If Remo thought he could intimidate me with these images, he forgot what my last name was. I’d pummeled a biker to a bloody pulp with a hammer as a teen when we’d saved Marcella.
“When you’re thinking about creating bloody sheets tonight, remember what Nino and I did to Kiara’s uncle at the last big wedding between the Camorra and the Famiglia.”
Dad got up too and shook his head. “You took photos of the fucking mess you created back then? It took weeks to renovate the room. You acted like barbarians.”
“Thanks for the pleasant images before the happiest day in my life.”
Remo narrowed his eyes at Dad. “Many would call it barbaric to get off on virgin blood covered sheets.”
I gritted my teeth and sought Matteo’s eyes in the mirror, trying to give him a silent sign to remove those two from the room, or at least Remo.
Dad smirked. “I’m half tempted to call Dante so he can tell us how kindly he took your presentation of the sheets of your first night with Serafina.”
“At least I presented real sheets.”
“Enough.” Matteo shook his head and handed them both flasks. “Take a few gulps of this special concoction. It’ll lift your mood.”
“What about me? The groom usually gets a flask.”
Matteo winked. “You need your wits about you. Tonight’s a special night, I don’t want you to pass out too soon.”
Dad sniffed at the flask, then narrowed his eyes at Matteo. “What is it? The scent is familiar.”
“It takes plenty of poison to kill me,” Remo said with a twisted grin at Matteo.
“We’ll see.”
Holding Matteo’s gaze, Remo took a tiny gulp, then his lips curled.
“It’s Cannabis moonshine. Gianna and I brewed it as an experiment a while back and took a shine on it.” He winked again. I had a feeling he’d gotten a head start on the cannabis moonshine already. If that made sure he wouldn’t kill Alessio, Massimo or Nevio today, I didn’t care if he smoked a few bongs too.
“Fuck it. We don’t consume our own product!” Dad growled.
“It’s not our stuff. Gianna bought it at a Russian dealer. She says their ware is superior and cheaper, which is something we need to work on, by the way.”
Remo closed the lid of his flask and shoved it at me. “I’ll let you to your discussions about the dismal state of your drug production and go to my daughter.”
I knew he would threaten me a few more times today. I would probably have been disappointed if he didn’t. Greta deserved to be treated like a queen.
Dad stepped up behind me and our eyes met in the mirror. “Don’t drink that stuff. You should have your wits about you tonight.”
Matteo patted my back and took the flask from me. “He’s right. I’ll take care of it.” When he walked out, he took a long gulp from the flask.
Dad sighed. “If this day ends without a bloodbath, I’ll call it a success.”
I nodded absent-mindedly and smoothed my silver tie. Dad put a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll make sure everyone behaves today. This day is yours and Greta’s.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He patted the spot over my heart. “I should have let you follow your heart. I should have known if you risked so much for a woman that it was serious. I tried to make you prioritize the tattoo over your heart when that’s something I have never done since I married your mother.”
“The past is the past. Today we start a new chapter.”
Dad nodded, then his expression became warning. “I don’t think this is necessary, but I’ll tell you anyway. Treat your wife like a queen tonight. The Famiglia is the place to lose control and allow the monster to come out, never your marriage or family.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Dad, because you showed me all my life.”
Dad stepped back with a controlled smile, but I’d seen the hint of emotion in his eyes. When he left and I was alone in the room, I took a deep breath.
This was it. The moment I’d waited far too long for. I was marrying the woman I loved with every fiber of my being.
Today wouldn’t be a bloody wedding, but plenty of blood had been shed for this wedding to happen. We all had bled and some had died because they hadn’t wanted Greta and me to marry.
Dad nodded at me from the first row. He’d had my back. He’d done what he hadn’t wanted to do in so long, and made a bloody statement. While the Traditionalists had paid with blood, they’d also won on other fronts. Their rules had been reinforced and the Famiglia was moving backwards in certain areas.