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. Ichoseto 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.Idon’t want to die.
“What the fuck?” Lucio mouths.
