Bound By A Promise (Brutal Vows #3)

Chapter 17

Chapter

Seventeen

Camila

T he insulated walls deafened the whirl of the helicopter and blasts of gunshots. From inside the safe room, it was impossible to know what was happening outside. No way to know who was safe and who wasn’t. It seemed unreal that once again I was hiding for my life.

Wedding day.

Wedding night.

We went from our ceremony to a safe room.

Not the wedding a little girl daydreams about.

The small room where we hid contained two twin beds, a desk, and chair. There was a small refrigerator stocked with water. And currently, it also contained four people. As Mia and I sat on one of the twin-sized beds with our backs against the wall, I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged my legs. Her hand lingered protectively over her midsection, a momma bear guarding the tiny life within. Looking around at the four walls, it was easy to determine that this room was a lot different than the sauna where I hid the last time a home was attacked.

The biggest difference was that I wasn’t alone. Sitting across from Mia and me was Viviana. Father Gallo was seated on a straight-backed chair near the small desk.

Mia reached out, covering my hand with hers. “The men will be safe. Silas replaced all the windows with bulletproof glass.”

Bulletproof glass.

Safe room.

“It hasn’t even been a year since our house was attacked.” I turned and looked at my new sister-in-law, seeing pity in her hazel stare. “Your house was attacked that same night.”

Mia nodded. “We weren’t home. This is the first time we’ve needed this room.”

I took in the basic furnishings. “I don’t want to live like this.”

She grinned. “Dante’s apartment is bigger.”

“I mean in fear, fear that my husband will be hurt or worse. Fear that our privacy will be invaded. Fear of calls in the middle of the night.”

Mia smiled a sad smile. “You just married the wrong man.”

“I married the right man.” Looking down, I saw the ruby ring and splayed my fingers. “This ring is beautiful.”

Mia took my hand in hers. “It fits you. I thought it would.” She tilted her head. “You don’t have to wear it forever. I’m sure Dante will buy you a big diamond once things settle down.”

Twisting the band, I watched the way the red stone shone under the ceiling lights. “I don’t want to get rid of it.”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant.”

“Do you know where he got it?” I asked.

“Funny, it’s like Em’s story of the ring he brought you.”

The mention of my brother’s act of kindness and acceptance brought a grin to my lips.

Mia went on, “That ring belonged to our grandmother, Nonna Luna. She was our mother’s mother.”

I exhaled, appreciating Mia’s story and wanting to learn more about Dante’s family.

“Nonna Luna and Nonno Alessio were closer to Dante and me than to Dario. Dario had the attention of our father’s parents. Even when my two brothers were young, Dario was the chosen one. The prince of the Lucianos.” She turned my way. “Things haven’t changed. There’s no way that Andrés or Jorge would have changed their mind with Catalina as they did with you. No one would do that to the future capo.”

“He’s now capo.”

“No longer a prince,” Mia said. “He’s the king. Our mother’s parents gave Dante the attention he didn’t receive from the Lucianos. I was born later and by that time, our father was capo. His father was gone. Our mother was dealing with the horrors of the man she married. Nonna and Nonno would take me for extended periods of time in the summer and on vacation with them.”

I liked the way the story made Mia smile. “Did they do that for Dante?”

“I don’t really know. He’s older than I am. By the time they were taking me, he was a preteen. No vacations with grandparents. Father had the two boys to prepare for manhood.”

I scrunched my nose. “I think that’s kind of how it was for Em too. His childhood was cut shorter than Cat’s and mine.”

“Dante knew from an early age that his job was to protect Dario at all costs. Our father thought if he made them tough, they would either survive or kill one another.”

“What?” My eyes widened.

“The good news is that Dario and Dante didn’t take the second option. Instead, they joined forces against our father.” Mia scoffed. “I wish I could have witnessed the moment the great Vincent Luciano realized he’d raised two killers, and the man they hated most was their own father.”

“That’s a shame,” Viviana said.

Up until that moment, I hadn’t thought about being overheard.

Viviana went on, “Jorge raised Jano and Rei to be resilient without making them hate one another or him.”

“How did they do that?” Mia asked.

Viviana smiled. “Josefina.” She nodded toward Mia’s stomach. “It is what you’ll do too. Josefina loves unconditionally. That love is so overpowering that hate can’t survive. She loves her husband and her children.”

Mia’s nostrils flared as she nodded. “My mother and father had a difficult marriage.”

“Children, even babies, sense the emotions of others.” Viviana smiled. “You love Jano. You care about the women at the school. Mia, you have a good heart. Your bebé will learn his or her role in the world and also know love.”

A tear glistened on my sister-in-law’s cheek until she casually wiped it away.

“It’s true,” I added. “You helped me marry Dante. You didn’t have to do all you did.”

“Well, the next wedding we host, I’d like to avoid the helicopter and gunfire.”

Father Gallo looked at his watch. “I hope we can get the online license worked out soon.”

“Oh,” I said, “does that mean we’re not married?”

“You’re married in the eyes of our Lord, Mrs. Luciano.”

“Mrs. Luciano,” I repeated softly.

“That’s you,” Mia said.

The eyes of the Lord might satisfy my mother, but it wouldn’t my father.

We all turned to the opening of the door.

The air in the room electrified, crackling with the power of the men entering, the scent of sulfur and gunpowder preceding them.

Aléjandro entered first, going directly to his wife and pulling her into his arms. It was the second man, the one with the laser-focused dark stare who had my attention. “Is everyone safe?” I asked.

“One guard was injured,” Em said, entering last. Standing tall, he crossed his arms in front of him. “Rei’s house was hit at the same time. This attack wasn’t about the wedding. It was against the Roríguez cartel.”

“Is Rei all right?” Mia asked.

Jano replied, “He lost two guards, and his house sustained more damage, but he’s okay.”

Father Gallo stood. “Mr. Luciano, we should secure your marriage license.”

Dante reached for me, his large hand open. My focus went to the gold band on the fourth finger of his left hand. Without pause, I laid my hand in his. As his fingers closed, I stood. The high heels from the ceremony were taken off as we entered the safe room, leaving me four inches shorter than I was during our wedding and bringing my cheek to my husband’s chest.

Dante wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him. Beneath his shirt, his heart beat at a steady rate. Peering upward, I looked through my lashes. “I was scared.”

“You were safe.”

“I wasn’t afraid for me. I was worried about all of you.”

“Silas saved the night,” Jano said. “Let’s get out of this small room.”

He was right in his description. The room was small before. Add three giant men and the room was miniscule.

With my hand in Dante’s, he led me into the living room, everyone else following. Within seconds, Dante and Father Gallo were online, navigating the wedding license. Standing against the wall, I watched as the two men impatiently entered the necessary data. Silas and Jano took Mia out onto the deck, showing her the carnage. With the glass doors open, the night was eerily quiet. A slight breeze gave me a chill as the three of them inspected what was left of their outdoor furniture. Thankfully, the damage was to material things, not people. Mia was shaking her head as Jano comforted her.

“Camila,” Dante called, pulling me from being a voyeur.

Barefooted, I went toward him.

“You’re my wife, and I have so much to learn about you.”

Warmth filled my cheeks. “And a lifetime to do that.”

“Currently,” Father Gallo said, “we need your help with personal information.”

My mind had gone to other places. “What do you need to know?”

For the next five minutes, the three of us sat at Mia’s kitchen bar and entered numbers. Birth dates, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers… the list went on and on. I’d married a man whose middle name I didn’t know. It was probably all right. Dante didn’t know mine either.

Aurelio.

Dante Aurelio Luciano.

Isabella.

Camila Isabella Ruiz.

Camila Isabella Luciano.

The site then required a live video of the two of us, verifying that we were together and both in agreement.

Dante pulled me between his spread legs. His head cleared mine as we both stared into the camera at the top of the small screen.

“Our first wedding picture.”

“No, it’s not,” Viviana said. “I took pictures during the ceremony.”

My cheeks rose. “Thank you.”

“The next question,” Father Gallo said, “asks if you want to keep your maiden name or take your husband’s.”

I turned in his embrace, facing the man who was now my husband. “Would you have a problem with me keeping my maiden name?”

He tilted his forehead to mine and lowered his tone in a way that made my insides twist. “Yes. You’re now and forever Camila Luciano.”

“I like the way that sounds.” I turned back to the priest. “It sounds like I’m changing my name.”

“Tell me you won’t give in to him so easily on all matters of importance.”

“Here’s a secret. I didn’t give in.” I found Dante’s hand and intertwined our fingers. “I want his name. I want the world to know that he’s my husband and I’m his wife.”

Father Gallo smiled. “Son, I think you have a good one here.”

“The best,” Dante replied.

“That does it,” the priest said with a smile. “You’re officially married in the eyes of our Lord and the State of California.” He bowed his head and looked up. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Luciano.” He stood. “Now, after all that excitement, if it’s safe, I will be leaving.”

We turned to Silas, who was back inside with Jano, Mia, and Em.

“Our guards have completed a sweep of the property,” Silas said. “You’re safe to leave; however, the cars on the driveway are totaled.”

“Your rental car,” I said to Dante.

“I don’t give a fuck about the rental car.” He turned to Father Gallo. “I’ll replace your car, Father.”

“That would be very kind of you.”

“Tomorrow, you’ll have a new one.”

“New isn’t necessary.”

“New,” Jano said, entering the conversation. “Tonight, Silas will drive you back to the rectory.”

“Thank you for an eventful evening.”

Dante looked over at the large clock. “It’s officially a new day. In the morning, we will need to let your father know that you won’t be available for your engagement party.”

“Are we leaving now for Kansas City?” I asked.

“You’re staying here for the night,” Jano said. “Viviana has prepared the primary suite. Mia and I will sleep in the guest room.”

“You don’t need?—”

Jano lifted his hand. “We need some traditions to be honored.”

“Jano,” Em said with a phone to his ear. “Rei is on the phone.” He tilted his head toward Jano’s office.

Dante stood. “I’m here to help.”

Em lowered the phone. “I never expected this sentence to come out of my mouth, but tonight, you’re needed in consummating your marriage. All hell is going to break loose tomorrow. Don’t give them any reason to undo what was done tonight.”

My cheeks grew hotter with each of my brother’s instructions. It wasn’t quite like the chants of ‘bed her’ that Dante tried to shout at Dario and Catalina’s wedding, but the outcome would be the same.

Sirens blared in the distance.

“Go,” Em said, “Aléjandro will satisfy the police. No one will disturb you.”

Dante offered me his hand. “Mrs. Luciano, you heard your brother.”

As we started to walk away, I stopped. “Wait, are the upstairs windows also bulletproof?”

“Yes,” Jano replied. He lifted his eyebrows. “The room isn’t soundproof.”

I clung to Dante’s arm as we walked together toward the primary suite.