Chapter 127

My hands are twisted anxiously together in the back seat of the car when Nico pulls up to the gates of the Romano house.

“Stop that!” Lucy whispers, reaching over to smack my hands. “You look amazing! It’s all going to be fine!”

I roll my eyes a little at her, not believing it. “You can dress me up head to toe in Prada all you want, Luce,” I murmur. “It doesn’t at all change the fact that I’m completely out of my element.”

Nico surprises me by chiming in.

“Can’t think like that, Bambs,” he says, glancing over his shoulder at me and Lucy gathered together in the back seat. “Born to it or not, you are a part of this world – Christian made that certain. You’re a Donna now – you define the title, not the other way around.”

My spine straightens a little at this unexpected encouragement and I meet Nico’s eyes in the rear-view mirror as the gates open and he pulls through. “If you don’t believe it, no one will,” he says. “Can’t walk amongst the lions if you fear them. You have to go in believing you’re their equal”

“What proverb is that?” I murmur, a little taken aback by the unexpected wisdom.

“Nico, 6:42,” Lucy says, glancing at the clock on the dashboard. I laugh, grinning at her, grateful for her high spirits.

My heart soars, though, as Nico pulls the car to a stop and I spot Christian out in front of the house, clearly waiting for us, with Frankie by his side. We split up today – Nico and Lucy taking me shopping while Christian and Frankie did…well, whatever it is that mob bosses and their bodyguards do.

One day, maybe I’ll figure that out.

Eager, I push my door open and move to step out, but Christian’s hand is already there in front of me, palm up. I laugh a little, putting my fingers delicately in his hand and letting him help me.

“Hello, darling wife,” he murmurs, and I laugh again as I beam up into his face.

“Hello, husband,” I say, flushing with pleasure at being able to say that. Husband. Husband. God, it still feels like a game we were playing at the beach house, like it wasn’t real. But here he is, bringing me home to his family, wearing his ring.

“Let me see,” Christian says, stepping back and looking my outfit up and down.

I open my new black coat a little so that Christian can see the crystallized beige and cream fabric of my stunning dress, shapeless and modern over tall, buttery brown boots. I’ve got a gorgeous set of gold jewelry too, which Lucy picked out and insisted was perfect. But when I’d seen the price tag, I’d laughed, thinking it was a joke. When Lucy looked at me like she didn’t understand, I’d felt physically ill.

“They spent so much money, Chris,” I murmur, dropping the coat and stepping closer, looking anxiously over at Nico and Lucy, who talk quietly with Frankie, filling him in on the day. “It’s…it’s way too much. Like, there’s more in the trunk -”

Christian just smirks at me, taking my chin in his hands and looking at me with his dark blue eyes. “It’s’ just enough. You look amazing – and there’s no such thing as too much money, not for you.”

I blush even as I roll my eyes, thinking that that’s a ridiculous statement. But Christian just laughs again and drops my chin, wrapping his arm around my waist instead. Together, we turn towards the rest of our group. “Where’s Tony?” I ask, my voice soft.

“Inside,” Christian replies, lifting his chin towards the house. “Buttering dad up.”

I grimace. “Does he need to be buttered?”

“Yes,” Frankie replies, smirking over at me and hopping into the conversation naturally. “Yes, he absolutely does. Especially as I miraculously disappeared from his house and then waltzed right up like there’s no problem at all. I’d say that butter is probably the least he’s going to need right now. We’re might need some serious Vaseline. Maybe WD40.”

I laugh a little, grinning at him even though the situation itself is anything but funny. He smiles back, his eyes flicking down over my outfit and then back up to mine, his smile growing as he nods to let me know he likes my outfit. I grin back, genuinely pleased, because if Frankie actually didn’t like it he wouldn’t say anything, would he?

Frankie – he’s honest like that. And I’m very grateful for him in my life.

“Ready?” Nico asks, straightening his tie and then flicking a piece of lint off of Christian’s dark suit.

“As we’ll ever be!” Lucy says, giving him a pretty smile as she wraps her arm around Nico’s, ready to be escorted inside.

Christian looks around at all of us one more time before giving a steady nod and starting towards the door, taking me with him up and into his father’s house.

I exhale slowly as we pass over the threshold, doing my best to square my shoulders and hold my chin high. I’ve been here before, of course – but it was a completely different capacity then. This time, I’m here as Christian’s wife. And I imagine that it is going to be…quite a different experience.

The other three in our party follow in after us and the happy shrieks of children fill the house as Frankie pulls the door shut after him. The sound of kids slapping footsteps fills the foyer and I’ve barely got my coat off before the boy and the girl I saw the last time I was here – Ricky and Bella – come flying into the room and throw themselves at Christian’s legs.

“Whoa!” he says, laughing, a hand going to each of their heads even as he stumbles backwards. “Careful, little bulldozers!”

“Uncle Cris!” the girl says, tugging hard on his suitcoat. “Can I have a hundred dollars? I need to buy a new game – you can Venmo me – mom says I can’t but if you give it to me –“

“Crissss,” Ricky moans, his voice drowning out his sister’s as he pushes her aside. “Why were you away so long? Don’t give her any money – she just wastes it –“

The two kids start to bicker, loud, and I just stand very still, staring at them, completely unused to children – especially two this…vocal.

“Enough!” Christian says, raising his voice over theirs and clapping his hands twice as Nico takes my coat and Lucy’s, hanging them in the closet by the door. “Bella, Ricky, behave yourselves. Have you said hello to your aunt?”

He gestures to me, but their eyes go immediately to Lucy.

“Hi, Lucy,” Bella says sweetly, letting go of Christian’s leg to skitter over to Lucy, who bends down to give her a kiss on the sticky cheek.

“Lucy’s not our aunt yet,” Ricky says, stepping away from Christian and folding his arms with a frown, clearly insisting on the minute details of the situation.

“No, she’s not,” Christian replies, folding his own arms and smirking down at the boy. “But Iris is.”

Ricky’s eyes go wide and Bella snaps her head back to us. “What!?” Bella gasps, looking from Christian to me with wide eyes. Ricky stares at me in shock before his face switches to instant fury, turning red faster than I thought was possible. He growls and stomps his foot.

“You got married!?” Ricky shouts, sounding livid about it.

My own eyes go wide and I take a step back, not sure what the hell is happening. Or if the little boy is going to…hit me, or something.

“Christian!” Ricky shouts again, tears in his voice. “You said I could be ring bearer!”

“Where’s Violetta?” Bella asks, her face wrinkling in confusion.

“You promised!” Ricky shouts.

“Oh my god,” Nico sighs, coming forward and clapping a hand on Christian’s shoulder. “Did you have to do this in here? The foyer…echoes.” He looks around at the walls, off of which the children’s voices are indeed rebounding.

“You’re right,” Christian sighs, rolling his eyes as Ricky bursts into angry tears and Bella just stares at me, confused. “Everyone in! In in in!” He shoos the children towards the main part of the house and, feeling awkward, I follow.

Because, I mean, I thought the children would at least take the news of our marriage well.

But if this is how we’re starting?

“Mommmmm!” Bella shouts, turning and running into the house, Ricky close on her tail as he wipes furiously at his tears. “Mom! Uncle Cristian is here saying some lady is his wife!”

“Oh my god,” Christian groans, grabbing my hand and picking up his pace after the kids, clearly wanting to manage this situation.