Vincenzo's words reverberating wit

arly collapsed. Nearly, because, in a cruel twist of irony,

e it abundantly clear, one fina

her at the altar with the assurance of a victor who knew the battle was won.

silent cry for rescue, a last plea

she knew. There was only one possible answer

a force that clung to the illusion he could still shield her from the inevitable. "You

s tone unshaken as he reached for his

, his eyes ablaze, hatred spilling over as he

lfonso and Vincenzo, her trembling body a human shield. "He has Giuliano.

ered on the trigger, and for a moment,

, her voice thick, nearly choking as s

e motion. His eyes bore into Vincenzo like daggers. "You can turn this place into hel

le carving his lips like a scar. "But know this-there'll

un with the same calm as one folding a winning hand. T

r years away, it took mere minutes

he Lucchese blood, still skulked lik

did, none would dare strike him

power, the perfect justification to light the fuse of a

his voice low, sharp, almost bored, as if

weeping the garden, searchin

-the man she'd been with for six months, t

dull blow. Deep down, she might have clung to a flick

me hollow silence as always, a

never be a real man. Not in the face of

fore him with eyes brimming and a soul in shards. "I can do this. I need your bl

clared, lifting his daughter's face with a gentle touch, as if he could shield her wit

whether you approve or not. Because all you've got are words, and if I may be frank, I'd prefer bullets." He tugged Vittoria back to the

ible as she positioned herself at the altar with slow, deliberat

st began, his voice wavering in the stifling atmospher

d impatient, as if directing a business deal rather than a ce

as your lawful husband? Do you vow to honor, protect, and be faith

ast time, searching for a shred of cer

ith the man before her, who no longer seeme

her voice thick with a

nds trembled, but she stood

inside, she refused to break. No matter what

n as your lawful wife? Do you vow to honor, protect, and be fai

triumphant smile curved his lips-cold, satisfied, as if

clared, his voice thick, nearly choked by the tension hanging in the air. "You may kiss the bride," he

futable command, Vinc

irmness, and in that instant, her body reacted,

lowed no

man who didn't ask-he took. The gesture

ontrol. It was a kiss of dominion,

l signature on a

le-as if, in that moment, everything that w

d in her ear, his smile slow and dangerous, as if the