Chapter 16 - The Wedding Chicago Never Expected
The announcement shocked Chicago.
Not because Gabriele Romano was marrying.
Society pages had spent years inventing potential brides for him.
Heiresses.
Models.
Political daughters.
Women with surnames that opened doors.
Instead, he chose Federica Ferrari.
The accountant.
The newspapers immediately attempted to turn her into Cinderella.
Federica hated that.
“I owned shoes before I met you.”
Gabriele looked over the newspaper.
“I’m aware.”
“They’re calling me an ordinary employee.”
“You were extraordinary before me.”
“That sentence may save your morning.”
He folded the paper.
“Good.”
The wedding was planned for June.
Federica wanted small.
Gabriele’s definition of small was apparently four hundred people.
“No.”
“Three hundred?”
“No.”
“Two?”
“Seventy-five.”
He stared at her.
“My security team is almost seventy-five.”
“They are not all coming.”
His face suggested she had proposed abandoning walls.
Eventually they settled on one hundred twenty guests.
The ceremony would take place at a restored lakeside estate outside Chicago.
Sofia chose flowers.
Rosa argued with caterers.
Marco handled security.
Alessandro insisted on paying for wine.
Federica vetoed three absurdly expensive dresses before finding one simple enough to feel like herself.
On the morning of the wedding, Rosa entered the bridal suite carrying the chipped NUMBERS DON’T LIE mug.
Federica laughed.
“Why?”
“Tradition.”
“That mug is two years old.”
“Old enough.”
Rosa poured tea.
Federica looked at herself in the mirror.
For months after accepting Gabriele’s proposal, she had occasionally wondered how strange the path had been.
A rerouted car.
A kidnapping.
A frightened baby.
A panic room.
A ledger.
Nineteen layers of lies.
And somehow here.
“You’re nervous,” Rosa said.
“No.”
“You’re tapping your ring.”
Federica stopped.
“Maybe.”
“About marrying him?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Federica looked toward the window.
“About happiness.”
Rosa softened.
“That is a terrible thing to fear.”
“It feels temporary.”
“Everything is temporary.”
“That is not comforting.”
“It should be.”
Rosa took her hands.
“You cannot make happiness permanent by refusing to have it.”
Federica’s eyes filled.
“When did you become philosophical?”
“After people kidnapped me twice.”
“Once.”
“It felt like twice.”
They laughed.
Across the estate, Gabriele stood beside Leo.
The baby was now nearly fifteen months old.
Walking.
Badly.
Determinedly.
He wore a tiny black suit.
Marco adjusted Gabriele’s tie.
“You look terrified.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’ve faced gunfire.”
“Weddings are worse.”
Gabriele looked at him.
“You’ve never been married.”
“Exactly.”
Alessandro entered.
“Everything ready.”
Gabriele looked toward the ceremony lawn.
“Any threats?”
Marco sighed.
“No.”
“Vehicles checked?”
“Yes.”
“Guest list?”
“Four times.”
“Perimeter?”
“Gabriele.”
“What?”
“You are getting married, not invading Wisconsin.”
Gabriele nodded.
“Right.”
Two minutes later:
“Roof access?”
Marco walked away.
The ceremony began at sunset.
Lake Michigan reflected gold.
Strings played quietly.
Guests stood.
Then Federica appeared.
Gabriele forgot every security question.
Every guest.
Every sound.
She walked toward him with Rosa beside her.
No father to give her away.
Federica had rejected the language anyway.
“I am not being transferred like property.”
So Rosa simply walked with her.
Halfway down the aisle, Leo escaped Sofia’s hand.
“Leo!”
The toddler ran.
Or attempted to.
Three unsteady steps.
Then four.
Straight toward Federica.
Everyone laughed.
Federica crouched.
Leo reached her.
She lifted him.
And continued down the aisle carrying the boy whose life had brought her into Gabriele’s.
Gabriele’s eyes filled.
Marco whispered, “Don’t.”
“Shut up.”
Federica reached him.
Leo immediately grabbed Gabriele’s boutonniere.
The officiant waited.
Federica laughed.
Gabriele took Leo.
Then reached for her hand.
The ceremony was simple.
No promises of obedience.
No ownership.
No declarations that love erased difficulty.
Federica promised honesty even when Gabriele disliked it.
Gabriele promised to listen even when Federica assumed he would not.
Guests laughed.
Then he added:
“I promise no decision about your life will be made without you.”
Federica looked at him.
That promise mattered more than jewels.
When it was her turn, she said:
“I promise I will never confuse your fear for control without asking which one it is.”
His expression softened.
“And I promise to remind you that being loved is not a debt.”
Sofia cried.
Rosa cried.
Marco denied crying.
Alessandro openly cried and blamed Italian genetics.
The officiant pronounced them husband and wife.
Gabriele kissed Federica.
Leo applauded.
Everyone laughed.
For one perfect minute, there were no enemies.
No Gray.
No ledger.
No blood.
Only family.
At dinner, Gabriele stood to speak.
Federica immediately said, “No speeches longer than three minutes.”
He looked offended.
“I own the venue.”
“Two minutes now.”
Guests laughed.
Gabriele looked at her.
Then at Leo.
Then at everyone who had survived.
“My brother once told me that family is not what you inherit.”
The room quieted.
“It is what you choose to protect without destroying.”
Federica’s eyes filled.
“I misunderstood him for years.”
He looked at his wife.
“Federica taught me the rest.”
Applause rose.
Later, they danced beneath lights strung across the garden.
Federica rested her head against his chest.
“You called me your wife three times tonight.”
“I like the word.”
“I noticed.”
“You regret it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“But if you ever say you claimed me, I’ll correct you publicly.”
He smiled.
“I chose you.”
“Better.”
“And you chose me.”
“Exactly.”
Gabriele kissed her hair.
Across the lawn, Leo danced badly with Rosa.
Sofia laughed.
Marco finally removed his earpiece.
For the first time since Matteo’s death, Gabriele felt no need to scan the exits.
Federica noticed.
“Progress?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t get reckless.”
“I learned from you.”
She laughed.
He pulled her closer.
Chicago had once whispered that Gabriele Romano claimed everything he wanted.
Territory.
Companies.
Loyalty.
Power.
But Federica Ferrari had taught him the difference between possessing something and being chosen by someone.
May you like
And he knew which was more valuable.
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