A Sinner’s Saint (De Bellis Crime Family #4)

Epilogue

June

W hen I opened the door to my hotel suite, I did not expect to find my future brother-in-law sitting across the hall. Gun in one hand, a stainless steel flask in the other. He looks up at the sound, the pain in his eyes so clear. I close the door, sit down in front of him, gently take the pistol from his hand, and set it beside me.

“What’s going on, Santo? Why are you sitting in the hallway?”

“I needed to make sure nothing happened to you,” he says.

My heart hurts for him. I can’t pretend to imagine how hard weddings are for him. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m fine,” I tell him.

“Doesn’t hurt to be extra cautious,” he says. “So, today’s the big day. You sure you’re ready to become a De Bellis?”

My smile is big and genuine. I’ve been waiting for this day for months. “Well, I get a pretty amazing brother-in-law out of the deal, so, yes.”

Santo smirks. “Vin’s a nervous wreck. Has been all night. He thinks you’re going to suddenly wake up and run for the hills.”

“Mmm, I’m happy to stay firmly planted in dreamland. I’m not running. Is he really worried?”

“It’s Vin. He’s always worried he’s going to lose you. It’s part of the De Bellis curse,” Santo explains. I’ve heard the brothers talk about the De Bellis curse, mostly Marcel. I don’t really buy into it, though. They’re not cursed. They had a really shitty father. That’s bad parenting, not a curse. “Where are you sneaking off to anyway?”

“Vin’s room.” I shrug. “I couldn’t sleep. And I figured he wouldn’t be able to either.”

“It’s bad luck,” Santo says.

“Maybe, but we don’t need luck. We have love.” No amount of bad luck can keep me and Vin apart.

“You’re good for him. I’m really glad he has you, Cammi.” Santo pushes to his feet, swiping up his pistol from the ground. “Come on. I’ll walk you to his room.”

“One day, I hope you find something like Vin and I have.” I take his hand and let him pull me up.

Santo smiles. It’s not a happy smile. “I had it, or at least I thought I did,” he says cryptically.

“Is that empty?” I ask, pointing to his flask.

Santo hands it over to me. The shiny silver has the Cinque logo engraved on the front. I unscrew the lid and take a sip. I’ve become accustomed to the whiskey over the past few months. Vin has been doing a lot of work out of their distillery. Sometimes I’ll go with him just to hang out. I’m not much help.

When we reach Vin’s door, I wrap my arms around Santo. “Thank you.” I return his flask and pull the key card out of my pocket that gives me access to the room.

“Anytime.” Santo nods. He stands in the hall, watching me as I slip inside.

“Cammi? What’s wrong?” Vin asks as soon as I step into the living room of his suite.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Yeah, me either,” he says. “Wait… Why? Are you changing your mind?”

I laugh. “No. Do you really doubt my love that much that you’d think I’d change my mind?”

“It’s not your love I doubt, babe. It’s your sanity and whether or not it’s going to come back.” Vin smirks as he approaches me. “Ask me.”

“Kiss me like it’s the last time you’re going to kiss your fiancée, because after tonight, you’ll be kissing your wife,” I tell him.

Vin claims my lips, his tongue pushing past the seam and swirling around. “Mmm, you taste like Cinque.”

“Santo was in the hall outside my room,” I explain.

“Why?”

“Making sure I was safe. He had a flask. Can we go to bed now? I really want to go to sleep, wake up, and then marry you.”

Vin takes hold of my palm and leads me over to the bed. He’s able to do little touches, like this one, or brushing his fingers along my arm or down my back, without asking permission. He still likes me to ask him before he kisses me, or before we do anything more intimate. I’m okay with that, though, because he’s healing in his own time. And it’s okay if he’s never able to just grab me and kiss me. I’ll always ask him. I’ll always give him what he needs.

Everyone is here: Lauren, Elena, Devon, Scarlett, Daisy, Zoe, Eloise, and my mum. I’m not nervous because today is a dream. I’m marrying the man I love more than life itself. My heart couldn’t be happier.

The cardiologist confirmed I have a weak heart and that deep emotional trauma or stress can cause it to stop. It hasn’t happened again. Vin goes above and beyond to try to protect me from anything that could trigger a negative reaction. Although, as long as I have him, I know I’m going to be okay.

“You look beautiful, baby,” Mum says, standing behind me. I’m wearing a traditional white gown. It was only about the hundredth wedding dress I tried on before I said yes. I just knew this was the one the minute I stepped into it. Although I’ve had to get it altered. I’ve put on some of the weight I lost over the year without Vin. Probably because he feeds me all the damn time and my appetite has returned.

“Thank you.” I look around the room. My bridesmaids, Lauren, Devon, Elena, and Scarlett are all wearing matching pale-pink dresses. “You guys look so good.”

“We’re just the backup. You’re the star today, Cammi. Are you ready to become a wife?” Lauren asks. “This is literally a fairy-tale wedding, right out of a romance book.” She sighs wistfully.

“I’m so ready.” I smile.

“We’re going to go out and sit. You look beautiful, Cammi,” Eloise says. After her emotional outburst over Vin’s announcement of our engagement, she apologised. Blamed it on pregnancy hormones and then helped plan this event. She’s been amazing. I’m not just gaining four brothers. I’m getting three sisters too.

“Thank you.” I hug each of my new sisters and then turn to my mum. “Is he here?”

My mum’s face drops. I asked my father to give me away. We’ve had our differences over the past few months. Mostly because he wasn’t a fan of Vin’s and tried to talk me out of getting married. I love my father, and I understand his concerns. But nothing is going to stop today from happening.

“I’m sorry. I can’t get a hold of him,” Mum says.

“It’s okay.” I smile. It’s not. I really wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle. I wanted him to see how happy I was and get past his hang-ups over Vin’s last name.

“I can walk down with you,” Mum offers.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll do it by myself,” I say. “I’m fine. Promise.”

I’m standing at the doors, counting down the seconds until they open while waiting for the song that I chose to start playing, so I can take those few final steps to my forever. My happily ever after.

A figure steps up next to me, and I look up into my father’s eyes. “Sorry I’m late,” he says.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

“You’re my daughter, Cammi. I wouldn’t miss this day for anything. I love you.” He kisses my cheek.

“I love you too.” I’m trying to keep the tears at bay. “Are you ready?”

“I’m never going to be ready to give you away, but let’s pretend I am,” Dad says as the song starts to play and the doors open.