“I, Emmeline Prince, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit.”
When the ring was on my finger, I accepted his, still shaking all over when I placed it on the tip of his finger.
After saying his name and repeating the same words, he grasped my hand into his, pulling my fingers toward his lips. In his usual deep, sensual voice, he whispered words that I’d never forget. “Amore regge il suo regno senza spada.” Love rules his kingdom without a sword. “E este rei amará, honrará e cuidará de sua rainha até o fim dos tempos.”
And this king will love, honor, and cherish his queen until the end of time.
As the remainder of the words were spoken, tears formed in my eyes. The wedding was absolutely perfect.
“You may kiss the bride.”
We both took a deep breath as Donatello brought me closer, lowering his head as he did.
“I do love you, sweet Ambrosia.” He kissed me with the kind of wonder and carefulness as if he were holding a butterfly in his huge hands. The surge of electricity left me feeling unraveled, his lips and hold demanding as always.
But his body stiffened almost immediately, a clear indication something was wrong.
He cupped my face, repeating an action that I’d come to expect when showering me with his version of adoration. He brushed his thumb across my mouth, but the action was rougher than usual.
“What is it?” I whispered, immediately turning my head and frantically scanning the front of the church.
His grin wasn’t one I’d expected. “Trouble. Father, you might want to run to safety. I’m sorry. I’ll send you a check for the damage.”
“What damage, son?” the priest asked.
A cold chill coursed down my spine.
I didn’t need to ask why.
Seconds later, the two doors burst open and a firestorm rushed inside.
CHAPTER 26
Donatello
Well, fuck.
Couldn’t a man catch a break? Like maybe for his wedding day?
While the last time I’d been inside a church had been to cut and gut an enemy, which I’d done with finesse, I knew enough about religion to realize a man’s wedding day was supposed to be sacred.
Not to be interrupted by a group of souped-up gunmen hoping desperately for a quick shootout and kill so they could make their afternoon flight.
Too bad I wasn’t going to abide by their rules.
I was one pissed-off groom.
“Careful, darling,” I told Emmeline after we’d both ducked behind the altar, each reaching for our weapon as was our training. I had mine in both hands, peering out around the endof the thick wooden bench, counting the number of soldiers. Eight and likely more outside.
They’d come locked and loaded.
Fucking fantastic.
My instinct told me we needed to be careful, but for fuck’s sake. They had to attack us here?
Pop! Pop! Pop!
“I’m always careful,” she retorted, her teeth gritted and I’d be damned if she didn’t slip around the other end, firing off two rounds in response to their three.