29| Dinner at the McCulloughs

Victor followed after Grace through the open french doors in the living room, he found her sitting at the water fountain in the garden, where they shared their first kiss. "Grace?" He said making her look up.

"I'm sorry" She sniffled, wiping her tears quickly.

"Walk with me?" He asked holding his hand out to her. Grace pushed herself off the floor, getting up she took Victor's hand as they began to walk. "Why are you sorry?" He asked as they walked.

"I'm sorry that I've brought you so much trouble" She looked down at her feet.

"I chose you, Grace. I don't apologize for my choices and I don't want you to do it either." He said looking at her. "You asked me about my father yesterday..." Victor started, he never had to share parts of himself with someone else. It was all completely new to him and part of it made him uneasy.

"Yes?" Grace asked looking up at him.

"My father tried to be a good father," Victor said his green eyes focused in front of him "but he was the mafia king and he never let us forget it." He swallowed dryly "he also made sure we didn't forget who we were. Vincent and I were the future of his business, there were certain things that we had to know. My father began preparing us from a young age. I'm the eldest so naturally, I had more of my father's attention, sometimes I'm thankful that Vincent never had to experience some of that but at the same time I'm envious." Victor stopped walking

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to Victor" Grace said squeezing his hand.

"What I'm trying to say Grace" Victor turned to face her "You and I are not so different. We've both in our way had to carry the cross of being the oldest"

"I suppose you're right," Grace said with a small smile, she'd never thought about what Victor's life might have been like growing up. She wasn't sure that she wanted to know either, but she enjoyed learning things about Victor. "Thank you for sharing that with me"

"Thank you for marrying me" Victor smirked kissing her left hand. He'd never seen a diamond more suitably placed than on Grace's finger. "Speaking of which, we'll need to start planning. I want the wedding to take place before the end of this month"

"What?" Grace looked at him surprised

"The sooner we are married the better, Grace," He said cupping her cheek. "It's safer that way."

"It's just that I thought we'd just go to city hall and get married." Grace raised a brow "I didn't think we'd have a wedding"

"That would be easier but do you really think that's the best way to start our marriage?"

Grace shook her head no silently.

"I know all of this is very sudden but it's all new to me to Grace," He said, his green eyes holding hers "We'll learn our way through it together"

"Do you mean that Victor?" She asked putting her hand over his as his thumb rubbed against her cheek.

"I do tesoro" Victor gave her a small smile "You have my word"

Grace nodded taking a step towards him, she closed the distance between them, kissing him. They stood there for a while kissing.

"As much as I'd love to stand here and kiss you all day tesoro, unfortunately, we have dinner plans." Victor smiled pulling away from the kiss

"We do?" Grace asked

"Yes, we'll be a bit busy for the next few days. Tonight we'll be having dinner with John McCullough and his wife. So you need to get ready" He nodded

"I have to be with you?"

"Yes. You'll be my wife soon and you'll be expected to join me at certain events" Victor spoke his face wearing his usual businessy look.

"Is there anything specific I need to wear?" Grace asked as they walked back to the house.

"Whatever you like tesoro" Victor kissed her cheek as they got to the back door.

Grace headed upstairs, all signs of Frank had been removed and for that she was thankful. She went into the room she shared with Victor and decided to take a shower before dressing in a knee-length midnight blue cocktail dress with lace sleeves. She put her brown hair up in a bun before putting on some make-up and a black pointed heel before heading downstairs, where Victor waited for her.

"Are you ready?" He asked looking at her approvingly, again if he'd had it his way they wouldn't be going anywhere but upstairs.

"Sí" Grace said softly as victor smiled at the simple yes that had somehow become their special thing.

The drive to the McCulloughs was silent, like most drives Victor worked on his phone while Grace stared out of the window. She looked up at the house as they stopped, the red brick effect of the building reminded her of a house in a story Norma used to read her when she was little. The house was not as big as Victor's but still a lot bigger than most of the houses in New Port.

Walking up to the house Grace followed behind Victor and two of his men behind her. He rang the doorbell as a lady in a French maid's uniform opened the door letting them inside. She bowed her head to Victor and then to Grace, something Grace was not used to at all.

"Good evening sir" A man smiled coming to greet them, McCullough, Grace assumed. She didn't know what she was expecting but the overweight ginger that stood before them was not it.

"It's good to see you, John. This is my fiancé Grace Brennan" Victor introduced the two, even though Victor's face held no emotion Grace couldn't help the little flip her stomach did when he called her his fiancé.

"It's a pleasure" McCollough smiled "Allow me to introduce my wife Mandy" He motioned to the redhead next to him

"Congratulations on your engagement" Mandy smiled

"Thank you," Victor said quickly

"I have the most amazing florist, I have one of his pieces in the living room if you would like to see Ms. Brennan?" Mandy asked with a smile

Grace looked up at Victor who nodded his head before she followed Mandy through the house into the living room, whilst McCullough and Victor stepped through to the dining room.

"I'm very happy about your engagement sir but..." John started pouring a whiskey for them both

"It comes with its own set of troubles" Victor sighed as he took the glass from him

"As far as I've heard, Demani doesn't know of the engagement just yet," John confirmed

"It's just a matter of time" Victor took a sip of his drink "He will wage war, all they needed is a reason"

"Yes, I thought as much." John nodded taking a sip of his own whiskey "It's not a war they'll likely win"

"No" Victor agreed "But if they choose war, then war is what they'll get"

"Aye" John raised his glass "You have the support of my men, sir"

"Thank you" Victor looked at the amber liquid in his glass.

"Is something else bothering you, sir?" John asked skeptically

"I'm worried for Grace, she's not used to this life. I don't know how she will handle it" Victor said truthfully

"She's survived this far, it will be an adjustment but I think she will be fine." John smiled

Victor knew part of what John was saying was true. Grace had been through many things and survived, she would survive this too but at what cost? That was the part that Victor had worried about. Grace had an idea of how ugly his world could get but there's a difference between knowing about this world and experiencing it firsthand.