"But you ran away," I remind her. It still stings, the pain of knowing she ran from me after everything we've been through.
"I thought your father was going to kill me."
"What?"
"I overheard you," she goes on. "You were talking in the hallway at the Estate, trying to decide when and how to get rid of me."
"You must have misunderstood, Marzia. Father doesn't want you dead."
"He did when I was last there."
"That's a thing of the past. Nicoletta is gone. Father has given us permission to marry."
"Really?" Her eyes sparkle. "Let's do it then."
"Here?" I glance at the bloodied chapel. My guards have carried out Vitto's corpse but it's still a bloodbath in here. "Are you sure, Marzia? We could have the perfect wedding, everything you've ever dreamed of."
"I don't want that," she replies vehemently. "I want to be yours."
I can't tell her no after that statement. She's already wearing a wedding dress, and I don't give a shit that it's stained with the blood of her ex-fiancé. We're doing this, and we're doing this right the fuck now.
One of my men finds the priest, convinces him we aren't going to hurt him, and brings him back to the chapel.
The man seems terrified of me, recognizing me instantly as part of the Bernardi famiglia, and doesn't argue when I present my request.
The ceremony is quick and efficient. I pull out the wedding rings Marzia gave me, the ones from her nonna and nonno.
"You kept them," she whispers as I slide her grandmother's ring on her ring finger.
"Of course I did," I smirk. "They're a little thinner. I had to have them redone to fit us."
The smile on her face is tentative but gives me so much fucking hope for the future and I can't help grinning like a fool myself.
She puts my own ring on and the priest pronounces us married. I capture Marzia's mouth in a deep kiss that makes the priest clear his throat meaningfully. Smirking, I pull back. "Ready to go back home?"
"Yes," she whispers.
We leave the chapel. Marzia and I are loaded up into a car, separated with a screen from the driver. It gives us some much needed privacy and I take advantage of it, my eyes drinking in my new wife. She's changed from the bloodied wedding dress into a shirt of mine belted like a dress, and she's staring out the window as we drive back to our Estate.
My mind is racing from everything that's happened today. Perhaps it was cruel, murdering Vitto, but I also know I've been more in touch with my emotional side today than ever before. My hand finds hers.
She squeezes my fingers, finally meeting my gaze. There are traces of tears in her eyes.
"Are you upset?" I find myself asking.
"It's taken a lot of bloodshed to get to this point," she whispers. "I'm just—glad it's all over now. It's time for some happiness after all this darkness that's been hanging over me."
I smile. "Then I have something to tell you that might cheer you up."
"What?" Her brows shoot up and she cocks her head to the side. "Is there something you aren't telling me?"
"I was going to tell you the day of the wedding. But you were gone before I got the chance. But before I explain... were you at the docks that day?" I stare at her hard, needing to hear her answer.
She seems to know what I'm talking about and merely nods. "Yes, I was there. And I will forever regret not stopping the boat."
"Why?"
"When I saw you. I knew I’d made a horrid mistake. Then Vitto and Luigi…" Her whisper fades away. "They killed that guard and my maid, Eleanora. They didn't even give them a chance. Just shot them right when we arrived at the property where they were staying."
"Eleanora's gone?"
Marzia nods.
"I'm sorry, bambina. I know how much you cared for her." I can do nothing to fix the sadness on her face.
She turns to stare out of the window while a silent tear rolls down her cheek.
"I know I can't make that better," I find myself saying. "But the news I have for you might make things a bit easier."
She smiles, turning toward me as another tear slides down her face. "What's the news?"
"Do you remember taking an ovulation test before you left?"
She nods.
"Well... it wasn't an ovulation test."
"What then?" She furrows her brows, waiting for my answer just as the truth starts dawning on her. "Oh, Dio..."
"You're pregnant," I tell her. "We're going to have a baby."
For a moment, she just sits there wordlessly, her eyes dancing over my face as if looking for confirmation that this is true.
I'm convinced she's upset, that she's going to start sobbing and hate me even more, but then the most innocent smile pulls on her lips.
"Are you serious?" she asks.