<h4>Chapter 236: Chapter 236 : Taking the Cake</h4>


    Giovani.


    Everything was going ording to n, and I was beyond happy. There I stood, as James’s best man, wearing a soft smile and my best tuxedo. So many happeningstelynded on my te, but like I promised James, I took care of them all.


    As I looked at my cousin, I felt a warmth in my chest. I genuinely wanted him to be happy. The responsibility of the Don couldn’t be easy to bnce with a growing family. I wasn’t greedy or power-hungry. In fact, the prospect of the Don was daunting.


    However, I had a feeling James may ask me to take over at some point. I would be there for him if he ever made that decision. For now, I needed to make sure this wedding went as smoothly as possible.


    Some of James’s old ‘friends’ wanted to ensure this wedding was less than savory for him. I couldn’t let that happen. I smiled kindly at the butler, my ‘friend,’ as he passed by and turned to acknowledge me. “Sir,” he grumbled. “I don’t know why Ba would choose James.”


    “Mmm, me neither,” I said, shaking my head. A lie that so easily slipped from my lips. James had been a prick to Ba for a while, so I’d heard, but they’d worked out their issues and were very happy. He’d learned from his mistakes. I was proud of him.


    This butler, who I didn’t even bother remembering the name of... Sylvio, maybe?? I was not so proud of him. He’de highly rmended, but he was awfully haughty for a butler. Perhaps he would finally serve a purpose and shut the hell up. For good. If I needed someone to take a fall, he’d be sleeping with the fishes soon enough.


    He continued to whine for a while until I spotted the cake being put onto the table as everything was being set up. James and Ba would go through the ceremony soon, then it would be on to pictures. The cake would follow soon after.


    The wedding cake was tall, with delicate pink frosting that would taste utterly delicious if it wasn’t what I suspected. That’s where my ‘friend’ came in. I interrupted his ranting and rambling by motioning toward the cake. “What about you get your revenge now?”


    “Hm?” the butler asked. I put up the facade that I really didn’t like James, something he easily fell for. So when I wore a sinister grin toward him, he fell for it. The man looked over to where I had pointed, then slowly grinned.


    “Wouldn’t the groom be pissed if he came out to cut the cake and saw a slice was already missing? He’d probably get so angry, he’d show Ba his true colors, and then she’d leave him. Why don’t you go ahead and try the cake, see if it’s as good as it looks?” I nudged him in the arm with my elbow.


    With an enthusiastic grin on his face, the butler went over. This would help me kill two birds with one stone–make sure the cake was safe to eat and either get rid of him or give James a reason to fire him. Ba couldn’t argue with this, even though she seemed to like the guy.


    I watched him meander over to the cake and dip a finger in, licking the frosting, before he proceeded to cut himself a slice. No one was looking; I had my own men dissuade anyone froming over, at the moment, because of a little test I was running. The butler proceeded to pop a bite into his mouth, then another and another.


    Then, I waited.


    And waited.


    Suddenly, the butler gasped, his hands flying up toward his neck, grasping at it as if there was a noose closing on his windpipe. Theoretically, that was exactly what was happening. I shook my head, letting out a sigh. Yep, that confirmed my suspicion.


    He fell to the ground, convulsing, some drool falling out from the side of his lips. I walked over, looming there and tilting my head. “You know,” I said, “tasting the cake before the couple is said to be bad luck. Looks like that caught up to you.”


    I then stepped back as his eyes widened, letting my men take care of the soon-to-be corpse. Sure, I could have taken some chemical tests to confirm the cake was poisoned, but this was so much more fun. I wore a light smile as the butler was taken away, giving him a tiny wave.


    I texted James, ‘The butler you fancied so much seems to have fallen ill, James. Do not worry, I have a backup that’s far better at the job and much nicer. I would have hired them initially, but he didn’t have any openings until today.’


    Then, I waited for my associates to get back to me. They would have a clean cake on the table in no less than five minutes. Perfect. I did know the supply chain for that cake, something Ba picked out from her favorite nearby bakery, waspromised.


    I’d have some of my men look into that. Thankfully, we replicated the recipe yesterday, and recreated the cake to be almost identical. That part of the wedding would not be interrupted, and only one very obnoxious man would suffer eternal sleep for all their effort.


    Why these people were so hooked on James, I had no idea. He was out of their lives, now, but some people couldn’t get revenge out of their heads. Oh well. If I had to send men to the United States to silence them for good, I would. I was getting annoyed enough already.


    Especially with this attempt at the wedding disruption. Either way, things would work out. I’d make sure of it. James didn’t have to worry about some pesky enemies that kept trying to take his life on his big day. He had enough to stress over with a kid on the way.


    ‘We have the cover set up for the butler’s very unfortunate death, right?’ I texted one of my men who I had on the task of getting rid of the body. After confirmation on that end, I nodded, letting myself rx a little. Now, I could enjoy the wedding until phase two.


    I took my ce where I was supposed to be, letting others direct me. I wasn’t used to weddings, at all, so just went with the flow as I should. James stood at the altar, messing with his cor nervously, his eyes alight with excitement.


    He nced over at me, and I gave him a reassuring smile. This was going to be beautiful.


    I felt somewhat bad about hiding this from James on his biggest day, but it wouldn’t be healthy to obsess over it. He already had enough on his te shielding Ba from the ‘family business’tely, after all. I would forgo my wine in order to ensure his day went perfectly.


    The cake was resolved, and none of the people I cared about would die this day. No one had to know I took out two birds with one stone, either.


    I looked down at my phone again, reading, ‘They may be moving out soon. Our intel says there’s going to be a lot of bullets. We can keep them all from hitting the guests.’


    I smiled back, then texted, ‘Perfect. No one here will have to worry about a thing.’


    All ording to n.


    James POV.


    Standing at the altar next to Giovani, I held my breath–waiting. This had been a day I’d been anticipating for my entire life, and now it was finally here. The music started, a beautiful, ethereal sound as Ba emerged from the end of the hall, walking down the aisle, looking stunning. Her gown was gorgeous, but it was her face I couldn’t pull my eyes away from.


    I caught my breath as I looked at her beauty. Her eyes were bright, her hair like satin glistening in the twinkling lights, and I couldn’t ever remember seeing her so happy. The cloth that flowed at every step she took was a subtle pink. When her dress hit the light, roses glimmered as if she was alight with crystals and gems. Her smile was radiant, something that lit up the room as her hair flowed down her back, slightly wavy and feathered perfectly.


    When her eyes met mine, she bit her lip with excitement. Sheer happiness radiated off of her, and soon, she was standing right next to me, holding my hands, while Sophia held her bouquet.


    The priest began to speak, but I didn’t hear much of what he was saying. When he got to the part about the vows, I heard Ba repeat after him. He asked her if she took me to be her husband, and she answered.


    “I do,” Ba said, her voice dripping with certainty and love.


    Then, it was my turn. I repeated everything he asked me to say, but my mind was only thinking of Ba. Eventually, the priest asked me if I took her as my wife Choking up a little, I said, “I do.”


    More of the ceremony flew by, but I missed all of it. All I could think about was Ba.


    “You may kiss the bride,” the priest finally said. Sweeping her into my arms, I locked lips with Ba, holding the kiss for a while as the guests cheered. Releasing her, I reached up and wiped away a tear that had been crawling down my cheek. This was the happiest day of my life by far.


    I was clearly head over heels in love with her. We’d started a family together, and now, she was my wife. Forever.


    We went off for pictures but not before I checked with Giovani. He gave me a reassuring nod and then slipped off to the side to check with his men. I sighed, hoping this would all go smoothly. Giovani was trustworthy, though. It would all work out.


    Ba and I went outside where the sun was shining beautifully overhead. Not a cloud in the sky, thankfully, which made today even more perfect. I had a few moments alone with my bride before the others came out.


    Pulling her close, I kissed her again. “You look so gorgeous,” I whispered to her.


    “You look amazing, too, my Italian Stallion.” She leaned in and kissed me again before the doors behind us opened, and the rest of the bridal party came out for pictures, including the kids. Alessandro and Dahlia looked precious in their wedding attire. Just seeing them made my smile widen.


    We took many pictures together, and the wedding photographers took plenty of the guests, too. They even got some great pictures of Giovani in his with Alessandro and Dahlia. They were sweet pictures.


    I was d the wedding had gone well without many issues so far. I longed to take Ba back to our room and have my way with her, but for now, we needed to spend time with our guests.


    About halfway through the reception, I noticed Giovani standing alone, looking at his phone. Worried, I headed over. “Everything okay, cousin?”


    “Just not used to weddings,” he said, smoothly.


    He eyed me suspiciously but was pulled away before I could ask for more information. Well, I would make sure he told me everythingter. If he told me now, I’d focus too much on that, when I should be focusing on Ba.


    The kids were safe, and so was my wife. My men wouldn’t let any of these assholes near the innocent people attending the wedding, many of who were civilians who had nothing to do with this ridiculous feud brought in from another country.