Page 8

I tapped him on the forehead with the muzzle of my gun. “Think, think. What could piss off Mariana’s husband?”

“Shit, shit. It’s not like that. I was just trying to get her to behave. The girl has always been on me.” I would shoot him for the lies, but I needed his face ID for his phone first.

I pointed the phone to his face and it unlocked. My first thing was to find his messages. What he’d shown my fiancée had to be a message. It took only a moment to find what I was looking for.

You can have her soon. I’ll deal with her future husband. Just wait until they sign the license.

I pulled the trigger before I took another breath. “Get this piece of shit out of here.” Two of my men dealt with the mess in our preferred way: incineration. I quickly changed the password and then handed it off to Pio. “Get this bitch scanned and have everything wiped and disposed of before the end of day tomorrow.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Are we going to deal with her father?”

“Yes, but after the wedding.” First, I’d take every dollar he possessed, then watch as he crumbles and the wife and mistresses flee. Only then will I go after her mother. Her hatred for her own daughter made me sick.

“So the other plan is still in motion?” Enzo asked.

“Yes. Let her run. I’m looking forward to the chase.”

“Way to go, Boss.” Marco winked at me before I left the bunker. Now I had a wedding to prepare for and a possible rebel bride.

Chapter Four

Mariana

“Have you seen Dom?” my father asked, interrupting my breakfast. It was my wedding day. I didn’t need to be bothered with concerns about the asshole who threatened to violate me.

“No, I thought maybe you sent him on an errand.” Did he finally find someone else to annoy?

“No, he should have been at your door.”

“Why, so he could have a taste of me?” I asked. He blanched, paling on the spot, although he quickly masked his shocked and scared expression.

“Don’t be silly, little girl. You have no idea what men want and need. It was a bargaining chip to get what I wanted, and to keep him in line.”

“Whatever. He nearly took what he wanted yesterday. Now he’s missing. Tell me, did you actually do something to him?”

“Never. He’s the one I could count on.” My stomach lurched with his damn admission. He truly hated me. I wanted his love, but after the messages between him and Dom, I understood my place. I was nothing to my father—a burden at best, and a commodity at worst.

“Well, I don’t care where he is. So if you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare for my wedding.” I moved past him and then headed into the kitchen for food. My meal needed to sustain me for the rest of the day.

I’d gone upstairs again where the makeup and hair people were waiting. They spent entirely way too much time on me and this wedding. After all, I had no intention of letting my groom get me to the altar. Finally they finished their torture, so I went to get a drink.

“Thank you, but this has made me thirsty.”

“Don’t smudge your lipstick.” I nodded but rolled my eyes as I stepped out of my own room.

As I approached the kitchen door, I heard my father’s booming voice. “Martha, are we ready?”

“Yes. Everything is set for the wedding; we just need to drive to the venue.”

“That’s all. Go and carry on about your business.” Martha turned around, but my father snagged her wrist. “Where is my daughter?”

“I’m right here, Father.” I stepped up from behind dressed in white slacks and a pretty blue blouse.

His eyes widened and face turned red. “Why aren’t you in your dress already?”

“I just finished my hair and makeup. I don’t want it to wrinkle before the wedding. I’ll be putting the dress on at the chapel in the bridal suite.”