“Then I guess you’re going to kill me because I’m not marrying her!” Rafe shouted while wincing from what had to be agonizing pain in his shoulder.
“So be it,” Edoardo growled as he brought the gun up from his side.
“No!” Drea screamed.
Since I knew with Rafe’s stubbornness he wouldn’t back down. He would leave this church in a body bag if I didn’t dosomething. There was no way in hell I was letting my brother die at Edoardo’s hands.
Suddenly, a moment of complete clarity entered my brain, and an idea flashed before my eyes.
“Stop, wait!” I shouted.
After throwing my hands up in surrender, I stepped towards Edoardo. “Is it Rafe you want, or will anyone with a Neretti name be good enough?”
“What the fuck are you saying?” Rafe demanded.
Ignoring him, I nodded at Edoardo. “There’s a way out of this where the two of you can both get what you want.”
Edoardo narrowed his eyes. “You’re suggesting someone take Rafe’s place.”
“I am.”
A mirthless laugh escaped Edoardo’s lips. “Marrying my daughter to anyone but the capo is an insult.”
“What if it’s the capo’s second in command?” I countered.
Rafe sucked in a harsh breath. “Leo, what the fuck are you doing?”
I flicked my gaze from Edoardo to him. “I’m trying to find a way for you to be happy.”
“While that’s commendable, what aboutyourhappiness?”
“This is about my happiness as much as it is about saving your life.
Although I wanted to say that, I knew I couldn’t. With the situation so tenuous, honesty sure as hell wasn’t the way to go. Instead, I’d have to give a version of the truth.
With a shrug, I replied, “Better the devil you know than the one you don’t, right? I mean, I was always going to have an arranged marriage. At least I know Drea. It goes without saying I’d be getting a stunner of a bride who can knock a man on his ass.”
I threw a glance over my shoulder at Drea and winked. After ducking her head, she glanced up to give me a surprisingly shy smile. I knew then she was on board with pretending there was nothing between us.
Edoardo slowly lowered his gun. “You’reoffering to marry Andrea?”
“I am.”
Gasps and murmurs rang out through the crowd. I’m pretty sure nothing like this had ever happened at a wedding before.
“Unfuckingbelievable,” Gianni remarked across from me, to which I winked at him.
“And you would allow this?” Edoardo asked Rafe.
Would he? The question truly didn’t have an easy answer. Sure, he got to marry the woman he loved, but at what cost? He had to be contemplating what the other families would think of his leadership if he allowed me to take his place. I’m sure most would view him as weak to refuse a proper alliance to be controlled by his feelings for a woman.
At the same time, I didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought. I’d been through too much hell. With happiness in reach for both Rafe and me, I wasn’t going down without a fight. Even if it had to be with my own brother.
Staring intently at me, Rafe said, “As long as he’s okay with it.”
Without a moment of indecision, I replied, “I am.”
Turning back to Drea, Rafe asked, “What about you? It isn’t fair not to give you a say.”