ALEX
Everything was falling into place. I had the love of an incredible man, a baby growing in my belly, and a family that would do anything to protect me. The Knights had done everything in their power to get me back. And I was forever thankful for their loyalty.
The doctor drew my blood and performed an ultrasound at the house.
He confirmed I was six weeks pregnant, which meant the baby could be Luca’s or Marcello’s.
I was thankful for the new technology that would allow us to do a paternity test in a few weeks, a non-invasive approach that could determine which brother fathered the child.
I wished we had known before the wedding, but as I stepped into my gown and looked into the mirror, I realized it didn’t matter. Luca and Marcello were closer than ever. They could handle the outcome, and so could I.
I prayed Luca was the father. It would tear him up inside if he had to raise another man’s baby. I also feared how he would handle the possibility of Marcello’s child taking over for him as the Grand Master of The Devil’s Knights.
Aiden stood behind me, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. “You look beautiful, Lexie.” He brushed the hair off my shoulder and smiled. “Thank you for forgiving me and allowing me to be part of your wedding.”
I leaned against his chest, and he wrapped his arm around me. “I don’t want to live in a world without you. I’m glad you’re here now.”
We were in a dressing room off the main hallway. Several of my bridesmaids were doing their hair and makeup on the other side of the room. Kali helped Sonny’s sister fix the sash around her waist. She’d picked out the navy blue mermaid dresses.
I had no interest in fashion, so I left most of the details to Kali. Luca had coordinated every second of our special day. He worried about security while Kali herded the girls and kept the groomsmen in line. Everyone had a job to do but me.
Kali sauntered over to us, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. A smile graced her pink lips. “You look hot, girl.” Her eyes widened at the massive cleavage I had on display. “Luca’s going to pop a major boner when he sees you.”
“Kali,” Aiden groaned.
I snorted with laughter. “Luca isn’t a teenage boy. He can make it through the ceremony without tearing off this dress.”
“Lexie,” Aiden grunted as he stepped back from me.
“You need to get used to it,” I told Aiden. “I’m marrying Luca.” I rubbed my hand over my stomach. “And this baby wasn’t an immaculate conception.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Can I imagine you as the little girl with paint in her hair and stains on her dress for one more minute?”
I spun around to face him, my hand extended. He slipped his fingers between mine and pulled me closer.
“I need another minute,” he whispered. “I’m not ready to let that girl go.”
Aiden was my only positive male figure until my grandfather came along.
For eighteen years, he had watched over me and protected me from the evil lurking within the halls of our home.
I understood why he still saw me as a girl, but I was getting closer to thirty years old, pregnant, and about to marry the love of my life.
“You guys are too cute,” Kali cooed. “Makes me wish I had a hunky twin brother to watch over me.”
“Did you call my brother hunky?”
She shrugged. “He looks good without all the facial hair.”
“Don’t let your men hear you say that,” Aiden said with a smile. “I don’t want those psychos on my ass.”
Kali waved her hand dismissively. “Ah, they’re not that bad. Just a little intense.”
Aiden’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah, they are. Trust me. You haven’t seen them in action.”
Luca and Marcello had told me stories about Bastian and Damian.
Their parents' deaths had fucked them up even more than Luca losing his mother.
Even Kali had shared a few stories that painted them in a terrifying light.
After hearing about the tragic pasts and the events that had forever changed them, Luca seemed tamer than they were.
Kali reached up to touch Aiden’s smooth skin. “You look more like Alex now. Much better with a haircut.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “I didn’t like the lumberjack either.”
“Hey,” Aiden interjected. “I look good with a beard.”
I glanced over at Kali, and we both laughed.
“You keep telling yourself that.” I blew him a kiss, then extended my hand. “You ready to walk me down the aisle, man of honor?”
Aiden took my hand with a groan. “I hate that title. Do you know how much shit I’ve gotten from the Knights over it?”
I snickered. “Yeah, I can imagine. Luca keeps calling you my bridesmaid.”
He shook his head and blew out a deep breath. “Fucking Salvatore. He’s such a dick.”
“He’s my dick. So be nice to him.”
Aiden made a gagging sound. “Lexie, c’mon. Seriously. Tone it down, would you?”
Kali burst into a fit of laughter.
Aiden’s nose scrunched in disgust as we stepped into the hallway. I sucked in a deep breath and looked up at my twin. All of this started because of him. And it would end with him by my side.
We walked down the hall with my bridesmaids in tow. I’d only met some of the Belles once or twice. The Knights were Luca’s brothers for life. And once I got to know them, the Belles would be the sisters I never had.
We stopped in front of the doors to the ballroom. The guests were already inside. I spotted Pops in a tuxedo beside my grandmonster. Blair stood ramrod straight, her posture so stiff I couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
After my mother’s death, my father returned home. The asshole who donated his sperm to create us didn’t even bother to say goodbye. And we were both okay with that.
We had a new family, one that would put their lives on the line for us. It was more than Aiden and I had growing up. Luca was right about this being our world. It had just taken us longer to realize this was where we belonged.
Since this wasn’t a traditional wedding, we didn’t have the usual bridal procession. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle to Italian orchestra music that reminded me of something from The Godfather . It surprised me Luca hadn’t insisted we have a wedding mass in Italian.
I felt like royalty, dressed in a custom gown. Aiden offered my hand to Luca. His brothers stood beside him, while Kali and the Belles were on my side of the aisle.
My brother dipped down to kiss my cheek and whispered to Luca that he better take care of me. Aiden took his place by my side.
I had dreamed of my wedding day hundreds of times. And in those dreams, I always saw Luca next to me. Even when I hated him, I knew I would never love another man like I loved Luca Salvatore. He was part of me, etched into the very essence of my soul.
“You look beautiful, mi amore ,” Luca said as he slipped his fingers between mine, his breath on my earlobe sending a shiver down my spine. “Like a queen.”
I smiled at his words, reminded of the diamond crown Luca sent to my dressing room an hour before the wedding, along with a drop diamond necklace and cuff bracelets. He made me feel like a queen in every way possible.
As the priest moved through the ceremony, I gripped Luca’s hand. When it was time to exchange our wedding vows, Luca surprised me with another stunning present. The band was platinum to match my ring, with a thick row of yellow diamonds that shimmered.
I slid the tungsten ring on his finger. “I want to show you something,” I said as I turned the ring so he could see the inscription on the inside.
A genuine smile reached his blue irises. “What binds us will destroy us.”
Even when he could not say the words, I knew he loved me. No matter how much he tried to push me away or make me not want him, our souls were connected. I knew it the day we met.
Luca lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my skin softly. Even in a room surrounded by people, I could only see him.
The priest finished the ceremony with the nuptial blessing and a final prayer. He hooked his arm around my back, pulling me into his chest as he crushed my lips with a passionate kiss. Our tongues tangled, fighting possession over the other as we lost ourselves.
A loud bang, followed by the screams of our guests, interrupted our perfect moment. The ballroom doors burst open, and a group of men dressed in black emerged from the hallway.
Luca shoved me behind him, pressing my chest into his back. My heart beat a million miles per minute as I peeked over his arm to look at the men entering the room. The Knights stood in front of Luca, now with guns in their hands.
“Claudio?” Arlo said as he glared at the man who told me his name was The Carver. “What are you doing here?”
He stepped into the room with armed men at his sides, a gun in his hand. “You haven’t figured it out yet, Arlo? And here I thought you were the smart one in the family.”
My eyes widened at his confession. “What is he talking about?” I asked Luca.
“Claudio is my uncle.”
“No,” I whispered. “He’s The Carver.”
Marcello moved beside me. “What are you talking about?”
“I met him on the boat on our way to the island. He said his friends call him The Carver.”
Marcello’s lips pulled into a thin line. “This is about Dad,” he told Luca.
“And Mom,” Luca added.
“What’s going on?” I muttered.
Marcello dipped his head and whispered, “Uncle Claudio was engaged to our mom before she met my dad.”
I recalled Sonny’s story at the Founders Ball, and a shiver rushed down my arms. “That’s why he bought me? To get back at your dad?”
Marcello nodded. “That would be my guess.”
“Mine too,” Luca confirmed. “I didn’t see this coming.”
“No,” Marcello agreed. “Neither did I.”
Arlo walked down the makeshift aisle with determination. “What gives you the right to show up at my home?”
“You’re keeping my property from me,” Claudio boomed. “I came here to collect.”
Sonny tapped Finn on the shoulder. “Get Mom and Dad out of here.”
“Take my parents, too,” Drake said.