NICCO

A clench of indignation grips me. This man is to blame for not safeguarding mia principessa the way a father should have during her time at Hawkins. I put forth my best effort, though, to not be petty or resentful. Bygones should be bygones. I refuse to let the past overshadow the present on a day like today. Aria is no longer his concern, after all, she is mine, so I decide to take the high road for once, giving him a reassuring smile and nod. He cannot read my mind, but I recite a silent vow before our real vows commence.

I will love your daughter with everything in me and protect her until my final breath.

Her father steps back. I step forward. It is a symbolic moment. Aria's hand slips into mine, I clasp it tight, and the world feels right again. Fuck him. I will love her enough to make up for the shortcomings she endured through her youth. The fact that she survived at all—alone, unsupported, and powerless—is a testament to her strength. My eyes seek hers. Green falls for gray all over again.

With a pretty blush, she mouths to me in silence, Ready?

I cannot help but grin.

Fuck, yes.

Ever since Juan Pablo shoved his ugly face into our lives, I have been willing to kidnap, torture, and set the world on fire for this woman.

Hell, I would happily drown in an icy, cold river for her.

To marry her?

It is not even a question at this point, claiming Aria as my wife feels as essential to my existence as air and water. Discreetly, my eyes scan the crowd for suspicious faces. Juan Pablo's men could have snuck in somehow. It is a constant worry of mine. Granted, I have armed guards everywhere, they are disguised as guests and hotel staff, but a man can never be too careful when it comes to the woman he loves.

No matter what, we are getting married today. Believe me when I say that anyone who stands in our way will be carried out—a goddamn corpse.

With my bullet lodged in their brain.

I hold in a smirk. The violence on my mind and the beauty of this day are at terrible odds with one another. No one is the wiser, though. Before the crowd of onlookers, I keep my expression bright and earnest. The very image of a groom who is head over heels for his bride. It is not hard to do.

I am absolutely head over heels for this woman.

As the priest clears his throat, our ceremony gets underway, and the seemingly endless series of rites and rituals become a blur. Honestly, there is only one part of this wedding I care about.

It is the part when, half an hour later, the priest turns to me and fucking finally asks, "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

Gazing into Aria's eyes, I promise her, "I do."

The priest glances at Aria. "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she breathes out with light in her eyes.

Chest swelling with pure bliss and joy, I lean over to kiss my wife. The crowd erupts in cheers. Our lips touch, everything fades for a moment, and I am lost in her.

The taste of this woman.

The feel of her in my arms.

My love for Aria conquers all.

Time slows and holds as I relearn the sweetness of her again and again. When our lips part, we are breathless, smiling, and flushed. Aria and I could not be happier.

Eventually, the ceremony comes to a close. We walk down the aisle, hand in hand, in celebration of our union. Cameras flash in our faces. Cell phones are out, capturing every second of this shockingly unexpected event. No one could have imagined that we would get married in such a dignified and legitimate manner after a leaked sex tape. Within hours, our wedding will be posted all over social media. I believe Aria and I have put on an immaculate show. Critics can scream as loud as they want, but I am no longer the Nicco Vitale of old. Gone is the entitled fuckboy, the nepo prince, and the underserving son of a bitch who is all too easy to hate. Juan Pabo's team will not be able to take shots at those particular weaknesses because they no longer exist.

I have matured into a gentleman who puts his lady above all else. Aria is the only one I vow to spend the rest of my life loving, cherishing, and fucking. There is nothing sordid or unsavory about our relationship. Nothing seedy nor scandalous about our love.

The cherry on top?

Now that my reputation in my private life has been upgraded to a more palatable level of decency, this narrative can bleed into my professional life as well. If I am smart about it. I can use this to cement my standing as a cunning, cutthroat power player who fucks my wife hard in the bedroom and then fucks over my opposition even harder in the boardroom. An Armani-clad beast who has what it takes to seal the deal with the Danmore acquisition.

Once we exit the hotel, guests line up on either side of us to offer their congratulations and well wishes. Rice is tossed in the air as we make our way to the black limo. A blinding succession of flashes go off. I make sure to give the photographers my best angle. Cameras continue to record our every move. Wearing a stupidly besotted grin on my face, I open the door for Aria and help her into the backseat. We drive away. To the media, it must look as though Aria and I have reached our well-deserved Happily Ever After.

Looks, unfortunately, can be deceiving.

Once we are inside the car, away from prying eyes, Aria and I let out a sigh and share a knowing glance. Resolve shines from her gray. Concern glimmers in my green. Phase one of Aria's plan has gone off without a hitch, which means Phase Two is about to begin, and this is the part that I have been dreading and losing sleep over.

I know every step of her insane scheme to annihilate Juan Pablo. She wants to use herself as the bait while I set the trap. I love how honest she is with me now. Aria is as brilliant as she is reckless. Always chasing after HRHR—high risk, high reward—kind of shit. I simply wish that she did not have a fucking death wish.

My jaw clenches involuntarily. "It is not too late to change your mind, you know."

"My mind is made up."

Her confidence draws a scowl from my mouth. More than anything, I want to hide her away, shielding her from danger, until my men and I can bury Juan Pablo in a casket. I also want to kick myself for ever agreeing to Aria's ridiculous request.

If this is the only way I can keep that goddamn ring on your hand, then, very well, we will do things your way.

For the first time in my life, I feel powerless. I have little choice in this matter. She chose to trust me with her plan. Therefore, I must trust in Aria's ability to see it through while supporting her in every way I can. My arm tightens around her waist.

Protectively.

Possessively.

Fearfully.

In somber tones, I confess, "If you get yourself killed, I will never forgive you."

"I know."

"Die on me," I continue to warn her, "and I will follow you to the afterlife."

Gray eyes grow wide as the morbid meaning behind my words sinks in.

"Don't you dare, Nicco," Aria growls. "If anything happens to me, you better keep on living and live well."

I shoot her a sharp, sullen look. "As if I could breathe without you."

She places her hand on my thigh, giving me a reassuring squeeze. "I'm not planning to go anywhere, okay, baby? I promise."

"But what if something goes wrong?"

"But what if everything goes right?"

"I never knew you to be such an optimist," I grumble.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," she quips.

"Fuck that shit."

"I know I'm asking a lot from you. But I believe we can pull this off. Together. We've done everything possible to prepare for the worst. All the pieces are in place. The rest is in fate's hands."

"I do not wish to gamble your life on fate. I fear you do not fully understand how fucking dangerous this whole plan is going to be."

"I understand what I'm up against."

"Do you?"

"I do. I've known Juan Pablo longer than you and cowered beneath him for too long. He's like a demon I've never been able to defeat. This is the first time I feel strong enough to fight back. To avenge Maya's death in a way that'll truly hurt him. Do you know how I found my courage?"

"How?"

Her gaze flickers. "Because I know you'll protect me with your life."

Aria's words chip away at my resolve.

"Trust me, Nicco, because I trust you. Please."

Dio.

When she looks at me with those eyes.

When she begs me with that voice.

When there is such an expression of fortitude on her lovely face.

What else is a man to do but lay himself at her feet?

In a gruff voice, I sigh helplessly, "Very well. If you are to place so much trust in me, I have no choice but to rise to the challenge. I swear on my life, principessa, I am ready to take a fucking bullet for you, so do not do anything stupid or reckless, capisci?"

Curled up beside me in the backseat of our limo, Aria turns to me with a smile. "That's more like it."

I release a grumbly grunt.

Aria then prompts once more like the start of our ceremony, this time, however, aloud, "Ready?"

Not at all.

But I force myself to smile back. "Always."

Because I will do anything to keep that smile on her face.

Even if it is killing me to do so.