Chapter 9 - Ashes and Vows
The spring came early to New York that year. By April, the trees in Central Park were turning a soft, misty green, and the air smelled of salt from the harbor rather than soot from the chimneys.
The DeLuca Syndicate was gone. In its place stood DeLuca Holdings—a multibillion-dollar real estate and logistics firm that operated entirely within the boundaries of the law. The old captains had either retired to Florida on generous pensions or taken positions as security chiefs for the new shipping containers.
On a Saturday afternoon, the penthouse windows were wide open, letting in the sound of the city below.
Camryn was standing in the master bedroom, looking at herself in the mirror. She wasn't wearing a gray cleaning uniform. She was wearing a simple, elegant ivory silk dress that fell to her ankles, her dark hair pinned back with tiny pearls that had once belonged to Matteo’s grandmother.
Her mother stood behind her, looking healthy, her hair growing back in thick, silver curls after the successful treatments. "You look beautiful, piccola," her mother whispered, wiping a tear from her eye.
"I’m nervous, Ma," Camryn admitted, her fingers tracing the lace of her cuff.
"Don't be," a voice said from the doorway.
Matteo stood there. He was wearing a classic black tuxedo, his hair neatly cut, his face shaved clean. He looked like a prince of the city, but when he looked at Camryn, all the iron left his posture. He walked into the room, ignoring the old tradition about seeing the bride before the ceremony, and took her hands.
"The guests are waiting on the terrace," he said, his voice dropping to that low, intimate whisper that always made her feel like they were the only two people in Manhattan. "The priest is ready."
"Where’s Leo?" she asked.
Right on cue, a tiny body burst through the door. Leo was wearing a matching miniature tuxedo, his bow tie slightly crooked, carrying a small velvet pillow with two simple gold bands pinned to it. He didn't run like a wild thing anymore; he walked with a small, proud stride, his hazel eyes wide with the importance of his job.
"I have the rings, Cammy!" he announced loudly.
May you like
Matteo leaned down, picking his son up with one arm, while his other arm wrapped around Camryn’s waist, drawing them all together into a single circle.
"Let's go get married," Matteo whispered against her hair.
