Chapter 16 - The Wedding Day
The day of the wedding arrived, bathed in golden sunlight. Half the city's elite, politicians, judges, and high-ranking mafia bosses from across the country filled the pews of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
They had come to pay respects to Matteo Rossi, the undisputed king of New York. But Matteo didn't care about the power or the audience. He stood at the altar in a bespoke black tuxedo, his heart hammering in his chest like a nervous schoolboy.
The massive wooden doors of the cathedral swung open. The organ music swelled, echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
Camilla appeared, a vision in white lace, walking beneath a canopy of white orchids exactly as they had planned. Beside her, walking with a slight limp but a proud, beaming smile, was Julian.
When Camilla reached the altar, Julian placed her hand in Matteo’s.
"Take care of her, Matteo," Julian whispered.
"With my life," Matteo vowed.
The priest began the ceremony. Matteo and Camilla spoke their vows, their voices steady and full of profound emotion. When Matteo slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, he didn't just see his wife; he saw his partner, his equal, the woman who had braved the mafia underworld to save her family, and in doing so, had solidified his.
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"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest declared. "You may kiss the bride."
Matteo pulled Camilla in, kissing her deeply as the cathedral erupted in applause.
