CHAPTER 54 - THE WEDDING
Romeo POV:
I surprisingly had a good rest but woke early, I hope Alina loved her wedding gift, I think idly. Just as I'm stripping down to get in the shower I hear a commotion outside my door and in comes Jake practically falling into my bedroom and I'm standing here naked, great. Jake stares at me, I mean I know I'm naked but I'm very confident in what I'm packing. "Can I help you Jake? You basically got past my best men to rush in here," I say slightly amused that this small guy got past them and I see Leo panting at the door.
"Boss he's fast and small!" Leo says with a horrified look on his face.
Jake seems to remember why he's here but still staring, I raise a brow at him, "just came to see that you're awake, breakfast is coming and....." he pauses shutting his eyes. "The guests arrive at two, but I need you there at one for photographs," he says blood red.
"Si, but can you maybe wait a half hour, I'm kind of naked here," I say laughing and Jake practically trips out of the bedroom. Luc is going to love this. Leo comes in and sits on the bed while I shower and shave, he's quiet but I know he just needs to be right now.
Breakfast is served with the guys and Luc brings me a gift, "brother you shouldn't have," I joke.
"It's from Alina," Luc says rolling his eyes at me. It's a black thin box the size of a letter, tied up with a silver bow around it. I see a card and open it, it's definitely Alina's beautiful handwriting.
"Romeo, amore,
It's our wedding day, and I'm so excited to be yours! This is something that I thought would make it seem even more special and kind of prove we were meant to be. Gio had found this and given it to Dimitri, so he passed this on to me, it appears you always had my heart even as teens. We have met long before we knew this world as it is now. I remember this, I thought you were the cutest boy I had ever seen, who knew I would be seeing my future husband. Enjoy a short trip down memory lane my love.
Love Alina"
I open the box and inside is a silver framed picture of myself at about fourteen and Alina is a bit younger. I'm dressed in typical bad boy fashion ripped jeans, white tee, leather jacket, hair that I wouldn't be caught dead with now. Alina is so beautiful in a blue sun dress and sandals, her beautiful long black hair ever present and her blue eyes popping. I'm holding her around her waist as we stand smiling for the camera, I had forgotten about this completely.
We visited on business and Gio took this picture of us because I insisted and Alina was so shy, even then I thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Wow, even then I only had eyes for her. This is the most thoughtful gift, we really were meant to be, our kids will definitely see this one day. Now I get to be her husband, I'm a lucky son of a bitch. The best gift I have ever received.
Luc has a look at it, Dario and Leo too and they were making fun of my "fuck boy hair" as they put it, they were no better, looking like Jersey shore. After a few laughs and some bonding it's time for us to get ready for the wedding, I give the picture one last look, we really are meant to be.
Luc and I get ready in my bedroom and he's fussing over my bow tie, and some flower on my lapel. Today I can see Jake's influence and I can't help but laugh. My tux is on and now it's really real its happening. Dario and Leo come in and they are all in their suits with their gold waist coats and bow ties and I'm actually nervous now, fiddling with my cufflinks. "Let's have a shot for the nerves," Leo says and brings out our old friend Patrón Tequila, yeah I don't need to be doing this but fuck it, it will help my nerves.
We are all holding a shot, "my brother, let's get you hitched!" Luc says in his short and sweet way and we all laugh taking a shot, and hands me a breath mint, the priest can't smell this. Feeling somewhat nervous still, I make my way down stairs and it's time to make our way to the church. There are two limousines and four black SUV's for each. Security is extremely tight. The four of us pile into the one limo and set off for the church.
Alina POV:
Jake has given word that Romeo has left already, I admit my nerves are kicking in, but I have Dimitri and his men, Tino, Vince and a few other's that Romeo said were his best. Dimitri sees me for the first time and he is completely shocked, "You look like a queen my darling sister, so beautiful. You're actually glowing, my little sister is all grown up," Dimitri says and gives me a kiss on my cheek, and pulling my veil down over my face.
Jake and Mari decide to help me into the limo and I spot Dimitri being a boss outside directing the men before sliding into the limo. I sigh as we start out journey, "I can't help but wish Gio were here, I still can't believe the way they shot him, no remorse just cold blood. He deserved to be here, he was such a good person, he helped me when I was alone, and to escape," I say emotionally.
"Lina, I know we weren't the closest but I hope that I can be there for you now like I have been trying to be. I can never take Giovanni's place but we can always remember him together, love each other the way family should. I just want you to be happy and it seems you are," Dimitri says with a sad smile.
"I would love nothing more than to be closer to you Dimitri, you are all I have left beside mother, and the extended family I barely know," I say and he hugs me.
"Ready to get married baby sister? I still want to shoot Romeo though," Dimitri says shaking his head.
"Maybe after the reception? I didn't pay thousands for this dress for nothing," I joke back.
We arrive at the church about twenty minutes later and all I see are security and I mean there must be a hundred men just outside in the front. I see the guests all being checked and escorted in. The driver takes us to the back door where we wait till we have the okay to go in. Dimitri helps me out and we make it to the bridal chamber so to speak. Mari is helping me making sure I look fine and Jake is speaking to the other wedding planner. My nerves are kicking in but I know when I see Romeo it will disappear.
Jake comes in smiling, "Alina, it's time."
I nod and take Dimitri's arm and we make our way to the double doors. A classical piece plays and Jake walks in with Luc, followed by Mari and Leo, and Dario walks my mother in, who is wearing some gold monstrosity of a dress forgetting she isn't the bride, the witch hasn't even spoken to me and its my wedding.
"Ready baby sister?" Dimitri asks, and I nod holding my flowers and face forward and a beautiful new rendition of the wedding march plays and I have butterflies. Gio please be with me. "I'm here..." It's like I hear him answering me and I smile with some tears.
Dimitri and I take the long walk down the aisle and everyone is in awe, and full of smiles, I spot Alfonso, Sofia and Isabella and they are beaming at me, Sofia is already shedding some tears. The church is absolutely beautiful, so full of flowers and reds with gold accents everywhere. I finally spot Romeo, looking every bit as handsome as I imagined he would, not a hair out place, his designer stubble and his suit is immaculate, he looks so calm, the epitome of a Mafia Boss, if he didn't let out a breath and smile at me I would think he isn't affected.
I finally make it to the end of the aisle, and Dimitri places my hand in Romeo's, "take care of my sister," Dimitri says above a whisper.
"Always," Romeo answers. "You look stunning, every bit the queen you are bella," Romeo says taking my shaking hand and kissing it. We turn and walk up to the altar and I hand my flowers to Jake and Romeo and I turn facing the priest, he says a short welcome and prayer and he asks who gives me away and Dimitri answers with pride and I can't help but smile.
I turn to face Romeo and we join hands as instructed, and we look into each other's eyes and Romeo mouths "I love you," as do I. The priest starts the ceremony and I barely hear anything till I hear Romeo's name, "Romeo Alfonso De Luca, do you take Alina Rachel Russo to be your lawful wedded wife? To love, honor and cherish her till death do you part?"
"I do," Romeo answers confidently with a megawatt smile.
"Alina Rachel Russo, do you take Romeo Alfonso De Luca to be your lawful wedded husband? To love, honor and cherish him till death do you part?" The priest asks.
"I absolutely do," I answer and we all laugh, and Romeo winks at me making my heart flutter.
"The couple has written some vows, which they will recite now, Romeo..." The priest says and Romeo takes a breath.
"Alina, from the moment I saw you on that stage dancing your heart out with those beautiful blue mesmerising eyes looking over that crowd, I knew I had to have you. It was probably love at first sight to be honest, I just didn't realise it yet, but I sought out to get your attention in any and every way possible. I'm glad I eventually did, you have made every day since then the best of my life, I never knew I was missing something till you came along and turned my world upside down. Everything we have been through since then, the highs, lows, good and bad, we made it through together and I am so honoured that you chose me to spend your life with, I love you bella now and forever." Romeo finishes and my tears are running.
"Romeo, I can honestly say I have never been more lucky to have left home and found another with you. I can admit in that club on that stage I saw you, and haven't had eyes for anyone since. You came into my life when I was pushing everyone out, tore down my walls and kept at it till every one of them broke down. It has by no means been a fairy-tale but it's our story and I wouldn't change one line of it, because it brought us here to this moment and I couldn't be more proud than to be marrying you, the love of my life," I managed to get it all out sniffing every minute and just then I feel a flutter in my stomach, yeah babies, daddy is here.
"The rings please," Jake hands me Romeo's ring and Luc hands Romeo mine. "The rings are a symbol of a holy union an eternal circle of love, trust and fidelity, Romeo repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed." The priest says and Romeo smiles.
"With this ring, I thee wed," Romeo says sliding it onto my finger. A beautiful diamond band in platinum, its beautiful.
"Alina repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed," the priest says and I beam.
"With this ring, I thee wed," I say proudly and slide it on Romeo's finger, a platinum band with a thin row of black diamonds in the centre. Romeo smiles at me and I am almost jumping on the spot.
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride," the priest says chuckling as Romeo lifts my veil and I'm bouncing in the spot.
"This may be indecent father," Romeo says winking at him, and kisses me like nobody is in the room, I wrap my hands around Romeo's neck deepening the kiss a little bit and we hear cheers throughout the church, bringing us back to reality and we both laugh.
"I give you Mr and Mrs Romeo De Luca!" The priest says proudly and Jake hands me my bouquet and Romeo takes my hand and leads me down the aisle with so many people wishing us congratulations and more well wishes. I turn around and see Dimitri and he winks at me and smiles. I think he secretly told the priest to leave out the part of objecting. He mouths an, "I love you," as Romeo pulls me further down the aisle, I blow him a kiss. We walk off and sign the marriage certificate and it's absolutely official now.
We exit the church and there's so many red and white petals being thrown all over us. It's so beautiful, we pose for some pictures with the family and Jake, Mari, Dario, Leo and Luc. "We did it!" I shout happily and Romeo pulls me into a sweet kiss.
"I promise you, I will love you forever Mrs De Luca," Romeo whispers and we head to the cocktail hour.
I'm finally Mrs Alina Rachel De Luca!