15 Chapter 6 - Mariano (2)

I grew up in this neighborhood but I vaguely remember the last time I came to this church that's twenty minutes away from our house. It's an old building—not like the one much nearer to our house where the rich live. Most of those who come here live in the slums. But I like it here more. The structure may be old, but it's strong and its history is obvious in the cracks on the walls and the vines that crawled up the columns, and the decorative stained-glass windows.

I've always loved architecture. I prefer ones that tell stories and those that look like they have secrets privy to those who are privileged to know them. And this small church has a lot. For example, there's a hidden underground tunnel and catacombs that I've explored many times since I was a child.

The priest caught me once and I thought he'd tell on me to my father, but he didn't. He knows who my family is and what we do, so I thought he'd prejudice me because of it. I've only known Fr. Martin to be the only priest in this church for as long as I can remember. He's in his sixties now and he's granting me a favor that I asked from him a few days ago.

Checking my watch, I furrow my brows, wondering where the hell my bride is at. It's five minutes to six. She should be here now. I sent Enzo to pick up Riri from the hotel and have her meet me here. I could have gone and fetched her myself, but we're running out of time.

"Yo, we should've had a boy's night last night. One last hurrah before your dick's tied to one pussy forever," Jax murmurs behind me as we stand in front of the altar, waiting for her.

Fr. Martin is already standing there and when he shoots us a look, I'm pretty sure he heard my best friend's crude remark. The older man loudly clears his throat as if his warning would stop Jax.

I elbow Jax to shut him up—not that I care about what the priest thinks, but because I'm already too wound up, stressing about what happens after the ceremony to think about her pussy at the moment—not that I have any plans on thinking about it later.

Jax just grins and lowers his voice when he added, "But I have a wedding gift for you, brother. And you're gonna fucking love it."

"If there's even a wedding," I mutter under my breath as I check my watch again as if it would make the time go faster. She's supposed to be here now. Where the hell is she? "Call Enzo—"

"No need." Jax nods towards the ajar door of the church and I see the hood of the car. For a minute, nothing's happening. And then Enzo rounds the car and opens the backseat.

The first thing I see is a creamy, long leg extending out of the car, and then the shoes I bought for her land on the ground.

My eyes rake up her form slowly as she approaches the aisle. She scans the empty pews, a small crease forming between her brows, and then her gaze settles on me. Riri takes a deep breath and begins to walk down the aisle.

Taking in the woman in the white dress, my bride, my future wife, who's making her way to me with a single red rose in hand. Her face is free from make-up, but the naturally pink lips and the hint of her heated cheeks are enough to make the organ inside my chest to throb. She has always been beautiful. But tonight, there's something about her that I can't quite describe.

As she comes closer, I notice her stare. She looks…angry? Frustrated? I'm not sure what I see, but she has a small crease between her brows. I swallow at the sight of my bride.

My Riri looks fierce. Like a goddess of war that's about to wreak havoc in my world. And I might just let her.

"Holy shit. I take it she really didn't like the dress." Jax chuckles behind me.

"What?" I ask, but my voice is barely a whisper, my eyes still locked on her intense stare.

"The dress. That's not what I brought her—I mean, it is…but what's left of it. She must've found some scissors."

That remark pulls my attention to her outfit. I don't get what Jax means because it's the first time I'm seeing her dress. I've given that task to him when he demanded to help out in the preparation so I could take care of other important matters.

As my bride approaches the end of the aisle, that's when I notice the crooked trimmings and loose threads here and there.

Riri's gown has a very long slit at the left side of the skirt—or more accurately, a long cut from the hem to the top of her thigh, baring her long, smooth skin and giving me a good view of her toned legs. The dress has thin straps at the shoulders and a heart-shaped neckline that stops just above the swell of her breasts. I feel the sudden urge to sink my teeth in them.

If the edges were cut straighter, I would never know that she altered her dress. I wonder why she even did. Is she that fussy over an outfit? Or is this her rebellious way of showing me her stance? Just like the way she's looking at me right now.

I quite like the latter.

Jax nudges me from behind, snapping me out of my trance. Right. The wedding. Riri's defiant eyes enthrall me, and it takes everything in me to avert my gaze. I turn to the front, facing the priest and clearing my throat, "You may start, Father."