I feel so elegant today—like nothing can touch me. Touch us. As I look at my new partner, I feel myself wanting to burst into tears of joy. He is mine now and I know nothing is going to stand between us.
We have so many years ahead of us.
I’m ready for each and every single one.
I finally pull my gaze away and see some of my distant family and Antonio’s family waving at us. I know they probably can’t see us through the tinted windows, but I wave back anyway.
We decided on a small wedding. No more than fifty guests. I wanted it quiet and simple.
With the way we live, not everyone could be invited. Some we didn’t trust. Others would have killed us right on sight.
“Alright, Kev. Take us to the airport. I’m ready to get this honeymoon started.”
Heat fills my belly as I look from Antonio to Kevin. Kevin looks through the rearview mirror at both of us and then nods before putting the ignition in Drive and pulling off.
As he drives away, I look back at my friends and family. Antonio’s Mom and Charles, his brother. He is only thirteen. A little shit he is, with a smart mouth to match, but I am going to miss him.
A week seems like such a long time to be away from our loved ones, and I don’t know what it is about this moment, but as I watch the distance grow, I feel a sense of dread.
I’m not going to see them for a full week. I’ve grown close to his mother. She’s like a second mom. She took me in as if I were her own.
When I can no longer see the family and friends cheering for us, I look at Antonio.
“You think your mom and Charlie will be okay while we’re away?” I ask.
“They’ll be fine, Gia.” Antonio slides closer and grabs my hands. I glance down at his manicured fingernails before meeting his blue gaze. “My mother is a strong woman and Charlie is one of the toughest kids I know. I’ve got my men watching her like a hawk. What happened to your father and mine—God rest their souls—will not happen to them. You understand me, baby?”
I nod.
And then I feel guilty again from the mere mention of Daddy.
I should have postponed the wedding. We were already planning it way before Daddy passed away. Antonio didn’t want to delay it since the invitations were already sent out.
I wasn’t so much on board with the idea, but then I had a long chat with his Mom and she basically told me that life waits for no one. Daddy is a prime example of that.
He was only fifty-four. Smiling. Happy. Living his life in bliss…and then the next thing I know he’s gone. Murdered in cold blood by who we think was the Colombian cartel.
“I need to hear you say it, baby?” Antonio murmurs.
“I understand.”
“That’s my girl.” He cradles my face in his hands and kisses me on the center of the forehead. His lips are warm and soft, making me melt inside.
He then pulls away and opens the middle compartment to take out a cigar. After rolling down the window, he lights the end of it and my face scrunches up.
“Do you have to do that here, Toni?”
“What?” He chuckles. “I want a nice cigar before we take that long flight to Bora Bora, baby. You know I can’t smoke on the way there.”
“Those cigars are going to kill you one day. I hate those things.”
“I know you do.” He releases a puff of smoke, and most of it drifts out of the window. The remainder runs past my nose and I groan.
“We are married now, Toni. Some things are gonna have to change, you know? Like when we decide we’re ready to have babies and stuff. Don’t you think smoking should go?”
“I’ll quit the cigars…but I’m not sure about the cigarettes.”
I roll my eyes and when he reaches across to pinch my right cheek, I fight a laugh. Pinching my cheek and smirking is his thing. He does the whole sparkle-in-the-eye thing, and he’ll say, “Come on, Gia baby. Cheer up for Toni.”
It’s how we met. Those were the first few words he said to me. I was upset with Daddy about something and needed to talk to him right away, but he had a meeting and made me wait.
When Toni walked out after the meeting, he saw me sitting in the den and decided to sit right beside me. He pinched my cheek and said those exact words.
I will never forget them. He was so cocky about it, but I loved it.
“You are so full of it,” I giggle. I roll my window down and take in the Veracruz air. It’s humid and thick outside, but the smell of freshly made tortillas, tortas, and tres leches cake is enough to make me want to stay.