Beast I Can’t Tame by L.K. Shaw

Epilogue One

Francesca

I love weddings.

It’s been a couple years since I attended one, though. Never in a million years did I imagine that the next one I’d be attending is my own.

“You look so beautiful,” Brenna whispers in awe, her eyes misting over.

“Don’t you dare start crying,” I warn her, sniffling back my own tears as I glare at her through the mirror.

“Are you kidding? She’s been crying off and on all day,” Mila jokes.

“I can’t help it, my hormones are out of control. If this whole pregnancy is like this, I don’t understand why women would want to go through this so many times,” Brenna whines. “I’m never going to survive five more months of this.”

“Yes, you will. Because when it’s all said and done, you’re going to have a beautiful baby in your arms. Then you’ll forget all about the hormones,” I tell her.

“I know, you’re right. But I’m just so happy.” She sniffs and wipes away the few tears that manage to escape.

I have to look away, otherwise I’m going to join her. This is the happiest day of my life. I can only hope that one day soon I’ll be pregnant, too. Gio and I decided we want at least three kids. A knock comes from the door and Brenna’s mother peeks her head through the opening.

“May I come in?” she asks.

“Of course.” I wave my arm in a welcome gesture.

She moves to stand next to me, her gaze taking in my reflection, and she smiles brightly. “You look absolutely stunning, my dear.”

“Thank you, Moira.”

“I wasn’t sure if you had anything old or not, but I wanted to give you this.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the most stunning pearl necklace I’ve ever seen. “These belonged to my great-aunt and were given to her by her grandmother. She was a wonderful woman who never had any children of her own. I know she would love for you to have them.”

“Thank you so much,” I manage to say, almost blubbering as I turn my back to her and swipe my hair out of the way.

Moira drapes the pearls around my neck and fastens it before moving to Brenna and putting her arm around her daughter. I finger the round gems with reverence, no longer able to hold back the tears.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” she rushes out, grabbing several tissues from the box on the stand and passing them to me.

I pat my eyes, trying to be careful of my makeup, but no doubt making a mess of it. Brenna and Mila grab their own tissues, and all of us are in tears. My mother should be the one here giving me a token for my wedding. Instead, she’s gone. Living with the consequences of her actions. I mentally shake myself. She doesn’t deserve any more of my thoughts. Another knock, this one louder than Moira’s, hits the door.

“Are you decent in there?” Pierce’s voice is muffled through the wood.

Mila crosses the short distance from where she’d been sitting on the chaise and lets him in. He gives her a quick kiss. Then, his eyes meet mine and his face softens even further with affection. Besides Mila, I’m the only person who gets the privilege of watching him lose the mask of indifference he always wears.

I rise from my seat and Pierce meets me in the middle of the room. He brushes a stray tear off my cheek, and I lean into his touch.

“Are you ready for this?” he asks gruffly.

“More than ready,” I say laying my hand over his. “I’ve waited my whole life for this moment.”

“If he ever hurts you, I’ll kill him.” It’s not an idle threat, either.

“At some point in time you’re going to have to stop threatening to kill my soon-to-be husband.” I chuckle.

“Never. You’re my sister, and I’ll always look out for you. That means killing any person who might hurt you. Even if he’s your soon-to-be husband.”

A fresh batch of tears attempt to escape. “For so long you’ve taken care of me. It’s Giovanni’s turn, now. You know he’ll never hurt me.” 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t still put the fear of god into him.”

I smack my brother’s arm.

“Alright, let me know when you’ve finished getting ready. I’ll be outside waiting.” Pierce brushes another kiss across my forehead, whispers something in Mila’s ear that makes her blush, and heads back out the door.

“Now then,” Moira claps her hands. “Let’s put the final touches on your hair and makeup so you can get married.”

The final notesof the prelude fade, and the wedding march begins. Should I be more nervous than I am? Because the only emotion soaring through me is excitement. I’m marrying Giovanni. My best friend. This is the first day of the rest of our lives together. How can I not be excited?

Two soldiers open the double doors of the sanctuary and my gaze heads straight down the middle of the aisle, ignoring all the guests on either side, to where Gio waits at the end of it. I only have eyes for my fiancé. Like always, my heart begins to race. The smile lights up his beautiful face and the dimples form craters in his cheeks. He looks so dashing in his tuxedo.

Pierce and I glide down the red carpet toward the altar. I can’t look away from him until, at last, we’re standing face-to-face. My brother takes his place next to Jacob, the best man. Brenna and Mila stand on my side, both of them wiping away their tears.

“Dearly beloved,” the priest begins.

The ceremony passes in a blur until Jacob hands Gio the ring, and he turns to me with so much love in his eyes. I’ve held it together this long, even through the vows, although that was close, but I can’t any longer and tears cloud my vision.

He reaches for my hand, holding it gently, as his gaze drinks me in. “I, Giovanni Cristiano Saccone, take you, Francesca Luisa De Luca, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

Gio slides the platinum pavé eternity band down my finger, and then brings my hand to his lips, placing a kiss against my palm. I sniff back the tears and give him a watery smile. He releases me, and I turn around to face Brenna. She places a ring in my trembling hand. I face Giovanni again.

“I, Francesca Luisa De Luca, take you, Giovanni Cristiano Saccone, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

My hands shake so bad, I’m afraid I’m going to drop it, but I manage to slide the titanium band down his finger.

“Let us pray.” Father Moretti closes his eyes, and I follow suit as he recites the Universal Prayer.

After a collective, “Amen”, I open them again.

“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” Father Moretti announces.

I sink into Giovanni’s kiss. At last, this man is my husband. I’m ready to spend the rest of our lives together. We turn to face our families, their welcoming smiles greeting us. Brenna’s family is here. All except her grandfather. He suffered a massive stroke a few months ago, and Cormac has taken over while his father is in the hospital.

The day couldn’t have turned out more perfect. As Giovanni—my husband—escorts me down the aisle, happiness pours into me. We’ve both been through so much and we finally found our way to this place. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.