*Vincenzo's POV*
The Del Toro's crest was engraved on my cufflinks. It was sewn into the collar of my dress shirt and intricately embroidered with a bull head on my handkerchief.
For the life of me,I could swear are billboards with less advertisements on them.
There's little difference between slave branding and Del Toro branding,everyone had a tattoo of the crest scarred on you even before you were a teen,some people accept their destiny,some still stare at it with disgust decades later.
I inhaled chill air into my lungs and pulled the crocodile leather coat over my shoulders. My tired reflection stared back mockingly.
Two days out of post and a random investigation spree in the countryside that may have been influenced by my strikingly poor inability to comfort a broken woman,and an even more pathetic coping mechanism to deal with this disability.
If I wasn't there at all,no mistakes could be made.
See? Safe.
Either way,in a few hours,we'll be wed and she'll finally be mine but knowing how fate usually played in my favour.
Something was going to try to stop this.
Key word 'try'.
Anyone foolish enough to ruin this will have a joint ceremony event with their funeral in the same hall.
The invited were a carefully selected hundred attendants…some Hidalgos,some Del Toros and witnesses who needed to know she was under new protection.
Not all of them were allies,so the security was so tight that Zane joked that Presidents did less for their convocation.
My phone chimed out a notification so I went to give it my attention.
The message video footage of Luca being transported only lasted six seconds,he was still bound,noticeably dehydrated but a defiant hope was starting to ignite in his eyes.
A hope he didn't deserve to have,a life he didn't deserve to live.
I shut the phone and drew in another long breath.I cannot afford to be enraged today,especially not by a defeated coward in a moving vehicle away from us…I had won already.
After a long stare at the maple wardrobe,I loaded my gun and shoved it on me,the familiar metallic cold sat perfectly in place,anchoring me.
It's always wise to have a gun with you just in case breathing exercises don't work.
*Evangeline's POV*
"Oh my God!"Deena yelled.
I glanced out of the dressing room only to find her emerging with a black dress in her hand.
Her hands shook violently as she stared between me and the dress.
"What is this?"
I stood up from the makeup chair and gently accepted my wedding dress from her,my face beaming with satisfaction.The dress was gorgeous,it was almost impossible to imagine that such intricate art work was done in such a short period. It's exactly what I wanted.
"Evangeline."
I glanced at Deena's with a ready smile.
"What is this?"she repeats.
"Well,"I began with a demonstration."This is a lace fabric a-line silhouette–"
"Where is your wedding dress?"
I stared at the dress in my hand,feigning total ignorance.
"I don't understand,don't you like it?"
"It's black!"she screamed,veins popping on her head. "We have to be at the church in two hours,we can not have you walking to the altar a black dress."
And this special inconvenience was exactly why I asked for it to be delivered today.
"And why not?"I shrugged, handing the dress to one of the servants to return to the make-up chair."Isn't it my husband-to -be favourite colour?"
Her glare was hot enough to rival the sun. She rampaged the room for her phone and began to dial frantically.
"I'm in mourning."I said calmly, watching her"The dress is an honour to my father."
"Yes,but it's a wedding…"she fumed,"you can honour for the rest of your life but cannot wear black to your own wedding."
"I can and I will."
"It is not proper."
"Well that's what I want to do."
"I'm not allowing that."
I stopped the make-up artist's brush from touching my cheek so I could fully turn to her.
"And who said you had a say?"
Deena's brows softened and she slowly raised the phone down.
"I'm not trying to intrude on your choices."
"Then don't."I retorted and turned back so the make-up artist could finish my look.
Maybe I was a bit mean,maybe.
But sometimes being mean is good,today is one of those times. For far too long I had been controlled,told–ordered around while my feelings were shoved down my throat.
A series of offenses that has led my life into this very moment,I cannot just simply stroll to my life accepting whatever was thrown at me. It is my life and I should have the power to control it.
The dress marks the beginning of that power claim and whether it hurts Deena's feelings or not,the show must go on.
After a very silent hour of make-up,dressing,and styling–we were ready to head to the church.
My blood red dahlias in one hand,my unsigned contract in the other and a vintage white Lincoln Capri for transport,I was ready to go to the cathedral.
I swallowed the fog of fear clouding up my chest and tried to focus on today,I had already prayed for strength and insisted that my rosary remained perched on my neck but the unsettling dread of reality was beginning to eat at me.
It was alright to think,make plans and loathe someone when they weren't there and it was another thing entirely to be in the same space and them and try not to get consumed into an orbit.
It doesn't help either that I had a dream of him last night and let's just say those are not appropriate dreams to conjure over someone you suspected of two murders over people you love.
My gloved grip tightened on my contract like a life-line,this was me…this was my security. This was all I had.
The car unfortunately came to a stop and another wave of panic hit me. I had imagined when I got cold feet with Luca,there would be his sisters or someone who stood as my bridesmaid to help comfort me.
I had never imagined these would be the circumstances…that my life will be over heels and so out of my control,that I would be wearing a black dress to my wedding of all things!
"Are you alright?"Deena asked,resting her hand on my shoulder,as the other frantically fanned.
I realised my breath had fastened a bit and slowly got it back on track.
"I'm fine."I nodded as the chauffeur pulled the door open.
My heart softened a bit at her still worried face,I may be complaining about not having anyone here with me but I had Deena,and she was amazing–pushy but amazing nonetheless.
At this rate,her job was to be my friend,she shouldn't be on the receiving end of my newly acclaimed temper.
"Thank you."I smiled.
She returned the smile with a knowing look."It's alright."
"And I'm sorry,"I added.
"It's okay,it's your day anyway,you could pick the dress you want."
"I'm not apologising about the dress." I answered and got out of the car without further clarification.
I walked carefully on the cobblestone leading to the church doors with my shoulders tall and chin in the air,my gaze on the flower.
This wedding might have been orchestrated by Vincenzo but this marriage will be on my terms.
Every single thing from this moment on will be my control.
The first low pull of the cello vibrated in my eardrums, a mournful, deep-chested 'Ave Maria' that seemed to turn the church's oxygen into lead.
I braced myself as the heavy oak doors were slowly drawn open,and quite immediately,the gentle gasps of the female attendants reached my ears,sending an unusually satisfying thrill to my spine.
When I finally lifted my gaze,it was sent to the altar,where the pope stood but most importantly,where Vincenzo stood.
His forever sharp gaze caught mine with an unreadable expression that threatened to literally shrink me to sand. I pushed through the feeling and maintained eye contact.
Deena extended her hand discreetly for the contract I was still holding but I ignored her.
A few deliberate seconds passed with me still rooted in place.
With everyone waiting and the choir's song still at its peak. This would have the perfect time to start my walk to the altar.
Would have.
A panicked Deena stared at me from the sidelines as the murmurs were beginning to arise.
"Evangeline," she whispered her yell. "What are you doing?"
"Let Vincenzo know we have unfinished business,"I replied. "I'm not getting on that altar until my contract is signed and I have concrete proof that Luca is safe.