Forbidden Temptations (Tempted Series Book 2) (42 page)

The earring fell from her hands, her lips parted but she remained silent. I knelt down, picked up the earring, and held it out to her.

“It would be like having a piece of him with you when you walk down the aisle.” I closed her palm so she held the earring and took her other hand. “And then you could hand them down to our daughter and tell her all about her grandpa.”

I didn’t forgive Victor for everything he had done but I let it go because in the end, when it mattered, he gave me back all he had taken from me. Tears slid down her cheeks and I couldn’t help but think she was even beautiful when she cried but maybe that was because they were tears of joy and not sadness. The sad look that lived in her eyes was gone and now replaced by hope.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I had bought all those years ago and heard her sobbing as she watched me

“Don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry anymore,” I said, sincerely. “I will spend the rest of my life making up for all those tears you shed. All you gotta do is say yes. Just say yes.”

She took a breath and giggled. “You didn’t ask me anything yet.”

I squeezed her hand, hiding my grin. “Marry me, Reese’s.”

“Still not a question,” she said, and then whispered the words I used to tell myself I would never hear. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she smiled widely, falling to her knees before me and wrapping her arms around my neck. I closed my eyes and took her body into my arms, holding her close.

“I love you, Adrianna,” I whispered against her ear. “Thank you for fighting for me, even when I made it impossible.”

She pulled back, our eyes meeting before she leaned her forehead against mine. “I’ll always fight for you because nobody will ever love me like you do.”

The End

“Why are you so damn calm?” Mike asked, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror I stood in front of. I raised an eyebrow at him as he wiped the sweat from his brow then turned around and grabbed my suit jacket, shrugging it onto my shoulders.

“No reason not to be,” I said, buttoning one button of the jacket. I reached for the tie that was out on the bed, held it in my hand, and contemplated whether I should wear it. I tossed it back on the bed and unbuttoned the top two buttons of my dress shirt before glancing back at myself in the mirror.

“Oh, okay,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Of course it isn’t because you’re about to get hitched. Did you ever hear the term ball and chain?” He paused, frowning in deep thought. “Are chains a sore subject?”

“Depends on who chains who I suppose,” I replied, turning around and patting him on the shoulder and treating him to a rare smile. “Relax, Mike it’s all good.” He looked at me blankly.
     
“You have the rings right?”

“The rings? What rings?”

My eyes narrowed into thin slits as I stared at him trying to hold back my temper. He flashed me a smile and winked.

“Just kidding,” he patted his suit pocket. “I got the bling.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and loosened the death grip I hadn’t realized I had on Mike’s shoulder.

“Don’t fuck with a man on his wedding day,” I grunted.

“There’s my grumpy friend I love!” He smiled widely, smacking me on the back. “I miss your brooding ways!”

I peeled his fingers from my suit, rotated my shoulders, and straightened up. “I would have the best man that gets a kick out of fucking with me,” I muttered.

“You love me, stop it! I bet when Adrianna has a ‘headache’ you miss the days of me being your roomie.”

“Adrianna doesn’t get headaches,” I say smugly. There were perks to be had from spending so much time apart; you get a chance to make up for lost time.

“All kidding aside, I’m happy for you,” he said sincerely, forcing me to turn around and meet his gaze. “It took a long time getting here but I’m glad it did. It allowed me not to miss out on standing beside you when you take Adrianna as your wife.”

“Everything happens for a reason, Mike,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here too. Real glad.”

We were interrupted by a knock on the hotel room door.

“Who is it God dammit!” Mike hollered. “We were in the middle of a moment here,” he mumbled a stream of curses as he walked towards the door and pulled it open. “Who the hell are you?” Mike asked.

I stepped around Mike and glanced at the man on the other end.

“Jarvis? What’re you doing here?” I asked Vic’s lawyer. I clenched my fists at my sides as I stared at him, baffled as to what had brought this man to Mexico. Nothing good ever came from a visit with your lawyer, especially on the day of your wedding. That was in another country.

“You know this clown?” Mike asked, looking over his shoulder, sticking his thumb towards Mr. Jarvis.

“He’s Vic’s attorney.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Mike turned around and glared at him. “We’re in the middle of a wedding here.”

“I need a moment of Mr. Bianci’s time.”

Mike glanced back at me. “You okay with that?”

“It’s fine,” I said, motioning for Mr. Jarvis to come inside. He made his way into my hotel room, towards the small table overlooking the ocean and set his briefcase on top of it, popping it open. He pulled out a folder, opened it, and handed me the papers.

My eyes drifted down to the papers then back to his eyes.

“What’s this?”

“A gift from your father-in-law,” he replied.

I stared at him momentarily, shocked and caught off guard. I snapped out of it and studied the papers. The first page was a note from Vic.

Anthony,

My sincerest congratulations on your wedding. I wish you and my daughter nothing but a lifetime of happiness. I know you will take good care of my little girl. You’ll treat her, as she always deserved to be treated.

I never thought the day would come where I would want to thank you for loving her but, here we are and I’m not sure how to go about doing so. Please accept the deed to the Long Island house as gratitude for the love you give my daughter, our girl.

It’s a nice place to take your family, a great place to make memories, and it’s my gift to you.

All my love,

Vic

I flipped the page and stared at the transfer paper that legally entitled Adrianna and me to the house she loved. It was a house full of her fondest memories with a promise to make even more with our own family.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” I whispered.

I stared at the envelope that my father’s lawyer had dropped off moments ago, trying to find the courage to open it and read it.

“Do you want me to read it to you?” My sister asked softly behind me.

I turned around, my eyes found hers and I handed her the envelope. “Please?”

She nodded, taking the envelope from my hand and opening it, unfolding the pages carefully.

Dear Adrianna,

I’m sitting here, trying to wrap my head around you getting married. It’s so hard for me because even though you’ve grown into such a beautiful woman, I still look at you and see the little girl who stole my heart. I know you might find it hard to believe but it’s true. You’ll always be my little girl.

I think about you, my sweet Adrianna and I remember the girl who would run to me whenever I walked through the door. You’d smile up at me and no matter how grim my day had been you brought joy to my life.

I wish I were there to walk you down the aisle. I don’t even know if you would’ve wanted me to but still I would’ve been honored to give you a way to Anthony. A part of me thinks that it would’ve been redemption for tearing the both of you apart.

I’ll be thinking of you today and when I go to sleep, I’ll dream of the dance we would have shared today. I love you, Adrianna. Please never doubt that.

All my love,

Daddy

Nikki folded the letter, lifted her eyes to mine, and she reached out and brushed away my tears.

“Don’t cry you’ll mess your make up,” she whispered, sniffling a little herself.

“I wish he was here,” I said hoarsely. How crazy is that? If someone would’ve told me six months ago that I’d miss my father, I’d tell them they were crazy. When I was a little girl I used to dream of my wedding, and my dad was always there walking me to my prince charming. I guess that’s when I believed life was made up of fairytales. It took a long time, a lot of heartache, to understand that life isn’t about fairytales but that sometimes, the lucky ones still find their happily ever after.

I’m one of the lucky ones. Mine and Anthony’s story was anything but a fairytale, but after everything we had gone through, we found our happy ending.

I kept my eyes glued to the other end of the white runner that had been laid upon the sand, waiting for the first glimpse of my wife.

Wife. It sounded strange, but it felt right. I gave up on this day a long time ago, and if she hadn’t given up on me, we probably wouldn’t be here today. I’ll always be grateful for that.

The music sounded, and she appeared, taking my breath away instantly. She was always the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on but she made a stunning bride. My bride.

I glanced at her side and saw the person who was giving her to me, the one giving me permission, to love and cherish her for all the days of my life. The pair made their way down the aisle and I anxiously met them half way unable to wait any longer. I leaned forward and pressed my lips quickly to hers before bending down and lifting my son into my arms.

“You ready bud?” I asked Luca, kissing his cheek.

“Yep!” He said, wrapping one arm around my neck.

I held him with one hand and laced my other hand with my bride’s, escorting her to the priest waiting for us. The priest smiled knowingly at Luca before asking him a very important question.

“Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?” The priest asked.

I glanced at Adrianna, smiled at her before we both looked at Luca as he raised his hand.

“I do!” He shouted.

The Tempted Series:

Illicit Temptations (Book One) *can be read as standalone*

Blurb

Michael Valente

My father was the underboss of an organized crime family. He was murdered when I was a teenager leaving me broken. My mother died in a tragic accident, her death annihilated me. My life was in shambles until Victor Pastore, one of New York’s most notorious gangsters and my late father’s best friend, recruited me to work for him.

Everyone expected me to walk in my father’s shadow, to be the prodigal son, the next big thing to hit the mob. I was torn between filling those expectations and walking the straight line my mother wished I had. Nothing made sense and I felt as if I was just passing through life.

The only beacon of light in my otherwise dark world was the one girl that was off limits to me. The one girl who could bring me to my knees consuming my mind, body and soul.

She’s the sweetest temptation I’ve ever known and the most illicit.

Nikki Pastore

My father’s a gangster. My boyfriend’s is the king of New York’s night clubs. I am often labeled as Vic’s daughter or Rico’s girl, never just Nikki. I struggle for people to acknowledge me for the woman I am and not for the men in my life. I’m fighting a losing battle.