When we walked out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, we held hands and were much more relaxed. “Good thing that my dad abolished the bloody sheets tradition. This would have ruined it.” I felt almost lightheaded with happiness.
Maddox shook his head. “You will cream, not bleed, many times on our wedding night. This was only the beginning.”
Maddox’s dirty mouth was the biggest turn-on I could have ever imagined, but I’d spend the rest of eternity stopping him from saying the horrible “C” word.
When we came into the hall, our guests were already crowding around the dance floor for our first dance of the night.
“Ready for a dance?” Maddox asked, holding out his hand. I took it and allowed him to lead me into the center of the dance floor.
His eyes scanned the crowd around us that watched our first dance as a married couple. They waited with bated breath for every misstep. But every misstep they saw was our choice. Maddox and I stared into each other’s eyes. Their judgment didn’t mean anything because I wouldn’t allow it to. I didn’t need their blessing. The only people who could have hurt me with their words were the people who wouldn’t do it because I was as important to them as they were to me. Many gazes lingered on my crown tattoo, some were almost offended, and it was a reaction that pleased me more than it should.
“Ready?” I asked with a grin.
“Ready when you are.”
I gave the band a sign. Our waltz stopped abruptly and without warning the band began playing “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic! At the Disco. The song would only land a punch for those who actually knew the song and the lyrics since the band was only acoustic. But the scandal would certainly happen afterward once word spread.
I grabbed Maddox’s tux jacket and ripped it. The fabric gave away at the predetermined tear line, leaving Maddox in only a black vest and shirt. He shoved up his sleeves, revealing his tattooed forearms. He reached for the hem of my wedding dress and pulled sharply. The lower part of the skirt tore away like the tailor had promised, leaving me in a skirt that ended above my knees.
An engine roared and Amo drove through the parting crowd on Maddox’s Harley. Dad had to convince the hotel director personally before we were given the okay to drive a motorcycle through the ballroom. He got off the bike as Maddox led me toward it with a hand on my lower back. For Maddox to allow anyone to ride his bike was a major thing. Maybe that was why Amo had started to like him.
Amo and Maddox clapped hands.
“Take good care of her or your uncle’s death will look like a piece of cake in comparison to what I’ll do to you,” Amo said with a smile that was mildly threatening.
“Amo,” I growled, trying to keep my expression happy.
“No, he’s right. If I fail, I deserve everything he and your dad have planned for me. But I won’t fail.”
Amo nodded and stepped back. In the past, he would have winked at me now or said something offensive and funny, but this new version of my brother wasn’t the easygoing teen anymore. He was on the best way to become exactly who he needed to be to follow in Dad’s footsteps.
Maddox mounted his bike then held out a helmet for me. I put it on before I straddled the bike sideways and wrapped my arms around Maddox’s middle. With a roar of the engine, we left the gawking crowd behind. I waved at Mom and Dad, who had his arm wrapped around her. Gianna gave me a thumbs up. That she was all for the scene we’d just caused was a given.
Mom waved with a beaming smile. I had talked to Dad and her about our plans. Even if I didn’t care about what people thought, my parents’ opinion mattered a lot to me. Luckily, neither Mom nor Dad had a problem with our show. Dad had accepted that whatever he’d planned for me, had fallen apart the moment I’d been kidnapped. Now he just wanted to see me happy.
I wrapped my arms even tighter around Maddox’s middle and rested my chin on his shoulder. The sun was setting over the horizon. I smiled to myself. We would be traveling along the coast up to Canada in the next two weeks for our honeymoon and spend the nights in cozy bed & breakfasts along the way. That part of our unconventional wedding plans had actually been what had worried Dad the most. But I was safe with Maddox. I didn’t need and want more bodyguards. This was our time as husband and wife. Once we were back in New York, we’d both find our way back into the strict limits of a life in the mob, especially if you were at the top. Growl was taking care of Santana while we were away. I was incredibly glad that he and Maddox had built a tentative friendship. I wanted Maddox to find people he liked to spend time with.