Vittoria's POV
Am I simply being stubborn about this documents? I don't know. But he's on the other side of the door with a slight opening between us. They say it's bad lick to see the bride before the wedding. I believe that. I don't know if he does.
"Talk to me mia amore, what's wrong? Marcella said you want to talk."
"It's about this." I slid the papers to him. Instead of him only taking the papers I felt the warmth of his hand slipping over my wrist and my hands, to the tips of my fingers as he took the documents. Sudden heat surged through me at the contact. I retracted my hand.
"What about it?" He asked.
"I think it's not necessary between us."
"This is how marriage in the upper class works. A prenup is as essential as the how's we will make."
"But I feel it says you don't trust me."
"Can you open the door please?"
"No. You're not supposed to see me before the wedding! It's bad luck."
"I don't believe in that." He gently pushed the door open. His dark blue eyes lightened up quickly when he saw me. From the hem of the beautiful gown all the way up to my eyes,he took me in with a smile. "You look beautiful Vittoria. I can't wait to marry you." He closed the door gently. "Can I steal a kiss?"
"No. Let's kiss after we are wed."
"Hmmm... it will be sweater. Won't it?"
"Yes it will." I smiled at him. He looks as good as he always looks in suits.
"Before I was born, my father was married to Maddie's mother. He got into the marriage without a prenup as much as my great grandmother insisted on it. His ex wife ended up taking almost everything he had. He lost Bale Industries. He lost everything. Ever since that terrible experience, he insists on a prenup as his standard. If you don't sign this, he will make sure there is no wedding today."
No wonder even the men marrying his daughters were asked to sign a prenup. "I see."
"It's not that I don't trust you. I trust you explicitly. I won't disrespect my father's wishes. You must sign this if we ate to proceed. If you need me to sign something, arrange for it immediately after the wedding and I'll sign it."
I took the documents from him. I walked over to the table and bet over a little to sign them. I read them and sadly, I didn't understand part of it. I'm not a lawyer but I trust him to take care of me.
When I turned to pass it to him he pressed his lips against mine. The warmth of his hands can be felt through the corseted waist of my dress. Our lips slid in perfect harmony until he had his fill. He pulled away gently.
"One more thing."
"What is it?"
"You said I dint know you. What did you mean by that?"
"You want to talk about it right now?"
"Yes. Right now."
He sighed deeply with his eyes steadily on mine. "Do you want to sit down?"
"No. I'm fine."
"Okay. My parents raised me right. They taught me the difference between right and wrong ad many parents do. But my father also taught me that sometimes, we don't play by the rules set by society. Our place in the Mafia wasn't by choice. He felt the need to make the power because our lives were at risk. He did it to protect us. His intention was always that I succeed him. But when I met Italia... I changed my mind."
"Why?"
"She lost her mother to Mafia wars. She said she won't be with me if I stay in the Mafia. My father wouldn't have it. He was angry. Nevertheless I stood my ground until she was murdered in my arms. When I lost her and my sons, I suddenly understood what my father had been telling me. We have to protect the ones we love and the only way is to be in control." He paused. "I set out on course of revenge. I took so many lives in the pursuit of revenge. My tenure as godfather was founded on blood. I was angry. Very angry. After that, maybe four or five years down the line I started to calm down. What you see is what I am when I'm calm. I'm not the same person when I am angry. This is not the godfather. I'm just Marcelle and when the Mafia is involved I'm something else entirely. I didn't want you to ever know that side of me because you are as pure as hell man beings can get. You're nothing but light and I got out of that life because I didn't want your light to be consumed by darkness. I didn't want you to change. But if anyone threatens to hurt you, I will be a monster to protect you."
I feel overwhelmed by what he has said. I wrapped my arms around him without hesitation. I want him to feel accepted and loved. He must trust me to tell me all these things.
"I'm sorry that you had to make those choices." I pulled away to hold his face in my hands. "I want you to know it doesn't change anything in me. I love you still, even more because you are honest. That's all I want. Honesty."
"I promise I'll give you nothing but honesty." We shared a brief kiss before he pulled away. "Don't take too long to marry me."
He walked by my father on his way out.
"Wow! That was honest." He sighed.
"You heard him."
"I made sure no one else would." He walked over to me. "Such purity related to such darkness and I'm not just talking about Marcelle. I'm not a saint either. But that is a story for another day. You look stunning! Absolutely stunning! The most beautiful bride this damn world has ever seen!"
"Daddy stop it. You will make my cry." I fanned my face and gave it a moment for the excitement not to spill through my eyes.
"I'm here to walk you down the aisle and flaunt you as I do it. My perfect little girl." He kissed my forehead. "I love you so much!"
"I love you too!"
"Ready? Marcelle is already down there! Hi Signor Tancredi!" Marcella cane to us. She hugged my father. He held her close.
"It looks like you are in charge today."
"Oh no! Maia and Ella are in charge." She laughed.
They seem close.
"I have known this one since she gave me a flower when I met her." My father explained it to me. "How old were you?"
"Four or five? It was right here in this house!"
"And ever since we have quite the friends, haven't we?"
"Yes we have. Are you ready?"
"Si. I am as ready as I will ever be."
"Then let's walk you down the aisle to your husband to be." E looked my arms with his.
As soon as I set foot outside the bedroom, the cameras started flashing. My right bridesmaids gathered around me and my father for the first official wedding photo.
I can feel it. It's going to be be a good day.
We continued on, out to through the back door. It's a great view of the garden where the gold chairs are gleaming in the mid morning sun. The white sheer like fabrics attached to the back of the chairs are gently floating in the light breeze. My bridesmaids and his groomsmen are walking down the aisle. With each step of distance between me and them, I can't help but feel overwhelmed. I want to run to him and get there as fast as possible. But I also would like to make this elegant and that means sticking to the rehearsal.
"Don't pass out." My father whispered. "Don't stop. Don't run away. That is all I'm asking if you. One foot after another and we will make it there."
"I'm so nervous. I think it was a bad idea to wear these shoes. What if I fall flat on my face?"
"You won't. If you do I'll fall too so that they can have double the laughter." He assured me.
I leaned against his arm, enjoying the moment of happiness. If he wasn't here, who would walk me down the aisle?
My life may not have started well but I like how well it has come together. I have my very own family and by this marriage I will be part of his. And we will have our own family.
"Who gives this young woman away?" The priest asked.
"I do." My father shook Marcelle's hand as he presented me to him. My hand rested in his with nothing but absolute assurance that it belongs there.
He led me up the three steps of the gazebo that we shall marry under. The guests are spread out in a semi-circle around the gazebo. Four neat groups. Ella must have used a ruler to space the chairs. The poor people who worked under her must be tired. But since she has a knack for planning parties, I realized that stepping back isn't so bad after all.
"It's not everyday that one loves and is loved in return. True love, reciprocated is a cause for celebration. Let's all just take a moment to recall the very first time we experienced love." He paused. Silence reigned over us. Almost everyone of our guests is married.
I first fell in love with him after he turned me down when I offered myself to him. At that moment, I couldn't believe that he would respect me like that. It opened up a lot of doubt over the decisions I had made. Decisions he wasn't part of. I ran away from my vows as a nun. I ran away towards him, eager to be part of him as I had made him part of me. I'm happy I did because I can't imagine anywhere else I would rather be.
"Now that is the smile of everyone in love." He noted the audience as well as Marcelle and I. He squeezed my hands. "Marcelle, in honour of age, I will start with you. You have the advantage of experience in this matter. You have much to bring to the table. You have much to offer your young bride as she has much to learn from you. Your role as a husband is to protect. It's to provide. It's to love and honor this woman in front of you. It's to be the head of the family in honor as well as love. Vittoria, I'm find of letting those who are getting married know that what a woman needs is to be loved, something Marcelle obviously does. But what a man needs even more than love is to be respected. It's all in the little things from how you speak to him to how you treat him. I have no doubt that it won't be difficult for you because Marcelle will hold you in great honor. I was instructed not to bore Marianna to death."
We burst out laughing. She is leaning on Reli's arm, waving at everyone.
"She doesn't want to die today and steal all the attention from you two. In honor of the kind request, let's get to the vows. Marcelle,once again, you're first."
"You asked me to love you forever." He began. "Forever sounds like a long time for those who are in a hurry. For me, it will be like a blink of the eye. In my lowest moments, you were there. At my worst,you understood and forgave me. And it makes sense to share my best with you and I want to do it for the rest of my waking life. I will love you forever Vittoria. Please have me. Please accept my affection and my boundless love for you. Accept me with all my flaws and all my ambitions for our love."
"Marcelle..." I paused. "Si. How can I not accept you? It would be like refusing to breathe. You are the essence of my soul. The heartbeat that I depend on to live. You are the warm embrace on a cold night as well as the shelter from my storms. We have gone against expectations to be here today. We have proved that our love is true. I love you. I breathe you. I will love you forever."
They broke into applause. His eyes gleamed just a little.
Ethan presented the rings to us. I took his and he took mine. Marcella gently pulled the elbow length glove off my left hand. Marcelle took my hand. "Vittoria, accept this ring as a sign of my devoted love to you. Accept it as a promise to you that I will love you until my last breath. With this ring, I wed."
The sparkling gold band tested at the base of my finger. I think I'm almost at the brink of tears. How can I not cry when this day is the day of my dreams?
"Marcelle, accept this ring as a sign of my eternal love for you. Accept it as a promise that from this day on, my love will get stronger and stronger. With this ring, I wed." I slid his ring on and with that, tears pooled into my eyes.
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Marcelle, you may kiss your bride."
When he lifted the veil off and he kissed me, my tears fell. They could not be restrained anymore. He kept kissing me as the applause broke all around us. He drew me into his arms , bringing his lips to my cheek and then finally whispering into my ear. "Don't cry bambina. You belong to me now."
I glanced die. At the ring on my hand. He used his thumbs to dry my eyes.
"As you are mine." I sighed. "A dream come true. You are my husband."
He pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
I have had many dreams but none have come true like this. This unfolded beautifully.
Marcelle's POV