War for Love: A New Battle Rages

**Jeremiah's POV** I never liked weddings. The drama, the stress, the whole hassle of needing everything to be perfect. The absurd obligation to invite family that you haven’t seen or talked to, or don’t care to pretend to tolerate. There was nothing that I wanted more than to be done with this day. This unnecessarily lavish f*****g wedding. A day at the courthouse would have been sufficient, but Gia’s family wouldn’t hear of it. So, over a hundred thousand dollars later, I am sitting in a tux trying not to drown myself in a bottle of tequila. Even Alessandra and Ezra never had to deal with this s**t. I poured myself another shot, promising it would be my last. However, I said that six shots ago. The door to the groomsmen's room opened, and in walked in a very spunky, annoying best man. His face fell when he saw the almost empty bottle in my hand and didn’t hesitate to snatch it away. I would have protested, but I didn’t have the energy. It started off as needing a little liquid courage, it turned into needing liquid escape. “You have incredible f*****g timing.” Ezra chastised me. He looked so much like a disappointed parent right now. “I know this is a lot, but come on, you’re acting like a little b***h about it.” “f**k you.” I mumbled. I tried to stand but felt like there was a ton of bricks weighing me down. It didn’t help when Ezra swung, and landed a right hook on my chin, hard enough to send me to the floor. On a good day, I could block him easily, but obviously I wasn’t in my best shape this very minute. “What the f**k, man!” I yelled, stumbling over myself to get up. Before I could defend myself, Ezra smacked my forehead with the palm of his hand, and I fell back down. Pissed off, I stood to my feet and lunged at him. But he grabbed my shoulders, pulled me down and lifted his knee straight into my stomach. I doubled over, throwing up the tequila onto the floor. I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling. He was f*****g smiling at me! “Are you done?” I mumbled. He lightly shrugged his shoulders and went to the other side of the room to grab a bottle of water and a rag. He passed it to me and raised his right brow. “Depends. Are you sober enough to get down the aisle without looking like a complete asshole?” After drinking some water and splashing some on my face, I felt a lot better. I forgot how much fun it used to be to get s**t faced with my best friend, and then knock each other around to sober up before we had to be in a meeting or on a guard shift. I wonder if we will ever have a night like that again. It would be great to get away with just the guys for a while. I’m not even married yet, and I’m already thinking of ways I can get away from my soon-to-be wife. Gia is not unpleasant in any way. Her file says she is smart, a great fighter, and knows her way around finances for her family’s investments, though her heart is in her art. She could be an asset to us professionally, but I don’t plan on getting personally attached to her. This is a business arrangement for the sake of our families, and it could never be anything more. I’m not the kind of man that can be loved. Ezra peaked his head outside the door. “It’s time to head out there.” He turned to me and smiled. “Ready?” “Nope.” I shook my head and sighed. “Let’s get this s**t over with." “That’s the spirit!” He smiled annoyingly and smacked me on the back. Ezra is my best friend, my brother, but I want to beat him until he shits out that bright rainbow of optimism. As I walked down the aisle, I looked around at all the insane decorations and flower arrangements. My sisters, Alessandra and Genevieve, helped Gia’s family plan everything. Though Vevy had a real knack for this kind of stuff, she could have tried to reel it in a little! I told them I wanted to be involved as little as possible. I wanted to know where to stand, what to say, and where the liquor was after it was all done. Almost two years ago, I went to Italy to make sure I had a bride. I was so sure of myself, knew what was needed from me and ready to do it. But as this day on the calendar got closer and closer, my nerves started to eat away at me. I didn’t like feeling this terrified of something. Especially something this insignificant. At least that is what I started to tell myself in hopes that it would make this whole thing easier. It became a mantra. ‘It’s an insignificant day, an insignificant arrangement.’ Standing at the altar, I started to realize how foolish I was to think that at all. It’s marriage for f***s sake! The music started and the double doors opened. I watched as the groomsmen and bridesmaids walked out, smiling. Once everyone was in place, I started to feel a lump in my throat that made it hard to breathe. I felt hot, my skin was crawling, and my suit felt like it was tightening on me with each passing second. I couldn’t stop shifting in my place, and I could tell that almost everyone’s eyes were on me. Ezra leaned forward and whispered in my ear that I should at least attempt to look like I am here willingly. I rolled my eyes at him, and did my best to fix my expression, but from the grimacing looks on her family’s faces, I am guessing I wasn’t very convincing. Oh well. I agreed to marry her and be a loyal husband. I technically didn’t promise I was going to be pleased about it. When Gia came into view, holding onto her father’s arm, I felt my nerves settle slightly. She didn’t look like the typical bride you see in the movies or the magazines. There was no huge smile on her face, no happy tears. But she did look different, more sure of herself. Her chin was held high, her eyes staring straight at me with no fear. I expected her to be looking at her feet, or her eyes darting around the room looking for an exit like at our first meeting. It was the complete opposite today. Maybe she didn’t want to be here, but she looked like she had accepted it. Even though there was no huge smile welcoming me, welcoming this marriage, I couldn’t deny how beautiful she looked. Her honey brown hair was pulled back with small tendrils framing her delicate face. I was happy to see that they didn’t cover her in make-up, everything was light, enhancing her beauty, not changing it. Those big green eyes settled my heartbeat, but that somehow made me feel unsettled. The dress, oh God that dress. It hugged curves I never knew she had. When I met her, I thought she either had no style, or was purposely trying to look like she didn’t care what she looked like. Maybe she just didn’t want me looking at her. I loved that her dress was all satin with small lace detail at the top where her breasts were prominent. How the hell was I going to keep my hands off her? Miguel Rossi, her father, placed her hand in mine, and as soon as she was settled in her place, she quickly pulled her hand away. Damn, she can’t even stand the slightest touch of me. I shook it off, never breaking eye contact, and she surprised me when she didn’t either. I am starting to think I don’t know Gia Rossi at all. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. The ceremony went by faster than I had anticipated, and I had realized that I never took my eyes off Gia. Even when she looked at the priest, or at her family, my eyes were glued to her. Suddenly, she was the most interesting puzzle in front of me that I couldn’t wait to figure out. I am completely perplexed by this new situation I find myself in. “Jeremiah Moretti,” The priest turned to me. “Do you take Gia Rossi as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?” "I do." And so it begins, Mrs. Moretti.