Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Brooklyn

That afternoon, Jayde appears in the doorway to my room, a big smile on her face.

"I have a surprise for you, baby," she says.

She leads me downstairs towards the front of the house, where she throws open the doors to the parlor. I cover my mouth with both hands when I see what's inside.

Everything is covered in white-white tulle, white lace, white silk, white satin-hanging from racks, draped over chairs, stacked on the sofa. The only dark spot in the room is Aden, standing before the fireplace, directing the workers who carry piles of garment bags.

"What's going on?" Hudson says, walking up behind me, a cup of coffee in hand.

"Don't bring that in here," Jayde scolds, swatting at him. Hudson laughs, downs the coffee, and sets it on a table in the foyer.

"Is this..." I say, looking around in awe, anxiety roiling in my stomach.

"Wedding dresses!" Jayde says, clapping her hands. "Aren't they gorgeous?"

Gorgeous? Yes. They are stunning.

But I'm not ready. That's all I can think as I stand there.

"Now, you come stand here," Jayde says, pulling me and Hudson farther into the room to stand by Aden, "out of the way, while I get everything set up."

"Is it like this for every wedding in the family?" I mutter to myself.

"No," I hear Aden say, and look up to meet his eyes. "My wedding to Hudson's mother was small. In Sicily. That's where she was from."

ever speaks of her, but I feel her presence

question, but I'm not sure if I should. And the look on Aden's face, tight and withering,

puts a hand on

young," he says. "Her marriage to my dad

Hudson, genuinely surprised. "Was her

sharply. "If you want to ask, Brooklyn, if I murdered her, or if she was kidnapped and tortured by my enemies, just do

together, embarrassed. Because of course, that's exactly what I want to

Hudson's voice is low. "It's okay," he says, before I can say how truly sorry I am. "It was a long time

"I guess that's something else we have in common.

you will start a new family soon," Aden says dryly, putting his hands in his pockets. Before I can reply, Jayde pulls

***

fitting takes all afternoon. Hudson and Aden leave immediately as

want to see the dress, insisting that it was bad luck, and Aden only wants to come in once the final selection is

Jayde says, studying me in the last dress. She holds up a beaded Oscar de la Renta, an incredible off-white

the romantic Caroline Herrera that hugs my waist with a tight bodice, off-the-shoulder sleeves flowing down into the charmeuse of the skirt, which sweeps

a little breathless, staring at myself in the mirror. I have never really been the kind of girl who dreams about her wedding, but in a dress like this? I am

her eye. "That was my favorite, too. If you'd picked

up her phone, texting someone, and my heart skips

for

turn to face Aden,

phone as he walks into the room but,

he stops dead

in the bottom of my belly. Does he not like it?

his side as his eyes slowly rove

see his mouth fall

back to my own and his mouth slams shut. He takes a step forward,

I take one step

that of