Devotion (Mafia Ties #3) by Fiona Davenport Read Free Book Online

that,” he drawled, pulling an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “It turned out to be simpler than my lawyer expected.”
    With trembling fingers, I pulled the paperwork out and stared at it with tears streaming down my cheeks. “How?”
    “My investigator discovered she’d died from a drug overdose four years ago. He provided my lawyer with a copy of her death certificate, who added it to his petition to the courts.”
    I probably should have felt sadness or pity for the woman who would never know Sophia, but I only felt relief and overwhelming happiness that we’d overcome this obstacle so easily.
    “Why are you crying, Mommy?” Sophia asked, climbing off her chair and crawling onto my lap.
    “Because Daddy gave me the best news ever, sweetie. These papers right here”—I waved the envelope—“say that I’m officially your mommy.”
    “You guys are so silly,” she giggled. “I already knew you were my mommy.”
    With those innocent words, I was shattered, but in the best way possible. As I cried happy tears with Sophia in my lap, I felt Nic pull us both into his arms and heard my dad talking to my mom.
    “Forget about your plans for the night, Olivia. Our girl has her family to tend to. We’ll meet her at the church in the morning.”
    ***
    T hey didn’t just meet me at the church in time for the wedding. My mom spent two hours fussing over me, making sure my hair and make-up were perfect before helping me into my dress. She reluctantly left me to go sit down when my dad came to get me. Standing at the end of the aisle, with my hand at his elbow, I was joyous at having my family with me on this special day. But, I only had eyes for one person, and he was standing in front of the altar waiting for me.
    “Ready, baby girl?” my dad asked.
    “Yes, Daddy. I’m ready.”
    He guided me down the aisle, allowing me to pay no attention to where I was walking as I kept my eyes locked on Nic’s. It felt like it took forever to reach him, and then my dad was placing my hand in Nic’s, so we could turn to face the priest who would marry us.
    “We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two hearts,” he began. “Today we witness the joining of Niccolo DeLuca and Gianna Martin in marriage.”
    Nic’s hand squeezed mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles while the priest continued.
    “If there is anyone present who has just cause why this couple should not be united let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
    Nic stiffened next to me, and I glanced up to find him glaring at the priest and then turning his fierce gaze towards our audience, as though he really believed someone might dare to interfere with our wedding.
    “Be at ease, Niccolo,” the priest murmured. “It’s merely a formality.”
    “Move on then,” Nic growled back, making me blush at the way he was speaking to the priest while standing in his church.
    The priest chuckled, seemingly used to Nic’s ways, and turned his attention towards our parents. “Who gives this man and woman to be married today?”
    “We do,” they all murmured.
    “We have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For Niccolo and Gianna, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love, and are finalizing it with this wedding. It is their desire to love each other for life and that is what we are celebrating here today.”
    Tears streamed out of my eyes. Extraordinary was an understatement when it came to how much I loved Nic. I gazed up at the amazing man standing by my side, incredibly grateful that he’d fallen in love with me, just as I had with him. The priest continued on with the opening of the ceremony and the reading of 1st Corinthians. I was so busy gazing up at Nic, in awe as he spoke his vows, that I missed it when the priest told me to repeat after him.
    “It’s your turn, mia dolce,” Nic prodded.
    “Oh,” I gasped. “Sorry.”
    Everyone in