Page 99 of Mafia and Captive

It was getting chilly despite the fire pit we were sitting around, but I didn’t want to break the moment to go grab a sweater. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, trying to get some heat into my body.

Danio, who was sitting next to me, handed me his hoodie. “Here, this will keep you warm.”

“Thanks, Danio,” I said with a smile at him.

We both looked over to Alessio, who was straightening Mr. Fluffy’s bow tie which had become crooked during all his running around the gardens. “You know, Mr. F really adores Alessio, even if Alessio grumbles about him nonstop,” observed Danio.

“Animals are like that,” I smiled. “They can always sense who their real fans are.” I had a feeling that Alessio was much fonder of Mr. Fluffy than he let on.

Marco came over and wrapped his arm around me, hugging me to his warmth. I snuggled up to him, enjoying the closeness and affection. “Happy?” he asked, looking into my eyes with his soft gray eyes.

“Yes, definitely.” I could see the love in his eyes, and I knew that I would have that from him for the rest of our lives. I looked around my new family as they sat around the fire pit. I was going to be happy here.

Today hadn’t been the big wedding originally planned by our families. But today also hadn’t been a wedding of two strangers on opposite sides of a Mafia war. I was part of this family now, for better or for worse.

At that thought, my heart swelled with love as I looked over at Marco Marchiano: he was the King of Chicago, my Capo, and my husband.

And he was forever mine.