vulnerable

84.

There was loud chatter and a constant hum of piano keys just outside the blocked corridor. The venue was created back-in-the-day, when mobsters came to Vegas for a life of schemes. The room was huge... filled with sparkly glass chandeliers and expensive saffron wedding chairs that cascaded all the way to the alter. A room originally designed for hidden affairs was now being used for a wedding. A wedding that would be an affair all in itself.

Stella pressed her chest against the cold wall, peeking around the edge to catch a glimpse of the crowd. There were so many people. The Fieri's had friends all over, and family that flew in from all over the country. The Reyna's were a big family too- aunts and uncles galore, friends from Danielle and Claudio who watched Hannah grow up. And of course all of Hannah's friends who turned family... and the U.S. boys who were like her brothers. They were all conversing, dressed in their finest clothes- awaiting the special moment.

Oh, how they would be in for a surprise.

A hand gripped onto Stella's arm, forcing her back against the wall. She turned to the person with furrowed brows, but it was Gio. Her heart fluttered for half a second while his fingers were gently touching her skin. All too soon, he let go. And all too soon, Stella realized the break was going to hurt more than she thought.

"Didn't you learn anything from your sister's wedding?" He cocked his head to the side, showing off the faintest smirk.

Stella couldn't help but smile, remembering the day.

"I'm bored." Gio sat in the church pew with a blank expression. "What's taking so long?"

"We're here early, idiot." Hannah slapped the back of his head. "Our parents just made us come sit in here so we wouldn't be in the way."

"Be in the way of what?" Gio grimaced. "I'm never in the way."

"Unless you're on a pitch." Christian snorted.

Gio side-eyed him. "Shut up."

"I want to go see DeeDee." Stella leaned around Gio's lanky frame to look at her brother. "I want to wish her luck!"

"We're gonna see her soon, Stell. We're walking down the aisle with her." Christian was getting annoyed. Hannah noticed and kissed his cheek. He lost the anger in his eye and relaxed, kissing her forehead as a thank you. "If you want to go see her, go ahead. But mom and dad will be mad if they see you back there with her."

"No they won't." Stella waved a dismissive hand. "You're not gonna come too?"

"No." Christian shook his head. "I'm staying here with my princess."

"Well I'm certainly not staying with these two disgusting fucks." Gio shivered in disgust.

"Language!" Hannah gaped, reaching over to smack Gio on his knee.

Christian narrowed his eyes on his teammate. "Dude, we're in a church."

"Sorry, God." Gio clapped his hands together before turning to Stella hastily. "Let's get going, yeah?"

Stella and Gio hopped out of the pew and made a beeline to the Narthex. That's where all the crowds were. Devyn had asked for her guests to walk in after her. She thought it would be like a scene from The Godfather. No one questioned it- everyone just complied. Stella and Gio squeezed past groups of people and tried to stay invisible. They didn't have time to be squeezed to death by older adults who they didn't recognize but somehow had been held by them as a baby. Like anyone remembers that.

"Grab my hand, Stella Bella." Gio held out his hand behind his back as they walked through the crowded lobby. "I don't wanna lose you."

Stella blushed. "Okay."