Which path do I take? Which man do I choose?
Lucio wants to own me, control me.
Matteo… might be able to protect me from him.
My mouth parts, and without thinking another second about it, I say, “I do.”
A hint of a smile forms on Matteo’s lips. His grip on my hands softens as he slowly grabs my ring finger, opens the little box that holds the rings Lucio bought, and gently slides the ring on my finger. His touch lingers, sending goose bumps all over my body, before he finally retracts his hand.
I pick up the bigger ring and hold his hand, which feels rough from years and years of violence, but I still slide the ring onto his finger as if I always knew I was going to do this. He’s the safest option. Or at least that’s what I tell myself, as I bind myself to this man forever.
“You are now pronounced husband and wife,” the pastor says.
Just like that. I’m now somebody’s wife.
“What? You’ve got to be joking,” Lucio mutters. “This is all a farce, and you know it.”
But no one listens to him, not even me. It feels like a blur, and all I can focus on are Matteo’s hands as they slowly move from my shoulder to my spine, clutching me in the small of my back as he pulls me close. Too close.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the pastor says.
An arrogant smirk forms on Matteo’s face as he leans in and presses the softest of kisses on my lips, completely unraveling my mind. Just that one kiss is enough to send me spiraling out of control, my body zinging from his touch, his kiss so delicious I nearly lean in for more. But then people around us begin to clap, and the moment passes.
I lean away in shock at what just happened. My mother smiles at me from her seat. Despite having fainted minutes ago, I know she just saw all of this go down. I mouth at her, “I love you,” and tears spring to her eyes.
“You can’t do this,” Lucio seethes.
Matteo growls, “I already have. She’s mine now, end of story.” He grabs my hand and whisks me away down the aisle, straight toward the exit.
“Wait!” I yell.
But Matteo doesn’t relent in his pace, allowing me no time to breathe, let alone adjust to what he just did. He hauls me all the way to a car waiting for us out front, defended by a dozen guards with guns, all pointed at the venue. The door is opened for us, and he pushes me toward it. “Sit.”
I’m numb to my core as I sit down, and the door is slammed shut.
He walks to the other side of the car and slides in while the driver gets behind the wheel and starts the car.
He holds out his hand. “Give me your phone. And the tracker.” When I don’t react fast enough, he adds, “Now.”
I reluctantly hand them over, and Matteo slips both tothe driver, who hides them in his pocket. Matteo pushes a button, and a divider slides up between the front and back seat. My skin begins to crawl.
We’re all alone now. Just the two of us sharing a car ride in silence after he just blew up my wedding to the man I owe, then married me instead just to outsmart him.
Good God.
I’ve become a pawn in someone’s dirty game, and I have no clue how to unfurl myself from this mess.
“When do I get my phone back?” I ask.
“Once it’s safe to do so,” he replies.
Safe … safe in what way? The longer I stay in his vicinity, the less secure I feel.
“What are you going to do with me?”
“What am I going to do withmywife?” he responds, a cheeky smile on his face. “Take her tomyhome, as I’m supposed to.”
My jaw drops, but I don’t know how to respond to that.
