Chapter 18 - The Ultimate Vow
The wedding was nothing like the high society disaster at the Plaza Hotel.
It was held in the sprawling backyard of the Westchester estate beneath the massive apple tree, draped in white linen and thousands of fairy lights.
There were no cartel bosses, no hitmen, and no terrified socialites. Just a small circle of trusted friends, a local judge who looked entirely too happy to officiate, and a very unruly wedding party.
Marco stood proudly as the ring bearer, holding a velvet pillow with a grip so tight his knuckles were white. Nico wore a clip-on bow tie that was already crooked by 2:00 PM. Alessandro had sketched a comic book depicting his dad as a knight and Serena as a dragon-slaying queen, handing copies out to the guests. Tommy stood quietly by his brothers, smiling with genuine, unburdened joy.
And Lucia stood beside Serena as maid of honor, wearing a matching white dress and holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
As Serena walked down the grassy aisle in a simple, elegant lace gown, her arm linked with her proud lawyer who had helped her win her life back, Victor stood at the altar waiting for her.
He looked devastatingly handsome in a custom navy blue suit, his dark eyes shimmering with unshed tears as he watched her approach.
“You look breathtaking,” Victor whispered as she reached his side.
“You clean up alright yourself, mafia boss,” Serena teased softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
When the judge finally pronounced them husband and wife, the applause was deafening. But the loudest noise of all came from the four Rinaldi boys, who immediately tackled their father from behind in a massive group hug, nearly knocking the groom into the wedding cake.
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Victor laughed, grabbing Nico and Marco in a headlock while pulling Serena and Lucia into the center of the pile.
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the Westchester sky in brilliant shades of gold and violet. The music started, the lights twinkled, and for the first time in his life, Victor Rinaldi realized that the best battles aren’t won with guns or gold, but with love, courage, and a broke stranger who refused to back down.
