Page 37 of Twisted Trust (Mafia Lords of Sin #10)

MAEVE

T hree days later, my wedding day dawns crisp and cold with snow teasing in the air for a perfectly wintery November wedding.

And I feel sick.

The nerves hit a few hours before I was scheduled to meet Marcella for wedding prep so I turned up early and poured myself into perfecting the flowy curls in my hair before Marcella even arrived.

When she did, she brought champagne, strawberries and cream, and soothing scented oils to help with my anxiety.

“Are you excited, dear?” She stands before me, very gently patting foundation onto my face with her brows curled as she focuses.

“I feel like I might die.”

“That’s the spirit.” She chuckles. “I know it’s terrifying. Standing up in front of all those people and declaring your love for someone, knowing that all those eyes are on you?—”

“You’re not helping,” I interrupt gently.

“What I mean to say is that the only eyes, the only attention, and the only opinion you should care about are Levi’s. He’s the only one that matters, dear. Everyone else is just white noise. Like a passing crowd in the street. And while commitment is scary, divorce is an option.”

“Marcella!”

She chuckles heartily. “I’m just saying! I know my son and I know this life. You have to be sure.”

Our eyes meet as she leans back and my heart pounds. When this was a business deal, I was sure and I didn’t care. But it’s so different now. Now, I do care for Levi. I love him.

Scott is growing attached to him, and I’ve gained this whole family who are working to protect me. This world of guns and drugs and money is what I tried to escape, but now I want it.

I want Levi.

I want to be Mrs. Gallo.

And it scares me how badly I want this to be real.

“I’m sure,” I say softly. “I just never envisioned this for myself.”

“A wedding?”

I fight tears as I smile shakily. “A family.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Marcella suddenly embraces me tightly. “Don’t you dare cry, you’ll ruin all my hard work!”

Laughing softly, I nod. “I’ll try not to, thank you.”

We hug for a few minutes, then once I regain composure, Marcella resumes my makeup.

She’s gentler than before and a constant smile rests across her lips as she works.

It gives me time to calm myself down and by the time she’s lined my eyes, painted my lips, and warmed my cheeks with blush, I’m more in control.

“Dress time?” Marcella beams at me while clutching my knee.

“Dress time.”

The dress is absolutely stunning. I expected something purchased from the boutique where Levi and I had our most revealing conversation but as I step into silk fabric that’s so soft it feels like a whisper against my skin and lace sleeves that cling like a comforting second skin, Marcella reveals the dress is handmade.

“You’re joking!”

“No,” she smiles as she moves around me and gently guides up the zipper under my arm. “As soon as I realized how deeply Levi loved you, I wanted only the best for my daughter-in-law. So I reached out to a designer who based the design off the pictures I sent. Do you like it?”

She finishes zipping me up, fluffs out the skirt, and then turns me to face the mirror.

The lace sleeves cut off at my shoulders, connecting with sheer sashes to the heart-shaped bodice hugging my body.

Gemstones around the rise of my bust sweep down to my waist, where they become scattered like raindrops.

Each one is a pastel color, ranging from pink, blue, purple, to green.

From there, they kiss the sheer satin sash at my waist and the colors bleed into the silk folded skirt that meets the floor.

The blend of white with colors I love brings a tear to my eye.

“I saw how much effort you put into your engagement party and how colorful everything was,” Marcella says softly. “That and a few conversations with Scott told me all I needed to know.”

She waits beside me for an answer I can’t give because emotion chokes me. Facing her, I clutch her hands. “It’s beautiful. I don’t know what to say.”

“That’s all I need to hear, my dear,” she says with a trembling smile. “It’s the least I can do for you.”

When we first met, I was sure she hated me. Now I’m overwhelmingly relieved that she’s here. “Thank you.”

Suddenly, the door to my room bursts in and Scott rushes inside wearing a pastel blue suit with a white shirt. “Mommy!”

“Darling!”

“Wow!” He stops just as Marcella catches him. “Mommy, you look like a princess!”

“Do you think so?”

“Mmhmm!” He gapes at me and then lunges forward for a hug, much to Marcella’s alarm. I don’t mind. There’s nothing he can do that will spoil this moment, and anything he does to my dress will only make me love it more.

“You look so handsome!” I say while kissing his head. “My little handsome man!”

“Thank you!” he grins up at me as Chip appears in the doorway, slightly breathless.

“Sorry,” he gasps. “He ran like the wind!”

“It’s okay,” I assure him. “Are… is it time?”

After catching his breath, Chip nods. “Yeah, everyone’s ready for you.”

“Are you ready?” Marcella offers me her elbow and smiles brightly.

Looping my hand around her elbow, I nod and take Scott’s hand in mine. “I’m ready.”

One step in front of the other!

I recite it as we head for the grand double doors separating me from the rest of my life. This is no longer about some deal to save my son or Levi’s reputation. This is real. My son and I have gained a family and I couldn’t be happier. It’s just terrifying at the same time.

The doors open as the wedding march strikes up, and I tighten my grasp on both Marcella’s elbow and Scott’s hand.

The entire room is filled with color. Flowers matching the colors on my dress rest in bouquets lining an aisle created between two sections of white chairs covered in oyster pink bows.

Red petals cover the aisle leading down to where Levi stands in a black suit nervously fiddling with the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket.

Crystal lights flitter above and every single seat is filled.

There are far more people than I expected, but given the extension of Mafia families, I’m not too surprised.

I recognize a few people from the guards who drift around the apartment and keep watch, and a few people from the engagement party.

But they all fade into the background as I approach Levi.

Our eyes meet and my world narrows. Chip sweeps Scott away to stand near Levi while Marcella parts my arm and takes her seat at the front next to a chair reserved for Elio. Beside her sits Donald, our driver, and he tips his head toward us.

A single black lily rests on Elio’s seat, and my heart pulls south.

But then Levi is close enough to take my hand, and nothing else matters.

His eyes shine. His smile widens, which makes my heart skip a beat.

“Maeve,” Levi murmurs as I stop next to him. “You look beautiful.”

“Careful,” I whisper. “I’m so stressed I might cry.”

“You’d still look beautiful.” Emotion mists his own eyes and he brings my hand up to his mouth.

His lips brush my knuckles just as the priest before us takes a breath to speak, but before he can utter a word the double doors suddenly blow open with an almighty clatter.

Levi’s grip tightens on my hand and suddenly, he’s shielding me with his body as a rapid explosion of gunfire rains down from the balcony above!