strides. “Ready, princess?” I nod, and he palms my head, smiling at me. “The most beautiful girl in the whole world.” I laugh, and his gaze softens. “You’re about to walk into that church and marry the love of your life.”
Joy zaps through me, awakening all my excitement at the thought of my man waiting for me inside. He survived for us, even if all the doctors gave us zero hope.
Too severe wounds. Too much blood loss. Too much time without oxygen.
Months and months of him being in a coma and finally…waking up to my crying face.
The first thing he said to me was, “Marry me,” so the minute he got the all clear from the doctors and recovered from extensive physical therapy, we scheduled this celebration, and everyone wanted to come.
Seriously, everyone somehow turned it into the wedding of the century among the wealthy. My anxiety skyrocketed the closer we got to the big day, so finally, Florian took me for a weekend away in Italy. Away from all this bullshit, as he called it.
Enjoying sightseeing in Florence during the day and making love to my man as many times as we could sure calmed me down.
“Yes. I just wish we didn’t have five hundred guests inside.”
“Stop complaining. We deserve at least one normal wedding from all of you.”
I roll my eyes. “How is it my fault that Santiago, Octavius, and Remi married their wives in secret because they kidnapped them? I shouldn’t have to pay for their sins.”
“Florian owed them one.” A beat passes. “And me.”
Yeah, their reunion was quite emotional, with a lot of apologizing and hugging on both sides. All of us practically lived at the hospital because Florian’s heart stopped several times. Even Kian, who never displays any emotions, was distressed.
“Okay. I guess that’s my cross to bear.”
He winks at me. “Everyone is waiting. Let’s go.”
He extends his arm to me, and I link mine with his. “Showtime, Dad?” Throwing the veil over my face, I plaster on a smile, preparing for the flashes in advance because Grandpa Atlas invited the media.
Dad pulls me toward the entrance, and we wait until the organ music plays. Everyone rises, and the sun beams down. They all look at me and grin as we slowly walk down the aisle.
I don’t focus on those I barely know or who got invited because our parents do business with them…but I do return genuine smiles to our special guests.
Lachlan, Arson, Callum, and Micaden with their wives. To our surprise, they all accepted their invites even though the dark four had bets going on what excuse they would use to get themselves out of coming.
Ryder and Estella with their triplets and Ryder’s siblings who happen to be part of the MacAlister mafia clan.
Aunt Calliope’s parents with their other children and grandchildren.
Amalia, Penelope’s twin, and her husband, a famous violin player, who promised to perform for free at our wedding, which Grandpa Atlas found insulting and asked him what he charges per hour.
Diego, Isla’s twin brother, and his wife. Their story still makes my brow rise, and I’m not sure he’s even sane enough to have a wife because his brand of crazy borders on barely acceptable.