Dante was astounded at how large their church looked when it wasn't filled to the brim with parishioners. Out of the many rows of pews, only the first few on both sides of the aisle were filled with guests to the small wedding.

Lucian's wedding had been massive. Giovanni didn't have one at all and refused to let his mother throw a celebration party afterward. Dante and Catrina's ceremony would be a short affair with little pomp and circumstance. A dinner for family and close friends back at the Marcello home was planned for later.

Naturally, that didn't mean nothing at all had been done for their day to make the church feel as if a wedding was taking place on a quiet Tuesday. A white satin runner lined the aisle. Blush creams and white colored tulle linked between each pew, attached with bows of silk tied around the stems of arranged roses. Petals scattered the floor up the altar where Dante stood waiting with his hands clasped at his back. Light from the late morning filtered in through the stained glass windows, bathing the church in muted colors.

No one stood beside Dante at the altar. Their witnesses would stand when needed, but they really didn't need or want them beyond that. Dante didn't think it mattered. He and Catrina were adults moving into the next step of life together-a unit of one.

It was their wedding, after all. Better to do what they wanted for it.

Catrina wanted to walk down the aisle alone. Dante wanted to stand alone.

When the music changed slightly in tempo, Dante stared down the aisle as the guests stood from their seats. Their chosen witnesses, Lucian and Jordyn, who would sign their documents, had already made their entrance and sat down in the front pew along with the rest of the immediate Marcello family. A grin split Dante's lips as he met Catrina's gaze at the other end of the church.

Catrina was beautiful. Of course, she was.

It wasn't her stunning features or demure crimson smile hidden beneath the sheerness of a veil that surprised him. No, it was the color of her dress. A blush pink, pale cream, much like the color of his vest, tie, and the silks and tulles decorating the church. Lace wrapped the bodice of her gown tight to her trim, toned figure, showcasing her hourglass shape off perfectly. Capped sleeves kept the bust modest. The dress stayed snug to her body to just below her thighs were the lace began to flare outward until it met the floor in a smooth line.

Catrina had been particular about certain aspects of their wedding. Dante decided to take a step back and let her do whatever in the hell she wanted. Even so, from the very first time they sat down and discussed their preferences for the wedding, she had been so fucking secretive about her dress.

Dante thought it ridiculous. Just a little, given they weren't exactly a traditional couple. And despite the fact they were tying the knot in a Catholic church, the ceremony would be much shorter than a full Catholic ceremony. But that dress ... that damned dress, Catrina kept everything she could about it as quiet as possible.

Bad luck, he remembered her telling him.

Dante had rolled his eyes, let her have her fun, and brushed it off.

Now, he was glad she had stayed as tight-lipped as she did. Nothing about them or this day was truly real-not in an emotional sense. He hadn't woken up that morning with nerves making him anxious. It felt like any other Tuesday with an extra event added on he needed to get done before he could move onto more important things.

It just ... was.

Simply put, Catrina's dress was stunning. She looked absolutely gorgeous in it. The sight of the pink cream lace, her veil trimmed with pearls, and her smile beneath felt honest. Gratitude danced hand in hand with his brief moment of pleasure.

So, Dante reveled in that one thing she had managed to give him without even really knowing it. The closer Catrina came down the aisle, the bigger his grin grew. He didn't think about the people watching him or her from the pews. Their thoughts and opinions on the day wouldn't make a difference to the end result.

Father Peter, who stood just a foot behind Dante with his bible in hand, chuckled. Very quietly, the priest said, "She's a beautiful bride, Dante."

Dante nodded almost subtly, keeping his gaze on Catrina all the while. "She is."

And even if Catrina wasn't really his, she still would be in a way. If nothing else came of the day that one thing was something Dante would keep. Privately, to be sure, but he would keep it.

When Catrina came to a stop at the bottom of the altar, she flashed him with a brilliant smile and a wink. Even in church, the girl was trouble. But with that simple action, she took away all the tension still lingering in his ramrod straight spine. She would seal his fate, his seat within his family, and he was so thankful for that. Dante didn't think for one minute their agreement would be easy, but he decided to be open to Catrina's friendship.

Even if she came with claws.

Dante walked down the steps of the altar to stand at Catrina's side and face the priest. His gaze caught the back of her dress and his mouth went dry. While the color and style were more than appropriate for a Catholic service, the wide open back dipping nearly down to the swell of her ass pushed the line.

And good fucking God, was it sexy as sin.

Dante willed the sudden rise of desire shooting through his bloodstream away. He did not need that shit right now. Not in church.

Father Peter said his introduction of the couple for the attendees. There was very little wiggle room in a Catholic ceremony for certain aspects, especially in the area of tradition and the rite of marriage.

"Dante, who presents you for this union?" Father Peter asked.

"I give myself into this union freely."

"Who presents you today, child?" Father Peter asked Catrina.

"I present myself."

"And do you come into this union free in mind and pure in heart to tie your soul with this man?"

Catrina smirked wickedly under her veil. "Certainly free of mind, Father."

A quiet round of chuckles murmured through the small, still standing crowd of guests.

Father Peter clicked his tongue chidingly, but Dante heard the humor when the priest said, "Do I have to ask again, Catrina?"

"I come willingly into this union, Father."

"And, Dante, do you come into this union free in your mind and pure in your heart, open to tying your soul with this woman's?"

"I come willingly," Dante replied.

Father Peter smiled. "Do you stand here together, giving one another the promise of lifelong fidelity and loyalty to your marriage?"

"We do," Catrina and Dante said together.

Dante wet his lips, waiting for the final question before they could begin the ceremony. It had only been included because it needed to be, not because he wanted it to be. The priest knew of Dante's reasons for including the pointless question for the couple, so that made it a little easier.

Father Peter's smile faded a bit as he asked, "Together as a unity in your marriage, are you open to children?"

"We are," they answered together quietly.

"Good, then let's begin."

Kim stepped away from Giovanni's side in the front row to take the small bouquet of white roses from Catrina's outstretched hand.

Once Kim was back in line with her husband and the rest of the Marcello family, Catrina and Dante walked up the steps leading to the raised altar. As Catrina turned to face Dante, she held her hands out for him to take and he did without a flicker of hesitation before Father Peter asked them to. Dante considered it a show of her willingness to see their arrangement through, so he took the action for what it was.

Two chairs were placed behind Dante and Catrina so they could participate with the rest of the guests during the ceremony. They would stand, kneel, pray, read, and act as one with everyone else.

Father Peter began, his usual vocal timber strong and clear as he spoke, blessing both the couple and the guests. When he finished the initial blessing, Catrina released Dante's hands at the same time he let go of hers. Both made the motions of the cross in time with the priest and guests before the people and the couple were asked to sit.

Catrina and Dante had forgone the option of having individual speakers read their choice in prayers and Gospels, and instead, chose for the priest to do the readings.

Dante canted his head just enough to catch Catrina's stare in his own. Her smile hadn't disappeared below her veil, but it wasn't as coquettish as before. Now, it seemed like she was watching him from the side with a little more intensity as the priest delivered the selected scripture and spoke of the wise man who built his house on rock.

Time slipped by faster than Dante thought it would. It was strange how his wedding felt normal and not like the premade arrangement it was. He knew inside it was because marriage had always been the next step he refused to take. But now that he was doing it, an invisible weight lifted from his shoulders.

After today, nothing could hold Dante back from being the Don.

The ceremony progressed with the couple kneeling when directed, reciting the prayers, and crossing their hearts more times than Dante cared to count. When they stood one last time, the final Gospel was read, and Father Peter joined Catrina's right hand with Dante's once more.

Dante faced the woman who in less than a couple of short minutes would become his wife. He kept Catrina's stare locked in his own as she repeated the vows the priest recited.

Affection, friendship, and commitment.

God and honor. Loyalty, cherishing, and trust.

The words came out easy for Dante when he too recited the vows.

It was only during the final blessing, after the vows had been spoken, did Dante stutter in his thoughts. He knew it was coming. Shit, it was one of the most important parts of the ceremony for most couples, but he and Catrina hadn't shared any kind of intimacy but for her little show the first time they met and that kiss on his birthday.

"You may kiss your bride, Dante," Father Peter said.

Dante's gaze flicked over Catrina's suddenly growing grin beneath her sheer veil. Her sexiness was back in a blink, teasing him. Catrina was good for keeping him on his toes. Nothing would be boring with her around. She liked her shock factor.

Silently, she mouthed, "Kiss your bride, Dante."

It was time for him to shock her for once, he decided.

She played along the entire day without a single fuss. Unusual for Catrina, to say the least. He was grateful she let the day go smoothly for them both.

Catrina stepped closer to Dante as he reached for her veil. He flipped the sheer fabric over her head with the rest of it, cupped her jaw in his firm hold, and kissed her hard. Catrina's eyes flew wide, her fingers wrapping around his wrists.

She didn't try to move away from the kiss, though. No, instead he felt her lips twist with a smile before they parted just enough to let his tongue spear into the heat of her mouth. She kissed him back as applause began to echo through the church and the priest presented them to the guests.

As Dante pulled away from Catrina, keeping his gaze locked on hers, she still held tight to his wrists.

The clapping continued.

It was done.

"Time to fill the seats," Antony said quietly.

Dante caught both his brothers staring at him while they sipped from balloon glasses half-filled with cognac. "There's no seats to fill."

Not in the Marcello Cosa Nostra, anyway. All their important seats were filled-caporegimes included. Filling seats meant giving a man his button, turning him into a made man for la famiglia.

"There's going to be," Antony replied vaguely.

"Here, tonight?" Dante gave a pointed nod to the guests wandering from room to room, celebrating the private affair of the final Marcello brother's wedding.

Antony nodded. "Here. Ten minutes, my office. Let the men know."

Without another word, Dante's father moved back into the crowd of guests.

"You have to empty a seat to fill it," Giovanni said at Dante's left.

"As far as I know, we don't have a rat needing smoked out," Lucian added quietly. "I would know if we did. And I can't see him making a mess Cecelia might have to see if he knows something I don't."

"Maybe he's opening a new seat for someone," Dante suggested. "Though I should have been told, given the fact I'm acting boss."

Lucian shook his head. "No, there's only been a few prospective men we're watching for the button. The floor hasn't even been opened for nominations, either. Something's off."

Giovanni sighed, clearly annoyed. "I hate it when he does shit like this."

Dante did as well. He was Antony's fucking underboss who should have been made aware if a change was happening or the floor was opening to nominations. Instead, his father acted as if Dante didn't share any power in their family at all and had no right to be let in on the man's plans.

He was getting sick of it.

Quickly, Dante surveyed the guests in his vicinity. He supposed it made sense for Antony to do something tonight, considering all the made men in their family had been invited to the wedding. Not to mention, they had come to celebrate at the Marcello mansion, too. Really, it didn't matter when it happened. If the floor was opened, and seats needed filled, the men had to show up where they were ordered to and on time regardless of what was going on at that current moment.

It was a rule. One they would die for breaking.

Dante reminded himself silently that he too had to follow those rules the same as everyone else. That included trusting his father's choices and motives whether he knew what Antony's plans were or not.

"We don't question a boss," Dante said. He wanted to get his brothers out of their thoughts and into the place they needed to be for whatever was about to happen. "Let the men know a seat needs filled. Eight minutes, now. Do not keep Antony waiting."

Lucian and Gio broke away from Dante, not needing to be told again. Dante weaved through the guests enjoying the food and specialty desserts to find where his new wife might be. He found Catrina on the makeshift dancefloor, twirling a little girl Dante recognized as being the daughter of one of his father's capos.

Catrina looked happy enough with the child's hands in hers, swaying to the music pumping out of the sound system. It was supposed to be a night for her to enjoy, even if their marriage was one giant charade, and he hated to interrupt her fun just so he could disappear.

It didn't matter. He couldn't get off unnoticed as Catrina caught his eye. She winked, nodding her head for him to come over.

"Have you met Mr. Marcello?" Catrina asked the child when Dante came to stand at his wife's side.

"No," said the little girl.

She looked scared staring up at Dante, for whatever reason.

"Oh, don't be frightened of him," Catrina said, waving at her husband. She picked the little girl up so she could be eye-level with Dante. "He's like a fluffy kitten."

Fluffy kitten?

"And he doesn't even have claws," Catrina added in a whisper.

For Christ's sake.

"I am not a-"

"Stata Zeet, bello," Catrina said, effectively telling him to shut up while giving him a sly smile. "It's her first time coming here. She's nervous because the house is so large and she doesn't know anyone. Say hello."

Dante felt more uncomfortable by the minute because the child seemed frightened of him. "Hello."