Devotion (Mafia Ties #3) (5 page)

“Bellissima,” I started cautiously, “We need to talk.”

Her lips dropped into a frown, and I nearly groaned in agitation. It was my job to make her smile, always. Not to be the reason for her sadness.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, cupping my face in her hands and staring into my eyes with her own worried ones.

I placed my hands over hers and turned my head to kiss one of her palms. “It will be. I just need you to be patient and trust me.”

“I do trust you.” There was not even one hint of uncertainty in her tone, and it humbled me, her love washing over me.

“We’ve run into a snag with Sophia’s adoption.” I hurried on to clarify, as her eyes filled with tears. “I’ll work it out, mia dolce. You will be her mother in every sense of the word. It may take a little time, that’s all.”

She sniffed and blinked her watery eyes rapidly, trying to dispel the moisture before it fell. “Why? What’s happened?”

I brought both of her hands to my lips and gently kissed each one. Guilt was rearing its ugly head and suddenly, I wished I played the white knight and could be him at that moment.

“The woman who gave birth to Sophia, she had no desire to be a mother. She didn’t even want to see her after the delivery. She was checked out and had disappeared before I’d even gotten Sophia home,” I explained. “We haven’t seen nor heard from her since.”

Gianna’s mossy-green eyes were filled with despair, and it about killed me. I was going to do whatever it took to get this taken care of as fast as possible. If I had to use every dark connection, call in every favor, so be it.

“She abandoned Sophia! Can’t they charge her with something?”

I sighed, “Yes, from what my lawyer told me today, it’s more than likely we could prove her guilty of non-support of a child in the second degree. Since we weren’t married, the mother is given the primary right to custody. So, by taking off and not supporting Sophia for a state specified period of time, without a lawful excuse, or signing parental rights over to me, she’s basically committed a felony.”

Gianna’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand, if she’s guilty of it, why haven’t her rights been involuntarily terminated?”

This is where the guilt started to pile up. I should have been looking into this the day I knew I would be keeping Gianna forever.

“Since she was with me, Sophia never entered the system. So, the state had no reason to go after the woman who gave birth to her. In order for this to happen, my attorney has to gather the evidence and present it to a judge. Even with my ability to expedite things, the process takes time. I’m so sorry, bellissima. I should have started this long before now.”

Gianna smiled softly, though the sorrow still clung to her. “It’s not your fault, Nic. How were you to know things would turn out this way with us?”

“I knew, Gianna. I felt you before I even laid eyes on you. I was against a young, single woman as a nanny for Sophia. I didn’t want to deal with crushes, or money hungry women looking to live off of my money and notoriety.” It wasn’t ego that had propelled those thoughts, it was experience. I’d been tired of fending them off. “Then the agency called, and the woman convinced me to at least meet with you. I was as shocked as anyone when I agreed.” I paused and gazed into her green pools, willing her to see the depth of my sincerity. “So, you see? You were mine before you ever stepped into my home.”

A sweet smile graced her face and she leaned forward to brush her lips over mine. “I love you,” she whispered.

She started to pull away and I chased her lips, sealing our mouths together, deepening the kiss until we were both shaking with need. I was just about ready to wrap her legs around me and take her against the wall when we were interrupted by a knock on my door.

I cursed and tore my lips away to glare at whoever had just put their life in danger. Enzo looked away, clearly uncomfortable and wary of my reaction. Smart man.

“What?” I barked.

His eyes darted to Gianna, before landing back on me with a meaningful look. I sighed in aggravation and gripped her hips to lift her off of my lap, and both of us stood. With one look from me, Enzo scurried into the hallway so I could say goodbye to my fiancée in privacy.

“Have fun, mia dolce,” I murmured through another kiss. “And, when you’re shopping, don’t forget about the wedding night.” I winked and laughed when she blushed yet again. “In fact, make sure to get enough for a whole honeymoon.” I shifted my head to the side, sliding our cheeks together as I brought my lips to her ear. “You might want to bring extras because I can guarantee I’ll have ruined plenty of lingerie by the end of our trip.”  A tiny shudder wracked her petite frame, and I felt the muscles of her face lift with a smile. Mmmm, a whole week with my naughty temptress. I couldn’t wait.

T
he week flew past, but somehow everything seemed to fall perfectly into place so Nic and I would have a beautiful but small wedding. Seated at a table in the private room at The Modern, a beautiful restaurant in Midtown, surrounded by my family, I couldn’t imagine the strings Nic had pulled to make it all happen, let alone how he’d managed to secure an appointment for the priest from his church to perform the ceremony.

Every dish served, from the butternut squash risotto to the seared scallops and roasted beef tenderloin, had been beyond amazing. I didn’t think I’d had a meal quite so good before. I’d eaten so much that my stomach almost hurt. But, that didn’t stop me from sampling the desserts the waiter placed on the table. Delicious French butter cakes, molten chocolate doughnut holes, crème fraîche cheesecake—they were impossible to resist.

“Hurry up and finish your dessert, darling,” my mom urged. “I want enough time to steal you away for your last hoorah before we head back to the house.”

“No bachelorette party,” Nic growled, glaring at her.

“It’s not like I said I was taking her to see male strippers,” she huffed. “I’m her mother for goodness sakes, and she can’t even drink because she’s pregnant. What kind of trouble do you think I’m going to get her into?”

“I’m sure your men would appreciate the opportunity to take you out while Anna is otherwise occupied,” my dad offered, jerking his head to where several of Nic’s guys were seated across the room from us. They had been able to enjoy the meal, separately from the family, while Devon and his crew were on alert outside.

My heart dropped at the thought of the kind of trouble Nic and the guys could get up to while I went home with my parents. I didn’t think he’d do anything wrong, but I still didn’t like the idea of him roaming a nightclub, or heaven forbid a strip club. Nic was way too hot not to attract attention from any woman in his vicinity. Feminine eyes followed him wherever he went, I’d seen it myself.

“Chin up, bellissima,” Nic murmured in my ear. “I have no need for a bachelor party. The only person I want to celebrate our upcoming nuptials with tonight is my blushing bride.”

I dropped my head onto his chest, uncaring of who was watching. “But aren’t they going to expect you to do the traditional bachelor thing?” I mumbled into his shirt.

“Their expectations don’t concern me, Gianna. What you and I want is the only thing that matters.”

“I want to come home with you,” I admitted softly. I knew my parents were looking forward to honoring tradition and taking me back to their house for the night before my wedding, but their home wasn’t mine anymore. Mine was with Nic and Sophia.

“That’s what I want, too,” he replied. “It can be their wedding gift to us.”

“I thought we weren’t doing the whole wedding gift thing.” My response was barely audible, since I was reluctant to remind him that he hadn’t been able to accomplish what I’d asked him to do for my present.

“About that,” he drawled, pulling an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “It turned out to be simpler than my lawyer expected.”

With trembling fingers, I pulled the paperwork out and stared at it with tears streaming down my cheeks. “How?”

“My investigator discovered she’d died from a drug overdose four years ago. He provided my lawyer with a copy of her death certificate, who added it to his petition to the courts.”

I probably should have felt sadness or pity for the woman who would never know Sophia, but I only felt relief and overwhelming happiness that we’d overcome this obstacle so easily.

“Why are you crying, Mommy?” Sophia asked, climbing off her chair and crawling onto my lap.

“Because Daddy gave me the best news ever, sweetie. These papers right here”—I waved the envelope—“say that I’m officially your mommy.”

“You guys are so silly,” she giggled. “I already knew you were my mommy.”

With those innocent words, I was shattered, but in the best way possible. As I cried happy tears with Sophia in my lap, I felt Nic pull us both into his arms and heard my dad talking to my mom.

“Forget about your plans for the night, Olivia. Our girl has her family to tend to. We’ll meet her at the church in the morning.”

***

T
hey didn’t just meet me at the church in time for the wedding. My mom spent two hours fussing over me, making sure my hair and make-up were perfect before helping me into my dress. She reluctantly left me to go sit down when my dad came to get me. Standing at the end of the aisle, with my hand at his elbow, I was joyous at having my family with me on this special day. But, I only had eyes for one person, and he was standing in front of the altar waiting for me.

“Ready, baby girl?” my dad asked.

“Yes, Daddy. I’m ready.”

He guided me down the aisle, allowing me to pay no attention to where I was walking as I kept my eyes locked on Nic’s. It felt like it took forever to reach him, and then my dad was placing my hand in Nic’s, so we could turn to face the priest who would marry us.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two hearts,” he began. “Today we witness the joining of Niccolo DeLuca and Gianna Martin in marriage.”

Nic’s hand squeezed mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles while the priest continued.

“If there is anyone present who has just cause why this couple should not be united let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

Nic stiffened next to me, and I glanced up to find him glaring at the priest and then turning his fierce gaze towards our audience, as though he really believed someone might dare to interfere with our wedding.

“Be at ease, Niccolo,” the priest murmured. “It’s merely a formality.”

“Move on then,” Nic growled back, making me blush at the way he was speaking to the priest while standing in his church.

The priest chuckled, seemingly used to Nic’s ways, and turned his attention towards our parents. “Who gives this man and woman to be married today?”

“We do,” they all murmured.

“We have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For Niccolo and Gianna, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love, and are finalizing it with this wedding. It is their desire to love each other for life and that is what we are celebrating here today.”

Tears streamed out of my eyes. Extraordinary was an understatement when it came to how much I loved Nic. I gazed up at the amazing man standing by my side, incredibly grateful that he’d fallen in love with me, just as I had with him. The priest continued on with the opening of the ceremony and the reading of 1st Corinthians. I was so busy gazing up at Nic, in awe as he spoke his vows, that I missed it when the priest told me to repeat after him.

“It’s your turn, mia dolce,” Nic prodded.

“Oh,” I gasped. “Sorry.”

Everyone in the church laughed, making me blush and stumble a little when I began.

“I, Gianna Martin, take you, Niccolo DeLuca, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our relationship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. Laugh with you and cry with you. And, I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, in sickness and in health, and for richer or for poorer. Whatever may come, I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep.”

I stared at a lone tear trailing down Nic’s cheek through the prayers for the faithful, mine falling hard as we repeated our ‘I Do’s’ and listened to another scripture reading. And then, Nic was sliding his ring onto my finger. Once it was in place, I turned to the side and leaned down to whisper in Sophia’s ear. She beamed up at me, untying a ribbon on the side of her basket, which had carried the rose petals she’d tossed when she walked down the aisle.

“Here’s Daddy’s ring, Mommy,” she said sweetly, holding it up for me to take.

“Thank you, baby girl.”

The moment I saw the trinity ring at Cartier, I knew I had to get it for Nic. The three intertwined bands perfectly represented Nic and I, coming together in marriage with one of our children at our side and the other in my belly.

“Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit.”

The priest started to speak again, but there was one more thing I needed to do before he could finish the ceremony. “Can I have a moment, please?”

“Of course, my dear.”

I turned back to Sophia and dropped to my knees. “Can I see your basket, sweetie?”

She nodded, and I reached into the bottom of it for the velvet bag I’d secured to it with a different ribbon earlier that morning. I pulled on the drawstring at the top of the bag, and withdrew the gold necklace inside. Standing up, I slid it over her neck.

“It’s so pretty,” she gasped, lifting it up to peer at the locket attached to the chain.

“Today’s a special day for you and me, Sophia.”

“It is?”

“From now on, not only am I your mommy, but I also have the same last name as you, too.”

Sophia smiled up at me, but was quickly distracted by her necklace. When I turned to Nic, love and adoration shown from his eyes. “Thank you, sweet Gianna.”

“You’re welcome,” I whispered back as he tugged my hands into his. I barely heard the priest as he gave the wedding prayer, my eyes riveted on the ring resting on Nic’s finger. Then those hands were moving upwards, to cup my cheeks as his mouth crashed down onto mine. I faintly heard the priest telling Nic he could kiss his bride, while he was already devouring my mouth. I had attended several church weddings before, but none of the couples had kissed quite like this. When Nic finally lifted his head, I was gasping for breath and blushing wildly. The priest merely chuckled before continuing.