Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 591(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
I shook my head and scanned the stern male faces staring back at me.
Soon after Sebastian had entered the room, Matteo followed with a priest and Lucia.
At first, I didn’t register the priest, too intent on speaking with Lucia. “I’m so very sorry for the unforgivable way I behaved. You have every right to hate me.”
She laughed and brushed me off. “It’s fine. Really. Amara explained it all to me. I think it was exciting to be part of your…“ She lowered her voice and glanced around conspiratorially. “Secret cover.”
“That is very sweet of you.”
Even as I said it, a lead ball formed in my stomach. All the Cavalieris and even their staff were being so freaking nice to me and all I had done was bring grief and misfortune to their doorstep.
My face crumpled as a deep, aching sadness dropped over me, suffocating me.
Matteo rushed forward. “I know that face. Stop it. None of this was your fault.”
I sniffed. “Fino said if I told anyone he’d—”
“Exactly. Fino said. These are his and his bosses' actions, not yours.”
Swiping at my tears, I tried to reason with him. “But I lied to you, to your family. I—”
“You had your reasons… and now so do I.”
He stepped aside and gestured for the priest to step forward. “This is Father Luca.”
I nodded. “Hello, Father.”
Matteo stared down at me so intently, an unease settled in my chest.
Looking between them, I asked, “What’s going on?”
Matteo clasped his hands around mine and took a deep breath. “Father Luca is going to marry us.”
My eyes widened. “Are you crazy?”
“This is happening, Ella. It’s for your own safety.”
I broke his hold and gestured wildly toward the windows and the somber aftermath of the fire. “We can’t get married. Alfonso just—” My throat closed, and I couldn’t finish my sentence as my vision blurred.
“That is precisely why. And trust me, Alfonso would be the first person to agree with me. It’s the only way to fully protect you from what is about to happen.”
Turning to Father Luca, I pleaded, “You can’t possibly agree with this.”
He gripped his Bible more firmly to his chest. “That depends. Have you and Matteo engaged in any…” he raised his eyebrow, “extramarital relations?”
My cheeks burned as I lowered my gaze. Lying was one thing. Lying to a priest was another.
I tried another tack. “This can’t possibly be legal. There are forms, a license.”
Matteo tossed a question over his shoulder. “Father, in the eyes of God, would we be married?”
“Yes, son. God’s law is above man’s.”
He nodded. “That’s good enough for me. We’ll worry about the government paperwork later. All your family needs to know is that the marriage is binding and since we’ve already consummated—”
I covered his mouth with my hand as my cheeks burned brighter. “Don’t you dare,” I whispered.
He spoke against my palm, tickling my skin. “Then you better say yes.”
I pulled my hand away, shaking my head. “You know I can’t.”
He turned to Father Luca. “Father Luca, what is the Church’s opinion on shower anal—”
“Oh my God! Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you. Just stop talking!”
Father Luca’s face burned almost as brightly as mine as he cleared his throat. “Very good. Will the witnesses stand behind the couple, please.”
Lucia called out. “Wait!” With that she ran from the room and soon returned holding a large bunch of pale blue hydrangeas.
She wiped the stems off on her dress before handing them to me. “I pulled them from a vase in the hall. Every bride needs a bouquet.”
Holding my makeshift bouquet in one hand and the rolled-down waist of Matteo’s sweatpants in the other, I stood with Matteo before Father Luca.
We were married.
I was now Matteo’s wife.
His wife.
And all hell was going to break loose when my family found out.
Matteo swooped me into his arms before kissing me hard on the mouth. Everything and everyone faded into the background as I lost myself in his kiss.
Lucia broke the spell. “Throw the bouquet.”
I tossed her the bouquet as Matteo thanked Father Luca and Sebastian before he carried me out of the room.
It was surreal.
Less than thirty minutes after leaving it, I was back in Matteo’s bed under the slightly damp covers. “You can’t expect me to take a nap now! After everything that just happened.”
He tapped the tip of my nose. “I can and I do.”
“But I should be down there helping at least.”
“Everything is being handled. You are a target, and I won’t have you wandering around out in the open with so many strangers on the grounds.”
“But—”
“No buts. I’m going down to help now. You rest. That’s an order.”
He gave me another quick kiss before closing the drapes, enveloping the room in darkness. “Sleep.”
He closed the door softly behind him.
My last thought was there was absolutely no way I was going to be able to sleep under the circumstances—right before exhaustion overtook me.