LI

you since you were a little boy. Such.. err..

choed in the near-empty

The priest questioned me. "Yes, Father,"

e strong followers of the Catholic faith; growing up, I had a profound love for the church; the grace with nuns carried themselves, the early m

with rage. As the daughter and only child of a capo, I had duties to

ost all interest. Even after he died, I couldn't bring myself to go back; it wa

eyes were warm beneath the spectacles he wore. For some

quested an immediate wedding, we will have to forgo so

." I glanced at the man who, in a matter of minutes would

no romantic expectations, emotional support, or shared personal lives. We'll maintain separate lives, you'll be my

a stranger or an arranged marri

ing me the greatest protection a Capo can give s

me, rugged face. He took my left hand and slipped the ring he pulle

all one. He squeezed mine reassuringly, and some of my unease washed away. During our drive here, he had stopped at a shopping mall for me to quickly fresh

and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for po

of uncertainty, for him to bail out

replied with

ds me, reciting the sam

and safe life in Chicago. I could even be happy again, even tho

w pronounce you, Roman and Calista, hu

of romantic intimacy between us, but we didn't think about this moment. Rom

l that would break if he didn't take care. His lips brushed mine, and I felt his hot tongue brush over my mouth, seeking entrance; my breathin

sighed, trying to get the taste of him out of my mind. He

ons Mr and Mr

ts, Roman led me down the altar. He wa

sked as he led

pmother and the Orsini boy," he said so casually we

d about seeking revenge on Ma

lass of the church, making the ends of his brown hair gleam. Roman looked at me with an alarming intensity in his am

p to his full height. At five foot eight, I was in no way a s

not. And when someone messes with my wife," he paused, a murderous gleam fla

I stuttered for

t w

ppened before

send shivers all over my body. The good kind "It doesn't matter. If I have to find ev

way across my stomach. I tried to steady my voic

the sensation spread

ston, to attend the