Page 53 of Bound By A Promise
I liked the way the story made Mia smile. “Did they do that for Dante?”
“I don’t really know. He’s older than I am. By the time they were taking me, he was a preteen. No vacations with grandparents. Father had the two boys to prepare for manhood.”
I scrunched my nose. “I think that’s kind of how it was for Em too. His childhood was cut shorter than Cat’s and mine.”
“Dante knew from an early age that his job was to protect Dario at all costs. Our father thought if he made them tough, they would either survive or kill one another.”
“What?” My eyes widened.
“The good news is that Dario and Dante didn’t take the second option. Instead, they joined forces against our father.” Mia scoffed. “I wish I could have witnessed the moment thegreat Vincent Luciano realized he’d raised two killers, and the man they hated most was their own father.”
“That’s a shame,” Viviana said.
Up until that moment, I hadn’t thought about being overheard.
Viviana went on, “Jorge raised Jano and Rei to be resilient without making them hate one another or him.”
“How did they do that?” Mia asked.
Viviana smiled. “Josefina.” She nodded toward Mia’s stomach. “It is what you’ll do too. Josefina loves unconditionally. That love is so overpowering that hate can’t survive. She loves her husband and her children.”
Mia’s nostrils flared as she nodded. “My mother and father had a difficult marriage.”
“Children, even babies, sense the emotions of others.” Viviana smiled. “You love Jano. You care about the women at the school. Mia, you have a good heart. Yourbebéwill learn his or her role in the world and also know love.”
A tear glistened on my sister-in-law’s cheek until she casually wiped it away.
“It’s true,” I added. “You helped me marry Dante. You didn’t have to do all you did.”
“Well, the next wedding we host, I’d like to avoid the helicopter and gunfire.”
Father Gallo looked at his watch. “I hope we can get the online license worked out soon.”
“Oh,” I said, “does that mean we’re not married?”
“You’re married in the eyes of our Lord, Mrs. Luciano.”
“Mrs. Luciano,” I repeated softly.
“That’s you,” Mia said.
The eyes of the Lord might satisfy my mother, but it wouldn’t my father.
We all turned to the opening of the door.
The air in the room electrified, crackling with the power of the men entering, the scent of sulfur and gunpowder preceding them.
Aléjandro entered first, going directly to his wife and pulling her into his arms. It was the second man, the one with the laser-focused dark stare who had my attention. “Is everyone safe?” I asked.
“One guard was injured,” Em said, entering last. Standing tall, he crossed his arms in front of him. “Rei’s house was hit at the same time. This attack wasn’t about the wedding. It was against the Roríguez cartel.”
“Is Rei all right?” Mia asked.
Jano replied, “He lost two guards, and his house sustained more damage, but he’s okay.”
Father Gallo stood. “Mr. Luciano, we should secure your marriage license.”
Dante reached for me, his large hand open. My focus went to the gold band on the fourth finger of his left hand. Without pause, I laid my hand in his. As his fingers closed, I stood. The high heels from the ceremony were taken off as we entered the safe room, leaving me four inches shorter than I was during our wedding and bringing my cheek to my husband’s chest.