I tightened my hold on Dad’s arm. “I’m ready,” I told them confidently.
“Good,” Garret said, relief making his face relax. “Because she wasn’t kidding. He’s pacing and making the priest antsy. Guzman is standing guard in case the poor old man tries to bolt.”
“Well, lead the way, son,” Dad told him. “Let’s get your sister married before we have to find another officiant.”
My brother smirked and held out his arm to Cali. “May I?”
She rolled her eyes at him before giving me a wink and accepting his proffered arm. “Since I need to pump soon, I guess we should hurry this along. The hospital called a little while ago and said their supply for Justice is running low.”
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Yeah, let’s rush this along so we can take our girl some dinner.”
“Relax,” she said with another roll of her eyes, but she was unable to hide the amusement in her voice. “She’s not going to starve. They have enough for a few more feedings.”
That didn’t soothe him, and he only increased his pace. “I want to cuddle my baby girl before visiting hours are over.”
“Me too,” Cali said with a wistful sigh. “I can’t wait until we can bring her home… But I’m scared to bring her home. Does that even make sense?”
“Perfect sense, babe,” Garret assured her. “I’m scared too. What if we break her?”
Their gazes locked for a moment as they walked in front of us, and I could actually see the sparks flying between the two of them. But then Cali blinked and cleared her throat. “Thank goodness we have your parents, huh?”
“Yeah,” he agreed in a tender voice. “We have them to help us, but even if we didn’t, everything would be okay. Justice has the best mother in the world to take care of her.”
Dad and I tried not to listen in to their conversation since it seemed so personal, but with them only a few feet in front of us, that was impossible. When I glanced up at him, I noticed he was having a hard time swallowing, and I realized he was struggling not to cry. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was about to get married or that he was proud of Garret and the father he was becoming—or both.
I gave his arm a little squeeze, and he shot me a trembling smile. It was weird that he was so emotional when I wasn’t even the least bit nervous. My entire life was about to change. Ryan was about to be my husband. In a matter of minutes, I was going to have a different last name. Becoming a Vitucci wasn’t for the faint of heart. It came with a lot of power, but even more responsibilities.
We reached the garden, and then Dad stopped, waiting for the music to start. According to Cali, her stepfather used to throw huge parties out in the garden all the time, so hidden speakers were installed everywhere. While Garret and Cali continued forward, I glanced down at my shoes, simple white sandals that showed off the light pink polish Cali had used to paint my toes earlier.
Just as the music began, I heard a few sniffles and knew it was Mom and Anya. But it was the raspy groan that had my eyes lifting and locking with Ryan’s dark gaze. He looked amazing in his dark suit with his hair pushed back from his face. His strong jaw was clenched, his nostrils flaring as he drank in the sight of me in the borrowed wedding dress like a man dying of thirst.
My lack of nervousness suddenly made sense. What was there to be anxious about when I was only moments away from marrying my best friend? The boy who’d always loved and protected me at all costs. My heart filled with so much happiness that it was too much to contain, and tears filled my eyes.
Ryan saw them, and I watched through blurry eyes as he swallowed with difficulty just as Garret and Cali reached him. My brother stepped up beside him, while Cali moved off to the side, waiting for me, but my gaze stayed locked on my groom.
I felt like I was floating as we finally started to walk forward. There was no aisle, just a cluster of chairs placed off to the side where our parents, Maria, and Guzman sat with a few of the other guards. Mom and Anya sat side by side, clutching hands as Dad took mine from his arm and placed it in Ryan’s.
The tremble in Ryan’s fingers didn’t go unnoticed, but the moment my palm touched his, every muscle in his body seemed to relax. He tugged me into his arms and pressed a kiss to the center of my forehead. With his lips still touching my skin, he growled, “Begin,” to the priest.
I fought a smile as the poor man stumbled through the ceremony. The entire time, Ryan barely allowed an inch to separate us. I could feel all the eyes on us, but my gaze stayed glued to Ryan. My tears kept falling, but I didn’t even care. Happy tears were the best kind of tears.
Ryan didn’t seem to think so, though, because his jaw grew tenser and tenser with each drop that spilled over my lashes.
My voice shook as I spoke my vows, and he began to tremble. I clutched at his hands, letting him know everything he’d ever wished for was coming true. This was our day. Even though we’d belonged to each other from the moment we met as children, now we were legally and spiritually bound together.
His vows came out choked, his eyes begging me for something I didn’t understand, but I gave him a smile, letting him know, whatever it was, I’d give him. Rings were produced and blessed, and we said our “I do’s” as we slid them onto each other’s fingers. I didn’t know where they had come from and mine was a little too big, but I was just glad to have the small band.
When his ring covered up my name on his finger, I shook my head and pulled it off again, placing it instead on the opposite hand. “I’d rather see this tattoo than you wear a ring. It makes you mine more than a little circle of gold.”
He didn’t complain, but he lifted my left hand to his lips and kissed the ring he’d placed there, waiting for the priest to pronounce us husband and wife.
The moment the words left the man’s mouth, Ryan grasped my hips. It was second nature for me to wrap my legs around his waist. I combed my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, and I angled my head, ready for our first kiss as a married couple.
His lips barely grazed mine, but that gentle contact took my breath away. It was over far too soon, but the banked hunger I saw in his gaze told me he was barely holding on. I grinned, knowing that as soon as we were alone, he was going to lose control again. I loved sweet and tender Ryan, but when he was out of control, it drove me wild.
“We don’t have to wait around for cake,” I murmured, tracing my thumb over his bottom lip. “I heard Anya telling Mom earlier that one of the jets was ready and waiting for us. I don’t know where we’re going, but all I really need is a bed and lots of privacy.”
“I never canceled the villa in Fiji that I reserved for our honeymoon,” he said gruffly. “I’d had it reserved for the past year and couldn’t bring myself to cancel the reservation.”
“Nice,” I purred, nuzzling my lips against his neck. “Grab the bags, and let’s go.”
“The bags are already in the car.” He clenched his hands on my hips.
“Then why aren’t we already walking to the car?” I breathed at his ear, making him shudder.
“Because I’m trying to get control of myself so I can walk.” His answer made me giggle, and he groaned as if in physical pain. “That is my favorite sound in the world. I’ve missed it so fucking much, baby.”