Loved ones
“So have the both of you reached a mutual agreement on this whole arrangement, Ace?” Maxine asked me for the billionth time as we waited in St. George’s Cathedral.
“Mind your own fucking business. And if you call me Ace again, Max, I will kill you, then bury you beside the church.” He smirked.
“You’re excited, so much that you didn’t even describe how you would kill me. I guess that’s how much your charming wife is affecting you.”Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
“I’ll punch those words into you, Maxine and I mean it.”
“Relax man, I’m only looking out for you. Remember how crazy you looked when she turned you down back at Fairview? I can never…”
Before he could finish, I punched him in the fucking nose. “For the love of motherfucking fuck.” He exclaimed, laughing excitedly.
“Last chance brother or you’re going to piss me off,” I warned, fixing my tie.
“Let’s say I’m going to let this slide because it’s your wedding. If not, I would have just employed the services of my student, who happens to be your wife, to give you a thorough beating of your life.”
That statement made me laugh. “How is she doing?” I asked, needing an update on my Ugo’s defense sessions.
“Pretty good. Too fierce with a sign of bloodlust when she’s pissed at you. Less tense and a little laid back when she’s indifferent.” Max told me.
“She’s pissed at me, for what? What did I do?”
“Well for once, you are always away. She doesn’t get to see much of you. Secondly,” he scratched his beard lazily before stepping closer to me. “I think she needs to get laid.” He whispered.
I tensed up a little but relaxed almost immediately. “You think wrong.” I replied with certainty.
“That only means you’ve not been paying attention. For God sakes that’s what you ought to be doing. Paying attention so as to be her man, the man she wants once the opportunity presents itself. I thought that was the reason we chose this route?”
I stumped my feet in an uncharismatic manner. “She gave me a laid out rule, and I’m only following it. But…” my voice faltered. “I don’t know man. What the hell should I do?”
“Win her over. Make out plenty of time for her. Castello would be back soon, so the club will be fine. As will the other businesses, I’m going to be on top of my game. All you have to do is give her attention, smother her to stupor.”
“I did that once, it didn’t work out for me.” I insisted.
“This is different. It’s just the both of you now. There’s no one else. Use that to your goddamn advantage.” Maxine tapped me gently on the shoulder.
A look passed between us and we understood everything perfectly. That was the kind of relationship I shared with my brother. We didn’t have to say everything out in plain word
“If you must know, she wants to visit the club, your new club specifically.”
“Does she now?” Max nodded. “Then we’ll make that happen.”
“Are you sure you want that?”
I nodded. “High time she gets involved with her husband’s activities.”
“You should be careful about the ones you expose her to, in case she still insists on leaving after all of this.”
“God help me.” I exhaled.
Taking a deep breath, we walked closer to the Cathedral door. Looking inside, I noticed my mother had made sure to invite every last motherfucker with a net worth over a hundred million. They all looked excited to be on the guest list.
“How is security?”
Maxine snickered. “They would have a better chance of getting to the president than any one of us today. If there’s any ruckus still, best believe I’ll shoot the fools repeatedly down. Let’s just hope Ugo doesn’t run away.”
“No, she wouldn’t run.” Running wasn’t in her nature. She would rather face her troubles head-on than run.
“Yeah, you’re getting married to a fighter. We really have to give it up for the woman that stood fearlessly and fought to have Morello behind bars.”
I beamed with smiles. “That’s my fucking wife.”
“Cheers.”
We created an imaginary glass with our fingers and clapped it together.
********
UGO
A reporter rattled on tirelessly as she spoke about everything and almost nothing. Then she started out another line of news, hinting about the marriage of Hollis Genovese, the son of the wealthiest man in Lilycity, who would be getting married today to the love of his life, whom for the purpose of privacy, they couldn’t reveal her identity just yet.
“Pathetic!” I said as I watched the reporter blabber words.
“Do you want me to turn off the television?” Alessia asked as she fixed my hair.
Taking a sip of the wine she brought for me earlier, I shook my head before looking into the mirror. “I don’t like my hair looking like old Maggie’s hair. Isn’t there something better you could do to it? In fact, let’s leave the hair down. I don’t think a pony would do me any good at this point.”
A knock came on the bedroom door and I turned to Alessia. “I thought the men left for church already?”
“Yes, Nero and a few men stayed back to drive us to the cathedral.” She replied. “The rest of the men would stay back to watch the house.”
She looked at me, and I nodded. Opening the door, my heart swam with butterflies and pure excitement when I saw Nana, my mother and…. Daisy!”
“What the hell! are you doing here, Daisy baby?” I almost screamed out of excitement. My best friend laughed excitedly.
“I wouldn’t miss your wedding for the love of the world. What were you thinking, not telling me?”Well it wasn’t a real wedding and this shit is fucked up. But I didn’t tell her that. Instead, I shrugged.
“Mum.” I called as she kissed my temple.
“You look adorable sweetheart, and I’m definitely fixing up that hair. But let’s just give you and Daisy a moment.” She looked at Nana and something passed between the two women who seemed oddly excited.