Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 296

I'm a little dazzled by the light the moment I walk into the little Bianci family chapel from the darkness outdoors, because the entire place- The entire place, absolutely every surface, is covered in candles.

My steps stutter for a moment as I gasp and look around at all the beautiful firelight, which casts a romantic golden glow throughout the entire room. The violinist from the band plays softly, a song I don't recognize but which is sweet and soft as I take my first steps down the aisle. As soon as my eyes adjust, they immediately, instinctually find Kent.

I mean, not like it's hard. Kent draws attention like gravity, like the moon pulling the water from the sea, making it reach for him. And like the tides, I move towards him without thought or intent - simply because at his side is precisely where I want to be. Kent stands to the right of the altar, his hands clasped neatly before him, his face solemn.

But as his eyes sweep over me, that solemnity cracks as something passes over him. Kent exhales once, deeply, and looks almost...devastated as he takes me in. My brow creases with worry, but he just shakes his head, smiling a little at me in awe. And then I blush, and bite my lip, because I realize that Kent isn't upset - he just really thinks I'm beautiful. Joy rushes through me for the millionth time today as my dad leads me up the aisle, my eyes locked on the man who will soon be my husband. The man who already is, in my heart at least. Which is all, I think, that really matters

When we get to the end of the aisle my dad unloops his arm from mine and gently takes my hand, passing it over to Kent's. "Deal still stands" my dad says, his voice low with warning. "You protect her, all right?"

"I swear it," Kent says, dead serious as he meets my father's eyes and takes my hand in his. "My life before hers."

Dad smirks a little but then he nods and steps away, taking the seat reserved for him at the edge of the aisle next to Alessi, who I grin to see has Titus scooped into his lap.

I smile at Kent as I move to stand across from him, my hand in his, only glancing down to check on the baby - but I laugh because Dominic actually has the gall to have fallen asleep. Kent, curious, looks too, and he laughs as well. And then were both laughing, lost in each other as the priest I barely noticed begins to speak.

The mass is short, and I hardly pay attention not least because I don't understand the language - the mass is, I think performed in Latin. But I do as I'm instructed at every turn, kneeling before the altar, eating a little bread, drinking a little wine, the whole time just staring at Kents gorgeous face, looking into his eyes.

And he, in turn, stares right back at me.When the time comes for the vows I jump, a little, because the priest suddenly starts speaking in English. The whole church laughs a little - warmly, I know - at my surprise. And the priest smiles at me.

"It is time for the vows," he says, the corners of his eyes crinkling with you. "I have been told you have written your own?"

My eyes go wide as I snap my gaze back to Kent - because absolutely no one told me this.

Kent bursts into laughter, shaking his head at me. "It's all right, Fay," he murmurs. "I had some things I want to say - you don't have to

"Well, that's not fair!" I hiss back, taking a step towards him. "Why didn't you tell me!? I could have -"

But Kent just murmurs my name and smiles at me, shaking his head as he cups my cheek in his palm. And I sigh and step back, letting him get on with it.

Kents face turns serious again as he takes a deep breath, studying my face like he could memorize every line of it.

And then, he begins.

"I take you, Fay," he says, "as my wife." His voice ringing clear through the little chapel as he reaches into his pocket and produces a set of gold rings, one much finer than the other. I gasp when I see them because - I mean, I don't know, I already have one beautiful ring, and Daniel and I never exchanged wedding rings beyond that.

But Kent, I guess, likes to do things like the book.

"I swear to love and to protect you, to cherish you, to spend every waking moment of my life bringing you joy," he continues, and I raise my eyes back to him as he takes my hand and slips the little gold ring onto my finger. "I will treasure you until the day I die. And if there's a world beyond that, then I'll wait for you there, loving you into eternity."

My throat grows thick with emotion as I stare into his eyes, as I realize that he means every word of it - that none of it is sweet sentiment and all of it is Kent's secret heart laid bare.

"I intend to spend every moment of the rest of my life," he murmurs, stepping closer to me, "making my love for you abundantly clear, if you'll let me."

"Oh, I'll let you," I say softly, the words stumbling from my mouth before I even realize that I'm speaking, and a laugh rolls through the church when people hear them. I blush, looking around, but everyone smiles at me - I think realizing how swept away I am in it all. "And now, the bride?" the priest says, turning to me expectantly.

Ilook up at Kent for a long moment before I speak, and then when I do my words come directly from my heart. I have no other choice, I suppose - it's not like I had any warning to prepare something.

"I think I've been in love with you for longer than I was prepared to admit, Kent," I say quietly, looking up into his face. His expression shifts, just subtly, but I can read him well enough now to know that my words have hit him straight in his heart. "And I think we both worked very hard to construct obstacles to make that love impossible, because we live in a world that denies that two people like you and me - so separated by time and circumstance - could be together. But eventually," I smirk here, willing him to remember our journey just as I do, "we were forced admit the truth."

I take Kent's hand in mine, curling my fingers around the ring still sitting in his palm.

"The truth that we were born for each other," I say quietly, raising my eyes again to his. "Whatever souls are made from in this world, yours was made to curve around mine at every turn. You are my match, and my sweetheart, and my friend. My husband, in every sense of the term. You have been that to me before this ring, as you'd be without it."

I quietly turn his hand over, slipping the ring onto his broad finger.

"But," I say with a happy sigh. "I like the way it looks. So, I think you should keep it on."

Kent laughs a little, smiling at me.

"I marry you, Kent," I say, stepping close and tilting my chin up as I smile at him. "Not because we needed to, but because I want to. And I promise to love you, and protect you, and cherish you for all of the days of my life too - into whatever is beyond." Before the priest can say a word, Kent dips his head, and he seals our promise with a kiss - long, and sweet, and deep.

A cheer raises around us but Kent and I ignore it, lost in each other as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. It only ends when I laugh because Dominic finally wakes, letting out a little cry of protest - probably from being just mildly squished between us, his two parents who love each other as desperately as we love him.

Kent laughs too, murmuring comforting things to our little boy even as he keeps an arm around me, pulling me close to his side. And then he turns to the room and throw up a hand, shouting something in Italian.

Everyone shouts and cheers back, throwing up their own hands and getting quickly to their feet, cheering for us and gesturing towards the empty aisle.

"Come on, little bride," Kent murmurs, pinning me close to his side and looking down at me with happiness sparking in his eyes. "Are you ready for an Italian wedding party?"

"If it involves more Italian pasta," I say, a little honest at this point, because everyone kind of forgot to feed the bride all day, "then count me in."

Kent laughs, brushing his finger along my jawline as he grins at me and starts to lead me back down the aisle towards the door. "You're going to be shocked at the amount of pasta. Borderline appalled." "Let's do it," I say, my eyes narrowing a little at him even as I smile as everyone around us continues to cheer. "After everything I've experienced in this world? I'm not sure I can be surprised anymore." "Well then," he murmurs when we get to the door, his face close to mine. "I'll just have to spend the rest of my life thinking of new things to surprise you with."

"Good things," I clarify, my voice low with warning.

"All good things," he laughs, kissing me again. "Starting with the mountain of food and wine you're about to encounter. Seriously, Fay, prepare yourself - Nonna did not cut any corners for her favorite boy." "Oh?" I say, raising my eyebrows as we hurry into the candle-lit night, "and Alessi is not her favorite boy?"

"Oh come on," Kent says, smirking at me. "Aless...is at best her close second."

And, laughing my little heart out with joy and happiness, I let Kent sweep me up into his arms, carrying me and the baby down the path towards our reception.