78

The afternoon before the wedding day, my family left the Mandarin Oriental and headed to Villa Vitiello in the Hamptons. It was a huge building inspired by Italian palaces surrounded by nearly three acres of park-like grounds. The driveway was long and winding and passed four double garages and two guesthouses until it ended in front of the villa with its white facade and red shingle roof. White marble statues stood at the base of the double staircase leading to the front door.
Inside, the coffered ceilings, white marble columns and floors, and the view of the bay and long pool through the panoramic windows took my breath away. Luca’s father and stepmother led us to the second floor of the left wing where our bedrooms were located.
Gianna and I insisted on sharing a room. I didn’t care if it made us look immature. I needed her by my side. From the window we could watch as workers began to set up the huge pavilion that would serve as the church tomorrow. Beyond, the ocean was churning. Luke would not arrive until the next day so we could not accidentally cross paths before the wedding, which would be bad luck. I honestly didn’t know how I could have more bad luck than I already had.
*** “Today is the day!” said Mom with mock glee.
I dragged myself out of bed. Gianna pulled the covers over her head, grumbling something about it being too early.
Mother sighed. “I can’t believe you shared a room like five-year-olds,” she said.
“Someone had to make sure Luke didn’t sneak in,” Gianna said from under the blanket.
“Umberto patrolled the hallway.”
“As if he wanted to protect Aria from Luca,” murmured Gianna, finally settling down. Her red hair was a mess.
The mother tightened her lips. “Your sister doesn’t need her husband’s protection.”
Gianna huffed, but Mother ignored her and led me to the bathroom. “We have to get you ready . The beautician will be here in a minute. Take a quick shower.”
As the hot water poured over me, I realized that this was the day I had been dreading for so long. Tonight I would be Aria Vitiello, wife of the future Chief of Chiefs, and former virgin. I leaned against the shower stall. I wished I could have been like the other brides. I wished I could have enjoyed this day. I wished I didn’t have to wait for my wedding night with trepidation, but I had learned long ago that wishing didn’t change anything.
When I got out of the shower, I felt cold. Not even my soft bathrobe could stop my chills. Someone knocked and Gianna came in with a cup and bowl in her hand. “Coffee and fruit salad. Apparently you’re not allowed to eat pancakes because they might cause bloating. That’s bullshit.”
I took the coffee but shook my head upon seeing the food. “I’m not hungry.”
“You can’t go all day without eating or you’ll pass out when you walk down the hall.” He paused.
“Although, on second thought, I’d like to see Luca’s face when you do.”
I sipped my coffee, then picked up Gianna’s bowl and ate a few pieces of banana. I really didn’t want to pass out. Dad would have been furious, and maybe Luca wouldn’t have been very happy about it either.
“The beautician has arrived with her entourage. You would think they would have to beautify an army of fishwives.
I smiled weakly. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”
Gianna’s worried look followed me as I entered the bedroom, where Lily and my mother were already waiting with the three beauticians. They immediately started their work, shaving our legs and armpits. When I thought the torture was over, the beautician asked. “Bikini area? Do you know what your husband prefers?”
My cheeks exploded with heat. My mother really looked at me for an answer. As if I knew Luca and his preferences well, especially when it came to body hair.
“Maybe we could call one of his whores,” Gianna suggested.
The mother gasped, “Gianna!”
Lily seemed unaware of the whole situation. She could have been the queen of flirtation, but that was all.
“I’ll remove everything but a small triangle, okay?” the beautician said in a gentle voice, and I nodded, giving her a grateful smile. It took hours to get ready. Once I had done my makeup and arranged my hair into an elaborate hairstyle that would later support the veil and diamond headpiece, my aunts Livia and Ornatella came in carrying my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses for Lily and Gianna. . The wedding ceremony was only an hour away.
*** I stared at my reflection. The dress was stunning; the chapel train fanned out behind me, the platinum embroidery sparkled wherever the sunlight hit it, and the empire-style waist was accentuated by a white satin ribbon.
“I love the sweetheart neckline. It gives you a stunning neckline,” Aunt Livia exclaimed. She was Valentina’s mother.
“Luca will surely appreciate it,” said Aunt Ornatella.
Something on my face must have made my mother realize I was about to have a nervous breakdown, so she escorted my aunts out. “Let the three girls have a moment.”
Gianna appeared beside me. Her red hair contrasted beautifully with her mint-colored dress.
She opened the box with the necklace. Diamonds and pearls surrounded by intricate strands of white gold. “Luca doesn’t spare any expense, does he? That necklace and your headdress probably cost more than most people pay for their homes.
The conversation and laughter of the assembled guests were carried from the gardens through the open window into the room. Every now and then a dull noise could be heard.
“What is that noise?” I asked, trying to distract myself. Gianna approached the window and peered out. “The men take off their weapons and put them in plastic boxes.”
“How many?”
Gianna arched an eyebrow.
“How many weapons does each man put away?”
“One.” She frowned, then realized, and I nodded darkly. “Only a fool would leave the house with less than two guns.”
“So why the show?”
“It’s symbolic,” I said. Like this horrible wedding.
“But if everyone wants peace, why not participate unarmed? After all, it’s a wedding.”
“There have been red weddings before. I saw pictures of a wedding where you could no longer tell the color of the bride’s dress. It was soaked in blood.”
Lily shuddered, “That’s not going to happen today, is it?”
Anything was possible. “No, Chicago and New York need each other too much. They can’t risk bloodshed between them as long as the Bratva and the Taiwanese pose a threat.”
Gianna snorted. “Oh great, that’s comforting.”
“It is,” I said firmly. “At least we know no one will be harmed today.” My stomach twisted into a knot. Except for me, maybe. Probably.
Gianna wrapped her arms around me from behind and rested her chin on my bare shoulder. “We could still run away. We could take off your dress and sneak out. Everyone is busy. No one would notice .”
Lily nodded vigorously and got up from where she had perched on the bed.
Luca would notice. I forced a brave smile. “NO. It’s too late.”
“It’s not,” Gianna hissed. “Don’t give up.”
“If I broke the agreement I would have blood on my hands. They would kill each other as punishment.”
“They all have blood on their hands. Every single fucking person in the garden.”
“Don’t swear.”
“Really? A lady doesn’t curse,” Gianna imitated our Father’s voice. “Where did it get you to act like an obedient young lady?”
I looked away. She was right. She had led me straight into the arms of one of the deadliest men in the country.
“I’m sorry,” Gianna whispered. “I didn’t mean that.”
I brought our fingers together. “I know. And you’re right. Most of the people in the garden have blood on their hands and deserve to die, but they are our family, the only family we have. And there are innocent people like Fabiano.”
“Fabiano will soon have blood on his hands,” Gianna said bitterly. “He will become a murderer.”
I did not deny it. Fabiano would begin his initiation process at twelve o’clock. If what Umberto had said was true, Luca had killed his first man at eleven. “But now he’s innocent, and there are other children out there and women, too.”
Gianna fixed me with a hard stare in the mirror. “Do you really think one of us is innocent?”
Being born into our world meant being born with blood on our hands. With every breath we took , sin was etched deeper into our skin. Born in blood. Sworn in blood like the motto of the New York Cosa Nostra. “NO.”
Gianna smiled darkly. Lily walked over to the bed and took my veil attached to the headdress. I bent my knees so she could adjust it on my head. She smoothed it gently.
“I wish you would marry for love. I wish we could laugh about your wedding night. I wish you weren’t so damn sad,” Gianna said proudly.
The silence between us stretched on. Lily finally nodded toward the bed. “Is this where you will sleep tonight?”
My throat tightened. “No, Luca and I will spend the night in the master bedroom.” I didn’t think I would sleep much, if at all.
A knock was heard and I straightened my shoulders, putting my face outward.
Bibiana and Valentina entered , followed by Mom.
“Wow, Aria, you look wonderful. Your hair looks like spun gold,” Valentina said. She was already wearing her bridesmaid dress and the mint color looked great with her dark hair.
Technically only unmarried women could be bridesmaids, but my uncle had insisted on making an exemption for V alentina. He was really eager to find her a new husband. Bibiana wore a toe-length, long-sleeved burgundy dress despite the summer heat. It was probably meant to hide how thin she had become.
I forced a smile. Mom took Lily’s arm. “Come on, Liliana, your cousins need to talk to your sister.” She led Lily out of the room, then looked at Gianna who sat cross-legged on the sofa.
“Gianna?”
Gianna ignored her. “I’m staying. I won’t leave Aria alone.”
Mother knew better than to argue with my sister when she was in a bad mood, so she closed the door.
“What should you talk to me about?”
“Your wedding night,” Valentina said with an apologetic smile. Bibiana made a grimace that reminded me how young she was. Only twenty-two. She had lost weight. I could not believe they had chosen to send those two to talk to me about my wedding night. Bibiana’s face spoke of her unhappiness. After her marriage to a man almost 30 years older than her, it had been fading. Was the purpose to calm my fears? And Valentina had lost her husband six months earlier in an altercation with the Russians. How could they expect her to talk about marital happiness?
I nervously smoothed my dress.
Gianna shook her head. “Who sent you anyway? Luca?”
“Your mother,” Bibiana said. “She wants to make sure you know what is expected of you.”
“Expected of her?” hissed Gianna. “And what does Aria want?”
“It is what it is,” said Bibiana bitterly. “Tonight Luca will demand to assert his rights. At least he is handsome and young.
Pity for her kindled in me, but at the same time my anxiety made it difficult to console her. She was right. Luca was handsome. I could not deny it, but that did not change the fact that I was terrified of being intimate with him. He did not seem like a gentle man in bed. My stomach turned again.
Valentina cleared her throat. “Luca will know what to do.”
“Just lie on your back and give him what he wants,” Bibiana added. “Don’t try to fight him;
that will only make things worse.
We all stared at her, and she looked away.
Valentina touched my shoulder. “We’re not doing a good job of consoling you. Sorry. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
Gianna huffed. “Maybe Mom should have invited one of the women Luca screwed to the wedding . They could have told you what to expect.
“Grace is here,” Bibiana said, then blushed and stammered. “I mean, it’s just a rumor.
I…” She looked toward Valentina for help.
“One of Luca’s old girlfriends is here?” I whispered.
Bibiana made herself small. “I thought you knew. And she wasn’t really his girlfriend, she was more like a plaything. Luca has been with many women. She shut her mouth tightly. I was struggling for control. I couldn’t let people see how weak I was. Why did I care if Luca’s whore was at the wedding?
“All right,” Gianna said as she stood up. “Who the fuck is Grace and why the fuck is she invited to this wedding?”
“Grace Parker. She’s the daughter of a New York senator who’s on the mob payroll,” Valentina explained. “They had to invite her family.”
Tears blurred my vision and Gianna ran toward me. “Oh, don’t cry, Aria. He’s not worth it.
Luca is an asshole. You knew that. You can’t let his actions affect you.
Valentina handed me a Kleenex. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”
I blinked a few times until I couldn’t control my emotions. “I’m sorry. I’m just emotional.
“I think it’s better if you leave now,” Gianna said abruptly, without even looking at Bibiana and Valentina. A rustling sound was heard and then the door opened and closed again. Gianna hugged me . “If he hurts you, I will kill him. I swear. I’ll take one of those damn guns and put a hole in his head.”
I leaned against her. “He survived the Bratva and the Triad, and he is the most feared fighter in the New York family, Gianna. He would kill you first.”
Gianna shrugged. “I would do it for you.”
I flinched. “You are still my little sister. I should protect you.”
“We will protect each other,” she whispered. “Our bond is stronger than their stupid oaths, Omerta and blood vows.”
“I don’t want to leave you. I hate having to move to New York.”
Gianna swallowed. “I will come there often. Father will be happy to get rid of me.
There was a knock and Mom entered. “It’s time.” She scanned our faces but did not comment. Gianna took a step back, my eyes burning. Then she turned and walked away. My mother’s eyes magnified the white lace garter belt on my vanity. “Do you need help putting it on?”
I shook my head and slid it upward until it rested on my upper thigh. Later that evening Luca would take it off with his mouth and toss it into the group of assembled bachelors. I smoothed out my wedding dress.
“Come,” Mom said. “Everyone is waiting.” She handed me my bouquet of flowers, a beautiful arrangement of white roses, mother-of-pearl roses and pink buttercups.
We walked in silence through the empty house, clicking our heels on the marble floor. My heart was pounding in my chest as we walked through the sliding glass door to the veranda that overlooked the courtyard and the beach. The front of the garden was occupied by the huge white pavilion where the wedding ceremony would take place. But behind the pavilion dozens of tables had been set up for the banquet to follow. Voices reached me from inside the pavilion where guests were waiting for my arrival. An avenue of red rose petals led from the veranda toward the ‘entrance of the pavilion. I followed Mother into the small room between the outside and the main part of the pavilion. Father was waiting and straightened up when we entered. Mother gave him a very brief nod before sliding into the makeshift chapel. Her smile was genuine as she offered me her arm.
“You look beautiful,” she said quietly. “Luca won’t know what hit him.”
I lowered my head. “Thank you, father.”
“Be a good wife, Aria. Luca is powerful, and once he takes his father’s place, his word will be law. Make me proud, make the Outfit proud.”
I nodded, my throat too tight for words. Music began to play: a string quartet and a piano.
Dad lowered my veil. I was glad for the extra layer of protection, no matter how thin. Maybe it would hide my expression from afar.
Father led me toward the doorway and gave a command in a low voice. The fabric was ripped open, revealing the long aisle and the many hundreds of guests on either side. My eyes were drawn to the end of the aisle where Luke stood. Tall and imposing in his dark gray suit and vest, with a silver tie and white shirt. His groomsmen were dressed in a lighter gray vest and dress pants, and they wore no jacket and a bow tie instead of a tie. Fabiano was one of them, with only eight much shorter than the men.
My father dragged me along, and my legs seemed to carry me alone as my body shook with nerves. I tried not to look at Luca and instead watched Gianna and Liliana out of the corner of my eye. They were the first two bridesmaids and seeing them gave me the strength to hold my head up and not run out.
Petals of white roses covered my path and remained crushed under my shoes. In itself it was somewhat symbolic , although I was sure it was not meant to be.