Chapter 10 - Stolen Vows Behind Bulletproof Glass
By dusk, the assault had been completely repelled.
Fourteen mercenary bodies had been removed from the grounds.
Dr. Silva had successfully extracted the bullet from Gabriel’s hip and stitched the muscle tissue under local anesthesia.
Gabriel had refused general anesthesia.
He insisted on staying awake to direct the retaliation.
The high-ranking capos of the Rossi syndicate gathered in the great library.
They stood in silent reverence as Gabriel walked into the room, leaning lightly on a dark ebony cane, but standing tall, ruthless, and unyielding.
Beside him walked Sarah, wearing a deep navy dress, her hand resting firmly in the crook of his arm.
The men bowed their heads.
There was no longer any doubt about who Sarah was.
She had dressed the boss’s wounds.
She had shielded the heir twice.
She was the undisputed matriarch of the family.
An elderly priest, Father Thomas—the syndicate’s trusted confessor—stood at the head of the mahogany table.
Two armed guards stood at the heavy doors, their rifles at the low ready.
“We finish this tonight,” Gabriel announced to his capos.
“Before we march on the Valenti compound, this house will have its formal union. The commission must know that Sarah holds full power of attorney over all Rossi territories.”
Father Thomas opened his leather-bound bible.
The ceremony was brief, stripped of unnecessary pomp, yet heavier than any cathedral wedding.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling bulletproof glass, snow fell over a compound guarded by fifty assault rifles.
Inside, by the soft glow of candlelight and roaring fire, two souls forged in blood faced each other.
“Gabriel,” Father Thomas began, “do you take Sarah to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
Gabriel looked down at Sarah.
His slate eyes softened with an emotion so fierce, so absolute, it stole her breath away.
“I take her,” Gabriel said, his voice echoing with absolute authority.
“I give her my name, my empire, my protection, and my life. Her enemies are my enemies. Her safety is my law.”
Father Thomas turned to Sarah.
“Sarah, do you take Gabriel to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Sarah looked at the man who had terrified her for two years, and who had subsequently become her greatest protector, her lover, and her home.
She squeezed his large, scarred hand.
“I take him,” Sarah said, her voice clear and unbroken.
“With all my heart.”
Gabriel took the platinum wedding band from Marco and slid it onto her finger, locking it snugly against the emerald-cut diamond.
Sarah placed a matching platinum band onto Gabriel’s finger.
“By the authority granted to me, I pronounce you husband and wife,” Father Thomas said.
“You may kiss your bride.”
Gabriel dropped his cane.
He wrapped his arms around Sarah, pulling her up against his chest, and kissed her with a depth of passion that silenced every man in the room.
When he pulled back, the capos struck their fists against their chests in unison.
“Long live the Don!” Marco shouted.
“Long live the Donna!” the capos roared in response.
Leo ran into the room, smiling brightly, and hugged both their legs.
Gabriel lifted his son with his uninjured arm, wrapping his other arm around Sarah.
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The family was complete.
And now, the reckoning would begin.
