Chapter 8 - The Wedding Where Everyone Came to See the Mafia Boss Cry
They married in a small church outside Chicago.
Damon wanted no press.
No politicians.
No old associates.
Only family and friends.
Sophia served as flower girl.
Elias carried the rings.
Zeus wore a small black bow tie.
He hated it.
Rosa laughed when she saw him.
“You look handsome.”
Zeus sneezed.
Damon smiled.
“He agrees.”
The ceremony was beautiful.
When Rosa walked down the aisle, Damon forgot every person in the room.
He looked at her as if she were the first good thing he had ever seen.
She reached him.
He whispered.
“You came.”
She smiled.
“I always was.”
The priest spoke.
Then came the vows.
Damon's voice shook.
“For years, I thought strength meant making sure nobody could ever hurt you.”
He looked at Rosa.
“Then you taught me that strength means giving someone the freedom to choose you.”
Rosa cried.
“I choose you.”
They exchanged rings.
They kissed.
Sophia clapped too loudly.
Everyone laughed.
At the reception, Damon danced with his daughter.
She stepped on his shoes.
He didn't care.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you more.”
Rosa watched them.
Then she noticed Serena standing alone.
She approached.
“You okay?”
Serena smiled sadly.
“I've spent years regretting everything.”
“You protected Sophia.”
“I also lied.”
“Both can be true.”
Serena nodded.
“I want to do better.”
Rosa hugged her.
“Then do.”
Later that evening, Damon found Rosa outside.
The sky was clear.
Snow covered the trees.
“You're quiet.”
“So are you.”
He smiled.
“I was thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
He laughed.
Then he reached into his pocket.
Another small key.
“What is that?”
“My father left one last safe.”
Rosa sighed.
“Of course he did.”
“We opened it today.”
“And?”
Inside was a letter.
For Damon.
And a photograph.
Rosa looked at the photograph.
Her mother.
Antonio Alvarez.
Damon's father.
All together.
“You knew each other.”
“Yes.”
Her father had not abandoned her.
He had been placed into witness protection.
Because he had turned against Victor.
The truth finally connected every missing piece.
Antonio had helped Elena hide Rosa.
Damon's father had tried to control the situation.
Serena had panicked.
Everyone had made choices.
Some terrible.
Some brave.
None simple.
Rosa looked at Damon.
“It's over.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“And we know everything.”
“Almost.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“What now?”
Damon smiled.
May you like
“We live.”
That was exactly what they did.
