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“With this ring, I give you my heart.”

The officiant smiled faintly.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” he paused briefly before continuing. “You may now kiss your bride.”

Cassius didn’t hesitate. And when he kissed her, he was sure that she was unmistakably his choice.

The reception hall felt like an entirely different world.

Where the cathedral had been still and reverent, this space was alive. There was music layered over laughter, the soft clink of glassware, the low hum of conversations that rose and fell like waves. Warm light from crystal chandeliers spilled over polished floors and long tables dressed in ivory and gold, casting a romantic glow over the room.

Cassius kept Aella close as they entered. One of his hands rested against her lower back as they moved through the crowd until they reached their table.

Aella slipped into her seat, smoothing her dress as she relaxed her shoulders. “We made it.”

“You’re celebrating a little prematurely,” he chuckled. “We still have a lot of people to smile and wave at tonight,” he reminded her, kissing her shoulder.

“Ugh, I know. It’s the only part of the day I’m dreading.”

“Cheer up. After this, we have five days on an island to ourselves.”

“Such a good incentive for me to be on my best behavior tonight, Mr. Farina,” she said, leaning in for a kiss.

“So long as you’re on your worst tonight, Mrs. Farina,” he murmured against her lips.

His phone lit up on the table, interrupting the otherwise perfect moment.

Aella shot him a look. “Really?”

“My bad, Elle,” he apologized, grabbing his phone and standing upon seeing the name. “This one is important. I’ll be right back.”

Stepping away from the crowded room, Cassius answered his buzzing phone.

“Hello?”

“Congratulations, Cassius,” Lena sang into the phone. “I heard today was the big day.”

“It is,” he confirmed, his tone clipped, as he knew she could only be calling him for one reason.

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but we got a hit on what you asked me for, and I figured you’d want the results as soon as possible. We traced the money delivered to the account you provided us. It moved through a few channels and countries before coming back to Whiskey Creek.”

Cassius’ blood ran cold as he realized that whoever wanted Aella harmed had been right under their noses their entire time. The Cavataio family immediately came to mind, but what Lena said next felt like a stab in his heart.

“The account is registered to a Mars Hampton.”

Until Next Time…

Keep scrolling for an inside look at Captive of My Desire.

Mars stood in the ballroom where Cassius’ and Aella’s wedding was held, feeling the same as he always did whenever the entirety of the Five Families surrounded him. To be so deeply connected to an organization that called itself a family, and to be considered and treated as an outsider, was a slap in the face that he had no choice but to endure. To make matters crueler, it was essentially his birthright.

He’d spent his entire life at the organization’s beck and call, with nowhere to fit in, but unable to leave. Mars was forced to live by a set of rules in a system built to work against him, and there wasn’t a single person on Earth who could understand his position. Well, no one would understand except someone in the same position, but regarding the Five Families, he was an anomaly—the only one of his status.

Downing the rest of his bourbon, Mars loosened his tie and began towards the exit, ready to leave everything about the night behind him. That was, until he heard her voice.

“Leaving so soon?”

He should have kept walking, but as Severo’s daughter, Ilaria was like royalty in their organization. To ignore her would be a violation.