A few hours later
Mia's POV
As soon as we arrived home this afternoon Deacon went to work making some final preparations for the Omertà signing later tonight. I'd spent the last several hours finding different ways to kill the time, in order to keep my mind off of the thoughts that had been drifting through my mind the last several days relentlessly.
I fed the twins their supper, then we played for awhile until they tired out for the night. They were tucked in and sleeping soundly as I silently slipped back into our room to start getting myself ready for tonight.
I picked up my red dress I had sat aside earlier in the week for tonight. After showering, putting on some light make-up, putting my hair up and getting dressed, I was left with a little bit of time to sit down and relax.
As I sat looking into the mirror of the vanity that Deacon had bought me, my mind started to wonder as I started to think about what was happening tonight. Everyone was signing the Omertà tonight, they all knew what they were expected to do after that, they all were going to have a purpose here, everyone was going to have their own purpose, everyone except me that is. I had tried extremely hard to keep that thought at bay all week, but sitting here alone gave me too much time to think about it and to think about what it meant that Deacon still had not come to talk to me about it. He had spent all week working on each person's individual sections, but I didn't want to interrupt him with my petty jealousy to say anything. Plus, I didn't want him to feel as though he was required to give me a role just because I was his wife. Though now I was starting to wish that I would have said something, so that I could put it to rest in my mind, but now I was out of time to say anything. Each person had been given a particular duty they would be responsible for. Yet here I was feeling happy for everyone else's gain, while feeling as though I had been forgotten about. After tonight, after everyone signed this, what was I and where did that leave me? Was I just the face behind the man? Did he expect me to become what those other wives had become that he had introduced me to, women that lived only to be gawked at as those around her wished for her life while she wished to live any life besides her own?
"Everyone's almost ready so I wanted to come down and walk with you." Deacon smiled.
I stood up putting on a smile as I walked over and hugged him. "Yeah, lets go."
Deacon's POV
Damn she looked amazing, just as I had hoped she would. Who am I kidding I knew she would, she always does. I knew that something had been bothering her all week, but I couldn't afford to let a word slip about tonight. Not because I didn't want her to know what was about to happen, because I wanted nothing more than to shout it from the tops of mountains so that the entire world would hear how much she meant to not only me, but also to my family.
I had a pretty good idea what she had been bothered by too, but tonight she was going to see that her place would always be beside me. Mia was so much more than just my wife, she was my equal, mother to my children but most of all she had been my game changer.
I had thought men like us, whether we were on the right side or the wrong side of the law never got to have the happiness I have with Mia. All of us knew it took a strong woman to stand next to us and fight, we had all seen those come and go. Now I'm finding that if you don't have something to fight for there's no point in what we do.
"We better get moving Deacon I doubt it would look good if you were the last one to arrive"
We walked silently hand in hand to our office to meet the rest of our group. As we entered the entire mood changed, after tonight we would all be more than what we were when we entered this room. We would be bound together for as long we were living.
I led Mia to her seat beside mine, we both stayed standing as we waited to everyone to find their seats in front of us. Carefully I watched as they all sat in front of us waiting for me to start. Of course, what Mia had not been made aware of was I had already my oath earlier with all of them present, now it was her turn and she had no clue what was actually happening. Yeah, I might not be living through the night tonight. Especially after she reads what my father did. "Tonight we are all here for the same reason. As we all entered tonight, we entered as individuals, couples and families. When we leave here tonight we will leave as one family, bound by a commitment and bond that can be broken only by death. We have come together from many different paths, but somehow each path has led us all to the same place tonight. Those paths that brought us together have given us the chance to celebrate longer lives, freedom from fear, finding love, delivering miracles, finding and expanding family, all while learning to see past our pasts, giving us all the ability gain faith and trust in people we never would have thought of before.
I have already signed the Omertà, each of you will find yours, sign your name, after which you will stand forming a half circle around this desk until the last person has signed."
After Alex, Axel, Nicco, Eric and Dimitri all signed I stopped the process gaining everyone's attention again.
Mia's POV
I was sat in confusion when Deacon stopped the ceremony, without everyone signing.
"We as men must remember that although we may seem to be strong, we are nothing without a reason to be strong. We also must remember that the women who stand beside us are not weak, that in most cases they will be our way out and our way home. They are the reason that we fight to come home everyday, they are also the reason we make it home at all some days. Let us never forget to keep our heads down, our ears open and above all else always listen to each other as equals whether our nails are painted or not."
I watched as Chelsea, Trisha, Cassie and Rose all signed in their designated places and took their places around the desk.|
Deacon looked around at them silently taking in the group in front of him. "As some of you may have noticed the four outside signatures were given to the four pillars of our family. These pillars hold our family up, making sure we stay strong and keep our heads from lifting us to think that we are above one another, regardless of our place. We must all lean on one another with trust and faith in order to stay strong.
As I will do my best to lead each of you in the right direction to go as we travel this road together, there are still ways in which I struggle everyday. For that reason that is why you may have noticed there is one more name on this sacred document that needs to be accompanied by a signature to not only complete this document but also to complete this family we are creating tonight.
So I would like to ask Mia if she would step around this desk and read the last name aloud for us all to hear."
I looked up to him as he held his hand out to help me from my seat. Nervously I accepted and stood beside momentarily before he guided me around standing with me as I looked down to see my name directly beside his on the Omertà. I looked to him in shock, I had been granted the privilege to admire and hold past Omerta agreements from his family that went back generations, and none of them had ever had the wife's name in the position that mine is on this. There was never a name that sat next to the male Lombardi's name. So what did this mean?
Deacon's POV
"What does the name read Mia?" I asked her calmly. She stood there for another moment now staring at her name. "Mia?"
"It reads the name Mia Nicolette Lombardi." Her voice was soft, but still loud enough for everyone to hear her clearly. "It's my name." She said so softly it was barely heard.
I saw the tear slip down her cheek as she was still staring down at it in complete shock. Finally she looked up at me again, now with a question in her eyes.
Turning to face the rest of them again I brought Mia halfway around. "As I stated earlier the four outer signatures had been reserved for the four pillars of this family, they are strong, loved, loyal and vocal and are to never be silenced. In order for them to remain this way they need someone to keep their heads above the water as they go through their darkest days and also someone to keep them grounded on their best days." I turned to Mia as she stood looking at me, "So Mia I am asking you now will you complete this night by adding your signature to this document? If you are willing simply pick up the quill, sign your name and then turn to face me again." There was a short moment of hesitation before she turned, taking the quill in her hand, dipped it into the ink and signed her name to the line beside my own. After doing so she turned to face me again staring straight up at me. "Stay right here for a minute, I have to get something from my desk." I smiled as I stepped back, turned and walked behind my desk again. After retrieving the envelope from my top desk drawer, I returned to my previous spot looking towards Mia. "This is for you." I said holding the envelope out to her. "I need you to open it, but do not read it. I want you to read it aloud while facing the rest of the group in front of us."
Mia's POV
I took the envelope and slowly removed the papers from it. As hard as it was I did what Deacon asked and didn't read it before I read it aloud.
"I, Mia Nicolette Lombardi, understand the terms of the Omertà and I am signing knowing that doing so binds me to this family not only by marriage or by name. But now by my duty to my family, my determination as an individual and my enlightenment as a leader.
I may falter in my steps from time to time, forgetting to be compassionate, forgiving and patient. But I would never betray this family by being disloyal, faithless or by risking one's life for another. We are each needed in our own way to complete the journey we have ahead of us." I paused for a second to look around at everyone. I saw the look on Alex and Axel's faces immediately as they were looking to Deacon in a completely stunned way. Even Dimitri wore the same face as he looked towards Deacon and then to me. I looked towards him briefly as well, as he motioned me to keep going. "I swear I will always hold up the morals, renew the strength and continue to build the respect that those of the Lombardi family have built over the years, when I falter and I will from time to time as everyone does. I will recover, but I will never give up on either myself or those surrounding me. I will find a way to inspire you to uphold our morals by doing so myself with integrity. I will rouse you to find your strength by showing you mine, even when I feel as though I have none myself. I will show reverence to those who came before me and admiration to those who advance with me to teach you respect.
This is my acknowledgement to the my infinite ambition, my continuous admiration and my unyielding devotion and loyalty to each and everyone of you that stand here in front of me now.
You should never fear to come to me in pain be it physically, mentally or emotionally, I will do my best to heal your wounds. When you are in need, bring your despair to me and we will resolve it together. There is no challenge I will not face with you head on, if you allow me the chance to do so. Of which I humbly ask you give me that chance.
I close my oath now by asking you for your faith in me, that when all seems lost I will find the way to lead you. For your readiness and your desire to confront the evils of this world head on with me as we try to uphold the laws of the land together without faltering. If anything causing us all to fall into any grievous misfortune that may lead leaving any single one of you becoming vulnerable to fall for all of us. If someone is to fall let it be me before you. For my flaws in leading you should be mine to bare, not yours to pay for.
We began our lives, as we began this day, and as we began this signing; individuals, whether married or not; all individuals, searching for those who are like-minded and willing to stand by your side should the need arise. For those who will fight by your side to protect your family as you would do for theirs as you bring them into the folds as your own.
We end this day, as we end this signing, as we all hope to end our lives; surrounded by those who we have found to be what we strive to be ourselves. Those who we have found to be worth fighting for and with. With who we have welcomed as family despite their pasts, because we want to see their futures." Pausing again to take on more look around the room, before I finished. I'm not sure when Declan had entered the room, but his sudden presence made me even more nervous than I had already been. He looked at me with a soft smile and nodded for me to finish.
"Almost there baby, just keep going. I am pretty sure you'll be pleasantly rewarded." Deacon chuckled as he whispered in my ear.
I looked back to the paper in my hand taking a breath to calm myself before continuing. I couldn't figure out what all this was supposed to mean. Everyone else only had to take an oath. What was this speech for?
"We will now move forward, if you will all listen carefully this will be very easy." Deacon stated firmly. "Mia continue whenever you're ready."