Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Why, why did I ever borrow money from this scum?
Lucio stares at me from across the aisle, clutching a box in his tattooed hand that presumably holds our rings, and it makes me feel like the earth beneath my feet is crumbling.
In the front row, my mother eagerly stares at me with a gentle smile, and it infuriates me that she has to watch her daughter walk down the aisle toward an ill fate. She doesn’t even know why I’m being forced to marry him.
I wish I could hug her one last time and tell her I love her. I might never see her again even though she doesn’t know it yet. I never told her the truth about what I did for her.
She whispers from her seat, “You look gorgeous, honey.”
I have to stay strong for her, even if it’s hard as hell. My mom always dreamed that I would marry a handsome, rich man who would make me happy and give me everything I ever wanted. Instead, I’m becoming a trophy wife to a Mafia man whose only interest is my estranged father’s money.
I smile at her, then avert my gaze toward Lucio, who is waiting for me with an arrogant grin on his face that I wish I could sucker punch without immediately being wrestled to the ground.
Scowling, I approach the altar. He takes my hand and squeezes it so harshly, I wince.
He leans forward and whispers, “You look gorgeous. Deadly, but gorgeous.”
I fight the urge to step on his shoes.
“But I will punish you for trying to hurt Bartolo earlier.” He leans away, smiling, while my skin turns ghastly white as blood drains from my face. Not just because of what he said but also because I spot my own damn father sitting all the way in the back of the crowd.
He’s here.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today,” the officiant begins, but I’m no longer listening. All I can focus on are all the people who surround me, judge me, and that one inkling of repressed courage that makes me want to scream at everyone here.
But I chose this. I chose to become his wife after I had nothing left to give in exchange for the debt I owed him. But how could I live a life with a man like him, this monster who will hurt me in every way possible?
A tear rolls down my cheek, and Lucio’s grip on my hands becomes even stronger, as if he’s trying to squeeze the tears out of me, so I won’t show anyone I’m in pain.
“Stop,” he whispers. “Don’t make a scene.”
Or else.
I listen to the pastor finish his sermon before Lucio finally brings out the ring that’s going to be around my finger in a few seconds.
“Now, do you take this man as your husband?”
I can’t even remember the moment Lucio said yes. Everything went by in a blur.
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
“Say it,” he hisses to me. “Say the word.”
“I ... I ...” I stutter.
BANG.
Smoke fills the room, and guests scream in collective shock.
BANG! BANG!
Multiple gunshots go off, filling the room with smoke and fire, fear gripping my heart. I jerk free from Lucio’s control and glance around the room to see what’s going on and to try to find my family. Panic floods my heart as multiple men storm into the room, guns blazing.
Shit.
I don’t want my family to die. I don’t want to die.
“What the fuck?” Lucio mouths.
Multiple Agostini guards are shot down, dead on impact, while others shoot back. Guests scatter all around, emptying into the hallways behind us as well as the doors at the front of the altar. People are fleeing everywhere, and in the haze, I try to bolt away from Lucio, but he grips my arm and forces me to stay by his side.
“Don’t you run off on me, bitch. Not now.”
I only have eyes for my mother, who is frozen to her seat in complete and utter terror. I want to go to her and hold her in what could be our final moment, but he won’t let me.
“Mom,” I scream. “Lower your head!”
BANG! BANG! BANG!
More gunshots fill the room. Guards are fighting with the men who stormed inside, and I have no idea who they are or what they’re doing here, until I spot a familiar face appearing through the smoke in the back. His handsome features, neatly trimmed scruff, and scorching gaze settling on me make me do a double take, and I nearly faint right then and there.
Matteo found us.
Matteo
I knew that girl would help me crash her own wedding.
I walk up the aisle through the remaining crowd while the rest of my men subdue Lucio’s guards. It was easy to find my way here, using both the information I’ve been given by one of my moles and the tracker I handed her. And we came right on time, it seems.