Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

Epilogue

Dante

Three months later…

“ N ervous?” my best friend drawls, dragging my attention to him.

It's my wedding day.

And we are currently in the backyard of the Marchetti estate, waiting at the makeshift altar for my wife and her bridal party. On either side of the aisle sits our closest family and friends. It’s a small gathering but exactly what we wanted.

I snort. “No. Allegra is already my wife. Remember?”

Nico chuckles, shaking his head. He cocks a brow, amusement lacing his tone when he speaks. “How could I forget. I’m still traumatized from walking in on you…” he trails off, his face scrunching up in disgust. “Calling her your wife as you did ungodly things to my little sister.”

“I am quite sure you do the same and worst to your wife,” I shoot back.

He narrows his eyes, a feral, manic look in them at the mention of Ocean. “Best friend or not, I won’t hesitate to kill you if you mention my wife and sex in the same sentence ever again.”

Matteo laughs, and I can’t help following suit. Jesus Christ, the man is over the top possessive. I mean, I get it. I feel the same toward Allegra. But I’m not as irrational as Nico.

“Ocean deserves a reward really. I really don’t know how she manages your brand of unhinged,” I drawl sardonically.

Nico smirks, looking toward the window of the room he knows his wife is currently occupying. “She manages it very well.”

“How is she feeling?” I ask, changing the subject.

Nico sighs, running a hand through his hair, a faraway look on his face. “Exhausted. Sofia’s colic has been hard,” he says, talking about his three-month-old daughter. “But she is finally through the worst of it.”

I nod.

Seeing Nico with his children, brought out a side of me I didn’t realize I had.

The need to breed Allegra is strong and these past couple months I have been trying my best to knock her up. It worked. Not that anyone is aware yet, but my wife is six weeks pregnant. We haven’t told our family because we don’t want the news to detract from our wedding.

As much as Allegra argued that we didn’t need another ceremony, I knew doing it this way means a lot to her. I want to give my principessa the world. Because she deserves it.

“That’s good then.” I reply after a long minute.

Nico claps me on the shoulder. “Yeah. There is nothing worse than seeing my little principessa in pain.” He eyes me. “It will be your turn next.”

Keeping my body relaxed, and my face neutral, I search Nic’s face. Does he know? Can he see that I am hiding something from him? Nah. There is no way.

“Yeah,” I smile.

Before he can say anything else, the music signaling the start of the wedding begins. I spot the wedding coordinator, clipboard in one hand as she waves the other one in the air, her lips moving as she speaks to someone hidden out of view.

Just then, Athena, my wife’s annoying best friend, steps out of the sliding doors, followed by Ocean, who carries Sofia in one arm while holding her son Romeo’s hand in her free one.

Ocean, and Athena, both bridesmaids, wear pale blue dresses, while Sofia wears a little white dress with pale blue ribbon and Romeo, God love him, wears a tuxedo matching mine. He holds what looks to be a wooden plaque in his free hand, but I can’t read what it says from here.

A throat clears, before Nico states the obvious. “Here we go.”

Glancing over at him, I find his gaze locked on his wife, a possessive look in his eyes as he watches his family. Ocean squats down, getting eye level with her son, her mouth moving as she smiles at him.

The little boy nods, a look of determination on his face when he faces us. He looks to his papà, his face and eyes lighting up in delight when he spots Nico.

“Papà,” he calls, then starts toward us.

The guests chuckle, watching him. My gaze drops to the small, rectangle board in his chubby hands, emotion clogging my throat when I read the words.

Zio Dante, Zia Allegra is coming for you.

Ocean and Athena trail behind Romeo, slowing their walk so as not to beat Romeo to us. When he makes it to the altar, Nico lifts him in his arms, kissing his cheek.

“Well done mia figlio .”

Romeo giggles, squirming in Nico’s arms to face me. He holds up the sign, a look of pride on his small face. “Zia Leg, coming.”

I laugh, chucking his chin. “Thank you, Romeo.”

Nico steps forward, closing the distance between him and his wife, and pulling her into his arms. He presses a kiss to Sofia’s head, before brushing his lips against Ocean’s.

“You look exquisite, Tesoro, ” he breathes softly.

The love that radiates from them is tangible and reminiscent of how I feel about Allegra.

Ocean chuckles, pulling out of his hold. “Behave,” she warns. “This is your sister and Dante’s day.”

“Never,” Nico growls. “Do I need to remind you that you signed a contract to say that I can touch you where and when I want?” he raises a brow.

Ocean rolls her eyes. “No. But today is not about us.”

She steps back, just as Athena moves into place. I don’t miss the way her gaze lands and stays on Matteo, eyeing him lasciviously. I glance at him, amusement rising inside me when I find him glaring at her as if she is an annoying fly. Biting back a laugh, I shake my head. Athena is going to have her work cut out there.

Everyone else is forgotten when all the hair on the back of my neck raises in awareness, my body going on high alert, blood heating my veins. She is here.

Glancing up, my eyes meet the most gorgeous ocean blue ones. Allegra smiles shyly and my heart beats to life in my chest as she walks toward me with Valentina by her side.

With my patience snapping, I move toward her without even realizing what I am doing. Allegra laughs along with every one of our other guests at my impatience. Reaching her, I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close. My forehead presses to hers as I breathe her in.

“Are you ready for forever, Mrs. Vitale?”

The corner of her mouth tips up. “Forever started the first time you married me. Today is about celebrating our love with our family and friends. Now take me to the altar and get your ring back on my finger.”

Smiling, I do just that.

For the woman who is and will always be my light.

Once again, I make her mine forever.