Bonus - Years later
Six Years Later
“Elena, you go in in ten minutes,” says my Aunt Isadora, as I adjust my dress.
“I’m nervous,” I say, with a slight trembling of anxiety in my fingers.
“Don’t worry, princess, you look beautiful,” says my father, pride in his eyes.
I look at myself in the mirror one last time before entering the church.
The white dress I’m wearing is stunning, and for a moment I truly feel like a princess.
“I’m proud of you, darling,” says my father, and I have to hold back tears so as not to smudge my makeup.
“Thank you, Dad,” I say, smiling, and I hug him.
“Elena, the time has come,” says my Aunt Isadora, and I nod.
I walk with my father to the entrance of the church, and two minutes later the wedding march begins.
I take a deep breath and, when the doors open, I smile. I see all the guests rise and I walk towards the altar with my father by my side.
My brothers wear black suits and marsala ties, matching the color of the bridesmaids' dresses.
Dominic wears a dark blue suit and a white tie.
He looks at me with admiration and love; his emotions dispel my nervousness and give me the courage to walk towards him.
My father gives me away at the altar and whispers something in his ear that makes Dominic nod earnestly.
The ceremony is absolutely perfect.
“Dominic Movinsk, do you take Elena Valentini as your lawfully wedded wife, to love and protect her, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, in joy and in adversity, until death do you part?” asks the priest.
“I do,” replies Dominic, looking at me with love.
“Elena Valentini, do you take Dominic Movinsk to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and in sorrow, until death do you part?” the priest asks.
“Yes, I do,” I reply, smiling at Dominic.
Dominic places the ring on my finger and I on his.
The priest prays over our rings and then concludes the ceremony.
“Now you may kiss your wife,” says the priest.
Three years later:
“I’m home!”, I announce, entering the house.
Dominic is sitting in the living room with a glass of cognac in his hand, looking intently at me.
I kiss his lips and take the glass from his hand, sitting on his lap.
“How was your day, my angel?”, he asks, kissing my neck.
“Tiring, but I managed to meet the Italians’ demands,” I reply, smiling.
When I turned sixteen, my grandfather fulfilled his promise and let me choose whether or not I wanted to join the mafia.
I made the right choice and now I’m the head of the American mafia, wife of Don Russo, and I have connections with the Italian mafia.
Quite a resume.
After marrying Dominic, I also provide some services to the Russian mafia, just as he does for the American one.
“Your family can be demanding,” he comments, while lowering the strap of my dress.
I give him access to my body, his hands tracing slow circles around my breasts, and I sit with my legs on either side of him, right on top of his erection.
"They taught me well, but I can say I have my own way of making someone do what I say," I whisper in his ear, and he groans when I rub against him.
We're engrossed in caresses when Dominic's phone rings, and he huffs irritably.
"I need to answer, my angel," he says, and I get up.
"I'm going to take a shower and meet you for dinner," I say, leaving the room.
I go to our room, grab the box I hid earlier in my closet, put a little outfit I bought today inside, and get ready for dinner.
I go down to the kitchen, and Dominic is already sitting there waiting for me. He looks at me curiously when he sees a small box in my hands.
"What are you up to?" he asks, and I smile at him. "This is a Christmas present I prepared for you," I say, handing it to him.
"Christmas is in twenty days, my angel," he says, taking the box and smiling.
"This one can't wait," I say, laughing, and sit down next to him.
He unties the ribbon and places the box on the table.
I smile even more when he opens the lid and reveals what's inside.
His eyes widen, and he looks at me with surprise and then joy.
Inside the box is a pair of blue baby shoes, a pregnancy test, and a baby boy's outfit, announcing that Dominic is going to be a father.
Dominic hugs me tenderly around the waist, and he kneels to kiss my belly.
"You make me the happiest man in the world, my angel," he tells me and hugs me.
"I love you too, my Don," I tell him, and then he kisses me passionately. “I love you, my angel, and I love our son,” he says, happily.
I smile, equally happy; finally, everything is working out for us. Finally, we are happy and at peace.
“We need to tell our family,” I say, and he seems to be in another world.
“We need to show our love to the world, let them know that you made me the happiest and most complete man I could be,” Dominic says, holding my chin.
Five years later:
I'm sitting on the sofa at my father's house and I put Sebastian on my lap; he's fast asleep while Aidan runs around the house chasing his cousin Jordan.
"Boys, slow down," says Aunt Esther, and they slow down.
"How are you, dear?" asks my father, kissing my forehead.
"Tired. Aidan has enough energy to power an entire city, and Sebastian is learning to walk, so I need to protect the whole house," I say, resting my head on the sofa.
"And the pregnancy?" asks Matteo, taking Sebastian from my arms.
I look at my five-month pregnant belly and take a deep breath.
"Dayana is calm and warm," I say, caressing my belly.
The first great-granddaughter of the Valentini family.
"Today we have to go to the shed to talk about something," says Lorenzo, and I see that everyone else is already there.
Lorenzo called this meeting a week ago, and it seems to be an important matter, since he brought everyone back home. "What's the matter?" I ask, looking at him seriously.
"You have a decision to make today," he says, moving closer to me, and I realize I'm the only one who doesn't know what the meeting is about.
"What is it?" I ask, leaning back more comfortably on the sofa.
"Deciding Eloisa's fate," says Grandpa, and I swallow hard.