Page 41 of Twisted Trust (Mafia Lords of Sin #10)

MAEVE

T he wedding Marcella created for me was beautiful, but my real wedding takes place on Christmas Day, and it’s the most stunning day that I could have ever wished for.

Rather than getting married in a church or event hall, we get married on the roof of the penthouse under a white trellis covered in deep red roses.

A red carpet warms my bare feet as I walk down the aisle toward Levi in a sheer white dress covered in pastel pink flowers.

It’s not as grand as the previous dress, but Scott picked it out for me and called me a princess so it was an instant purchase.

Levi wears a black suit and stands at the altar next to Chip who spent the entire run up to the wedding getting ordained so he can be the one who marries us.

Scott stands next to Levi wearing his favorite Power Rangers T-shirt and jeans, choosing comfort over elegance, but I didn’t have the heart to make him change.

The previous wedding was a spectacle but this one is a cozy, intimate affair.

The violinist Chip is dating plays music while I walk the aisle, Marcella stands nearby crying into tissues and being supported by one of her friends, while Naz and a few of his men make up the guests on the other side of the aisle.

With thick snow drifting down gently like each flake understands the importance of the moment, warm music constantly weaving through the air, and tears in Levi’s eyes when I reach him, we finally have the wedding we deserve.

It passes in a whirlwind, amusingly broken up by Chip pausing his speech every so often to snap a picture of us. I repeat what I’m told to recite while staring deep into Levi’s eyes, and while none of the words stick in my mind, the way his promises make me feel does.

“Maeve.” Levi takes both my hands in his.

“Five years ago, you were my greatest secret. I’d go to sleep dreaming about you.

Wake up excited to see you. I’d spend my day searching for things to tell you just so I could watch your face light up as I spoke.

And then we were torn apart, and I regret every second I lost with you.

It’s five years I won’t get back, but everything we’ve survived tells me that the next five years, and the five after that, are going to be the best of my life.

I’m going to love you more and more with each passing second.

I swear I will protect you from every danger that will arise from being my wife, and there will be a lot, but I promise you, we will face it together.

You’ve given me a future I never could have dreamed of during one of the scariest periods of my life.

With my father gone, stepping into the shoes of Don is terrifying and I probably shouldn’t admit that.

” Levi laughs softly. “But with you by my side, I feel like I can do anything. No mountain is too tall. No road is too long.”

I can barely control the tears welling thick and fat in my eyes.

“But more than that, I want to be that same rock to you. I want to support your dreams and desires. I want to be there while you take on the world free from the chains of the last five years. I’ll be there to watch you fly and catch you if you fall.

And I swear…” Levi glances down at Scott, who’s chewing on his fingers.

“I will be the best father I can be to Scott. I might need a little guidance, but there’s no one I love more, or trust more to help me down that road.

I love you, Maeve, and I am forever honored to be your husband. I love you.”

Soft clapping rises as Levi cups my cheek and guides me into a teary kiss. I sink into the sensations while sniffling and laughing. “You didn’t tell me we were to write our own vows!” I gasp as the kiss breaks. “What the hell?”

“I couldn’t resist.” Levi smirks. “But that’s not the point. The point is I need you to know how much I love you.”

“My vows were shit in comparison.”

“Hey!” Chip scoffs. “I’m right here.”

“Your vows were perfect because you are perfect,” Levi insists gently, and he goes to kiss me again until Chip interrupts, clearing his throat.

“ ANYWAY ,” he declares loudly with a friendly glare, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Cheers and claps rise, Scott yells in delight, and Levi sweeps me against him with his arm around my waist. Then he kisses me so hard that I bow back slightly while looping both my arms around his neck and shoulders.

Snow falls around us, kissing my skin with icy teeth.

The music swells and the love in the air surrounds us as my heart finally finds peace.

A few hours later, I stand in our bedroom staring out the balcony doors at the blizzard swirling around outside. Softly knocking on the door, Levi joins me with a smile.

“You ready?”

I turn to face him. He’s in jeans and a soft sweater with his hair combed back, and for the first time since we reunited, he looks relaxed.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“We had a deal, remember?” He walks forward and takes my hand. “You plan the wedding and I plan the honeymoon.”

“Is your mother really okay with us leaving her on Christmas Day?”

“She did make a few soft comments about being abandoned, but I know she was joking. She’s going to go on a trip with some of her girlfriends. Her first trip without Dad.”

“He’d be proud of you.” I cup his cheek and softly stroke my thumb along his cheekbone. “He loved you dearly.”

“I know.” Levi nods and his eyelashes flutter. “I know he’s looking down on me, probably in awe that my first act as Don of the XXX Syndicate is to leave on a honeymoon.”

“We deserve it.”

“We do.” He threads his fingers through mine and clutches my hand. “The car’s waiting.”

“Actually…” I hesitate slightly and nerves flutter in my stomach.

Now is as good a time as any, but there’s one thing resting on the back of my tongue that I can’t quite say.

Somehow, saying it out loud is more terrifying than anything else.

My thumb slides over the unfamiliar ring on my finger as Levi’s brow dips.

“What’s wrong?”

“Levi…”

“You can tell me anything. You know that.”

“I’m pregnant.” The words shoot out of me before I can stop them and an eerie silence follows.

Levi stares at me with wide eyes, not saying a word, so the nerves get the better of me.

“You know when we came to New York and you made me see your family doctor at the hospital for the bruising and stress? He ran a lot of tests and he found out that I was pregnant, and I didn’t know how to tell you because everything was a lot and we never, ever talked about anything like this and I’m sorry if I?—”

He kisses me so hard I see stars. My racing heart thunders up into my throat and my hands start shaking so badly that I can barely cup his face.

“You’re sure?” he gasps as the kiss breaks.

“Yes. I swear. You’re… you’re not angry?”

“Maeve.” His brows knit together. “Why on earth would I be angry?”

“I was worried because so much has happened, from Antony to your father and the wedding and everything, we’ve never talked about kids and I don’t want you to think I planned this as a trick or?—”

“Shush, Maeve, no, no… It’s amazing. Don’t you see?

” His eyes slide down my body and rest on my stomach.

“A baby. Our baby! This is fantastic news! Holy shit, I’m going to be a dad again.

Scott will get a sibling and we’ll get to do everything properly and together!

” Levi surges forward and picks me up, spinning me around while laughing.

It’s hard not to laugh too and my irrational anxiety melts away. Learning I was pregnant definitely triggered an old fight or flight reaction, but Levi’s right. This time, we can do everything together.

“I love you,” Levi gasps as he sets me down, kissing me hard. “I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too.” Giggling into the kiss, I don’t notice Scott until he tugs at my skirt. “Scott?”

“You’re having a baby?” He stares at me with wide eyes and I immediately crouch next to him.

“Yes, sweetie. We’re going to have a baby, which means you’re going to have a little brother or sister.” I didn’t intend to tell him so soon, but he must have overheard us. “How does that sound?”

Scott beams at me. “That’s cool. Can we go on holiday now, Dad?” Turning away from me, he looks up at Levi. I follow his gaze, and Levi looks like he’s about to shatter from joy.

Is this the first time Scott has called him 'Dad'?

“You okay?” I whisper, standing back up.

Levi nods without making a sound then holds his hand out to Scott.

Scott takes it and starts tugging him toward the door. “Come on!”

With Scott in charge and Levi still in a stunned silence, we make it down to the car where Chip waits, covered in snow. He opens the door and Scott immediately dives inside.

“So,” Levi says as he turns to me. “You ready for the best trip of your entire life?”

“Absolutely.” With a smile of thanks at Chip, I follow Levi into the warmth of the car and settle in with my family.

Honestly, I don’t care where we go.

As long as we’re all together, it’ll be perfect.

The Mafia Lords of Sin series continues with Malicious Marriage —a forbidden age-gap, fake husband, secret baby romance.

If you thought Levi was dangerous… wait until you meet Dean Savoy in Malicious Marriage .

He’s twice her age.

Her fake husband.

And the father of her unborn child.

One deal. One deception. One baby that changes everything.

And when the truth explodes?—

the king of the underworld won’t forgive. He’ll destroy.

Read Malicious Marriage now.

Get the entire series here.