Page 78 of Ruthless Mr. Ricco

Mama reaches across me and swats his chest.

“Stop.The music is starting,”

He laughs, catches her wrist, and kisses her knuckles.

Their banter fills me with bittersweet joy.

Matteo convinced me to tell them about my cancer scare.Mama took it hard, and so did Gary, in his own way, but they forgave me much quicker than I expected.If only they would forgive themselves, too.Maybe today will help them.

The organ vibrates through the walls.I wring my hands around the stem of my bouquet and pull my parents tighter against my sides.

I don’t care if Gary isn’t a blood relative.He’s my father.The asshole rotting in jail can burn in hell.He’s not worth another ounce of my attention.

Chad Prescott will never see the outside of a prison again.Matteo and I made sure of it.

I banish him from my thoughts and focus on the intricate inlays of the double doors.

They open to display the grandeur within.Massive chandeliers sparkle above the congregation.Hundreds of people are packed like sardines in the pews.They stand and turn to stare at me.

Matteo stands at the altar.

His custom-made suit frames his body to perfection.All my nervousness fades as I meet his ruthless hazel eyes.

With his lips swollen from my kisses and his hair mussed from my hands, he’s already mine.

Time to make it official.

I don’t wait for my cue.My mom squeaks in protest as I tug her forward, but Gary matches my stride with ease.

Audrey’s pale complexion and wide, haunted stare catch my attention.I follow her gaze to a man in the second row on the groom’s side.His glare never leaves hers.Alarm races through me.

She said she’d take my bad luck, but I won’t let her if it puts that terrified look in her eyes.

I hurry forward, ready to protect her despite the audience, but my heel catches on a rose petal and I slip.My bouquet launches out of my hands as I focus on not bringing my parents to the floor with me.

Gary catches me and steadies all three of us.I breathe a sigh of relief and check on my mom before turning back toward the front.

Audrey stands staring down at the two bunches of flowers in her hands—her maid of honor bouquet and my bridal bouquet—in stunned disbelief.

Matteo gives Gary a nod of appreciation before swinging concerned eyes my way.

The world fades away.Nothing matters except him.

Matteo Ricco.My first crush.My brutal billionaire boss.My generous lover.

Mine.All mine.

Forever.