Page 141 of Vows of a Mobster

“What do you guys think?” Marissa beamed at us, her hands extended to her miracle work.

Small lanterns lit up the whole backyard that was covered by grapevines, giving it a Mediterranean feel. The night air appeared smoky, light music played in the background and everyone was having a great time laughing and eating.

“It’s beautiful, Mar,” Brianna answered and then lowered her voice, “Where did all these people come from?”

Marissa laughed. “Are you kidding me? This is nothing. There will be even more tomorrow. Everybody wants to see the big, bad Mateo Agosti’s bride. Nobody ever thought he’d get married.”

Brianna’s smile was forced, and I squeezed her hand in comfort. “We’ll ditch them at the first opportunity for our honeymoon.”

Her expression changed from anguish to surprise. “Honeymoon? I can’t leave-”

“It is just an overnight trip and we’ll be back in the morning,” I assured her. “When Emma is all better, we’ll take a real trip.”

Emma ran over to us and surprised me by raising her hands to me, demanding I pick her up. “Up.”

“As the princess demands,” I murmured, chuckling softly and lifted her up.

Brianna’s head came closer to mine, fixing the strap on Emma’s dress. I glanced at Brianna and she looked like a goddess. The sheer material of her dress clung to her body when the light breeze swept, making her appear almost like a vision. The color was of the light emeralds, the only jewelry she wore was the ring I gave her, complementing the dress perfectly. Soon, she’d wear my wedding band too.

Click. Click. Click. The sound had all three of us turning towards the sound. It was Marissa and the photographer both snapping pictures.

“Perfect,” Marissa exclaimed, looking at the screen of whatever she just snapped.

“I thought picture time would be tomorrow,” Brianna murmured into my ear.

“Don’t like to have your picture taken?” I asked her but I knew the answer.

“Not particularly,” she muttered, then smiled mischievously. “Only selfies.” Of course, it would be something I had never bothered doing. “I’ll help you with selfies.”

“Thank you, my young wife,” I retorted dryly and she playfully patted my arm.

“Bella famiglia.”Beautiful family. It was my Aunt Gulia. She approached us, clapping her hands. She was mesmerized with Brianna all evening. While my other family members kept themselves at distance because Brianna kept herself reserved, Aunt Gulia kept chasing her down. “Tomorrow, I see my nephew finally married.”

Her accent was heavy, and her English not the best but Brianna didn’t seem to mind. She had no issues understanding her. Aunt Gulia took Brianna’s face between her hands and smacked a kiss on each cheek.

“Brianna, you make it happen. He is yours. No other womanha successo.” No other woman hassucceeded.I had to stifle a laugh. Brianna’s eyes searched out mine, begging for a rescue.

“Aunt Gulia, we don’t want to give Brianna cold feet,” I told her in Italian.

“No cold feet,” she replied in English, and gave Brianna a wide smile. “You make beautiful babies.” My aunt’s eyes turned to Emma smiling.

“Down,” Emma demanded. I guess our little smart princess knew she’d be next, because the moment I lowered her, she took off towards Daphne and Antonio, Marissa trailing behind her, as Brianna watched after both of them longing.

I pulled my soon-to-be wife close to me.

“When do you have babies?” Aunt Gulia questioned Brianna eagerly, causing my young soon-to-be wife to shift uncomfortably.

“Ummm, pronto,” Brianna answered in a soft voice.Right away.Whether she meant to say that or not, it was the right answer because my aunt beamed like a hundred-watt lightbulb. She patted Brianna’s cheek adoringly and went off to inform everyone we were having kids the soonest possible.

I grinned like the happiest man alive. “Ugh, Mateo. I like your family but they make me so uncomfortable.”

“Do you know what you just told her?”

“That we’ll have kids right away,” she muttered under her breath, surprising me. “I figured she’d be happy with that.”

I wrapped my arms around her, and her hands rested against my chest where my heart beat for her.

“They like you. I know they can be overwhelming,” I muttered into her hair, inhaling deeply her scent, the mixture of lemon, lime, and ocean.