“Are you a simpleton?” Marco asks. “Did you hear what I said?”
“You… want to marry me?” she whispers. Her wedding dress clings to her body perfectly. I shouldn’t notice things like that but I am a man after all. It’s hard not to notice a beautiful woman even in a situation like this. “Why?”
“To hurt your brother. He thought he could team up with the Bratva with no consequences but that’s bullshit. There are consequences. We never should have worked with those filthy Russians. We’re proud Italians. The true Mafia. Debasing ourselves is not something I agreed with. Your brother needs to learn this lesson. So that’s why I’m taking you from him. So he’ll know he can’t just play fast and loose with all of us.”
“But… why marry me?”
“Because then you’ll be bound to me forever. I will carve out my own leadership within the mafia. Your brother won’t be able to take me down. But I need a powerful name like yours at my side. So, Gianna, you will marry me. And it’s perfect that you’re already in the dress. This afternoon, we’ll get married. Until then, you’re going to stay here. Will, put her in one of the guest rooms. I don’t need my wife getting hurt in the process.”
She startles when I take her arm and nudge ger down the hallway. “Who are you?” she asks me. I still haven’t taken my ski mask off. It’s for my own protection in this job. The less people who know my face, the better.
“I am a man who’s doing his job. That’s all.”
“Your name is Will. You can help me. You don’t have to do this.”
I open the door to the guest bedroom and nudge her inside. “I do have to do this. It’s my job. Now, get in.”
She doesn’t put up as much of a fight as I’m expecting. Almost like she’s used to being told what to do. I shut the door behind her and lock it. Gianna doesn’t scream or fight to be let out. She’s as quiet as a mouse. Interesting.
I finally take my ski mask off as I head back to Marco. “It’s done. She’s all yours. You don’t need me anymore.”
“But I do need you, Will. You’re going with us to the church. You’ll act as my bodyguard just in case Enzo decides to join us. Here.” He pulls out another wad of dollar bills in an envelope.
I take the money. It’s nothing to me.
Gianna
After a few hours of pacing around the room and searching for a way out – there isn’t any – the door to my room is finally opened and the man in the ski mask returns.Will, he said his name was. He still has his face hidden from me. It makes him even more terrifying. The man who kidnapped me. Well, under the orders of Marco Amato, but that doesn’t make this man any better.
Without a word, he takes my arm and guides me out of the room. I should be fighting harder but I’ve never had to fight in my entire life before. I don’t know how to do it.
I’ve been beaten into submission by Francesca. I’ll be beaten into submission by Marco I’m sure unless Enzo can find me in time. Unless he can save me in time.
But then I’ll just be given to Nico and is that what I want either? No. What I truly crave is pure and utter freedom to make my own choices in life. Something I’ve never had.
Will walks me to the black car out front and makes me get in the back seat where Marco is. Still remaining silent, Will gets behind the wheel and drives us away from the house.
Towards the church where I’ll be married to Marco.
I don’t say a word to Marco as he gazes at me with an expression I don’t like. One of curiosity and desire. He’s a handsome man, I’ll give him that. He could have any woman he chose but he chose me because of revenge.
Enzo tried so hard to protect me and all of his efforts were in vain.
We arrive at a church in an area of New York I’m not familiar with, meaning I don’t know where to go if I can’t get the chance to escape.
But that’s laughable. I’m not going to escape from this. Not when I don’t have a weapon and have no fighting skills and I’m surrounded by men much stronger and more skilled than I am.
Marco takes my arm – sending shivers down my spine – as we walk into the church. Will, still in his ski mask, follows behind. The glint of his gun is noticeable in his jacket pocket as he walks. I swallow hard.
A priest waits at the end of the aisle. His eyes shift back and forth, like he’s afraid, but he doesn’t say a word. Marco must have threatened the priest to marry us. There’s no other way this could be happening.
“Begin, Father,” Marco says, as we stand at the altar, side by side as if we’re an actual couple in love who want to get married.
The priest gulps and then nods. “We are gathered here today –,” he’s cut off when the doors of the church are burst open.
And in walks my brother with Nico at his side.
Marco’s eyes widen. I guess he didn’t expect my brother to be able to find me so fast. I have no idea how he did it but I’m not complaining. I’m going to be saved.
