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Apparently you aren t allowed to have pancakes because it could cause bloating. What bullshit.
I took the coffee but shook my head at the food. I m not hungry.
You can t go all day without eating or you ll faint when you walk down the aisle. She paused.
Though, on second thought, I d love to see Luca s face when you do.
I sipped at the coffee, then took the bowl from Gianna and ate a few pieces of banana. I really
didn t want to faint. Father would be furious, and Luca probably wouldn t be too happy about it either.
The beautician has arrived with her entourage. You could think they need to prettify an army of
fishwives.
I smiled weakly. Let s not make them wait.
Gianna s worried gaze followed me as I walked into the bedroom, where Lily and my mother were
already waiting with the three beauticians. They began their work at once, waxing our legs and armpits.
When I thought the torture was over, the Beautician asked. Bikini zone? Do you know what your husband
prefers?
My cheeks exploded with heat. Mother actually looked at me for an answer. As if I knew the first
thing about Luca and his preferences, especially concerning body hair.
Maybe we could call one of his whores, Gianna suggested.
Mother gasped. Gianna!
Lily looked clueless about the whole situation. She might have been the queen of flirting but that
was all.
I ll remove everything except for a small triangle, okay? The beautician said in a gentle voice and
I nodded, giving her a grateful smile. It took hours to get us ready. When our make-up was in place and my
hair was pinned up in an elaborate updo that would later hold the veil and the diamond headpiece, my
aunts Livia and Ornatella came in carrying my wedding dress as well as the bridesmaid dresses for Lily
and Gianna. There was only one hour left until the wedding ceremony.
***
I stared at my reflection. The dress was gorgeous; the chapel train fanned out behind me, the
platinum embroidery glittering wherever the sunlight hit it, and the empire waist was accentuated by a
white satin ribbon.
I love the sweetheart neckline. It gives you a breathtaking cleavage, Aunt Livia gushed. She was
Valentina s mother.
Luca will surely appreciate it, Aunt Ornatella said.
Something on my face must have made my mother realize I was close to having a nervous
breakdown, so she ushered my aunts out. Let the three girls have a moment.
Gianna stepped into view beside me. Her red hair contrasted beautifully with the mint dress. She
opened the box with the necklace. Diamonds and pearls surrounded by intricate white gold threads. Luca
doesn t spare any costs, does he? That necklace and your headpiece probably cost more than most people
pay for their house.
The conversation and laughter of the gathered guests carried up from the gardens through the open
window into the room. Every now and then a clunk could be heard.
What s that noise? I asked, trying to distract myself. Gianna walked over to the window and
peered out. The men are taking off their guns and putting them into plastic boxes.
How many?
Gianna cocked an eyebrow.
How many guns does each man put away?
One. She frowned, then it dawned on her, and I nodded grimly. Only a fool would leave the
house with less than two guns.
Then why the show?
It s symbolic, I said. Like this horrid wedding.
But if they all want peace, why not attend unarmed? It s a wedding, after all.
There have been red weddings before. I saw pictures from a wedding where you couldn t tell the
color of the bride s dress anymore. It was soaked in blood.
Lily shuddered. That won t happen today, right?
Anything was possible. No, Chicago and New York need each other too much. They can t risk
spilling blood among each other as long as the Bratva and the Taiwanese pose a threat.
Gianna snorted. Oh great, that s comforting.
It is, I said firmly. At least we know nobody will come to harm today. My stomach twisted into
a knot. Except for me, maybe. Probably.
Gianna wrapped her arms around me from behind and rested her chin on my bare shoulder. We
could still run. We could get you out of your dress and sneak out. They re all busy. Nobody would notice.
Lily nodded her head vigorously and got up from where she d perched on the bed.
Luca would notice. I forced a brave smile. No. It s too late.
It s not, Gianna hissed. Don t give up.
There would be blood on my hands if I broke the agreement. They would kill each other in
retribution.
They all have blood on their hands. Every single fucking person in the garden.
Don t curse.
Really? A lady doesn t curse, Gianna mimicked our Father s voice. Where did it get you to
behave like an obedient little lady?
I looked away. She was right. It had brought me straight into the arms of one of the deadliest men in
the country.
I m sorry, Gianna whispered. I didn t mean it.
I linked our fingers. I know. And you are right. Most of the people in the garden have blood on
their hands and would deserve to die, but they are our family, the only one we got. And there are innocents
like Fabiano.
Fabiano will have blood on his hands soon enough, Gianna said bitterly. He ll become a killer.
I didn t deny it. Fabiano would start his initiation process at twelve. If what Umberto had said was
true, Luca had killed his first man at eleven. But he s innocent now, and there are other children out there
as well, and women.
Gianna fixed me with a hard look in the mirror. Do you really believe that one of us is innocent?
Being born into our world meant being born with blood on your hands. With every breath we took,
sin was engraved deeper into our skin. Born in blood. Sworn in blood like the motto of the New York
Cosa Nostra. No.
Gianna smiled grimly. Lily walked over to the bed and picked up my veil attached to the headpiece.
I bent my knees so she could fix it atop my head. She gently smoothed it out.
I wish you were marrying for love. I wish we could giggle about your wedding night. I wish you
didn t look so fucking sad, Gianna said fiercely.
The silence between us stretched. Lily eventually nodded toward the bed. Is this where you ll
sleep tonight?
My throat tightened. No, Luca and I will spend the night in the master bedroom. I didn t think I d
get much, if any, sleep.
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