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In only a month’s time, Maria had pulled off the biggest wedding for Katarina and Drago, so pulling off a little one in a day wasn’t so hard. Plus, she had people for that. The joys of her family owning the biggest Hotel Casino in Kansas City meant they held multiple weddings a year. The small ceremony and reception was easily set up in a matter of hours. The only decor Maria wanted was the view.

Her father might not have approved of the wedding, but Lucca did, and he gladly let her have the wedding she wanted.

Maria stared at herself in the mirror. She had tried on so many wedding dresses through the years and dressed up every day of her life. She could have bought the most expensive and prettiest dress in the world, but it wouldn’t have mattered to her. Maria wasn’t looking for beauty.

Looking down at her white dress, it wasn’t really a dress at all, as it was two pieces. The light sheer skirt sat high on her waist and cascaded down her long legs, allowing the slightest hint of her tanned skin. Underneath she wore a bodysuit that hugged every curve, reminiscent of the nude dress she had worn on their date. It was low-cut and made of the thinnest lace, displaying her perfect breasts. The dress was so perfect, it even held a secret that she couldn’t wait to reveal to Dominic at the end of the night.

She had her makeup perfected with her favorite nude lipstick and soft glam eye look with wings. Her gold hair had been perfectly curled, then tousled in a light wave. Now she only needed one last thing ….

Maria went into her closet to get a pair of heels but immediately stopped when she saw a box sitting on her velvet bench in the middle of the room.

She read the note that laid on top.

For my princess. I love you.

-Your soon-to-be first husband

Maria couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she carefully laid down the card, then picked up the box. Having bought thousands of pairs of shoes, she knew what would be waiting, but nothing prepared her for the perfection inside.

The stilettos were sky-high with the classic pointed toe, and they were encrusted in Swarovski crystals that glittered as she slid them on her feet, but it was the red bottoms that proved he had taste.

Maria Caruso was truly marrying the perfect man …

For me.

For the first time, Dominic wore a true Italian suit that was fit for a Caruso but tailored to him. He had shoes, but staring down at the box, he figured he might just be changing them when he picked up the note.

For my red bottom man.

Love, your princess.

Opening the top of the box, he saw expensive men’s black dress shoes by Maria’s favorite brand—Louboutin.

Smiling, Dominic couldn’t believe they both had bought coordinating gifts without even knowing it. Now he and his bride would have matching blood-dripped shoes.

Dominic Luciano was truly marrying the perfect woman …

For me.

Descending the steps, Maria was just about to open the door to go to her wedding when the front door suddenly opened.

“Dad?” She stood in place, stunned to see him. It immediately wore off when she remembered those three words. “Sorry I didn’t invite you to my funeral. I must’ve forgot.”

“Maria, I came to talk to you,” he said as she tried to pass by him.

“I’m dead to you, remembe—”

“Please.” He motioned for the couch. “I have a few things I need to say.”

Taking in her father’s sincere tone, she took a seat on the couch, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Dante unbuttoned his jacket as he sat down beside her. It took him a few moments to find the right words. “I don’t know Dominic, but I did know his father, and while I can’t hold a son accountable for his father’s sins, you can’t expect me to be able to get over the fact that Lucifer took the love of my life away. When I see Dominic, I see Lucifer, I see the man who took my wife away from me.”

“Then you should have gotten to know him,” Maria said the words so unforgivingly. “Because then you wouldn’t see Lucifer at all.”

“That would take time, Maria,” Dante tried to get her to understand. “Time I plan to take as I work with him as the new Luciano boss.”

Maria raised a brow, seeing the answer already on her father’s face. “But not as my husband.”

“You’re a Caruso; I expected you to marry one of my men.”

“No, you wanted me married to Sal,” Maria corrected him. “Tell me, how is it that you can justify me marrying one son of Lucifer’s but not the other? When you look at Sal, do you see Lucifer?”

“When I look at Sal, I see the boy I took off the street who Lucifer had let rot. He fathered him, yet he didn’t raise him like he did his other children. When I look at Sal, I see a son.”