À mariage

"Come in, come inside!" She pointed to a small door.

"What do you want?"

"Just come in, my daughter!"

I realized they could arrive at any moment and catch up with me. Without thinking, I stepped inside and found myself in the back of a small bakery, where wood was burning to heat a brick oven, just like the one at the convent.

"Take off that wedding dress."

"What?" My eyes widened at the unexpected command from the woman.

"Do you want to escape or not? The dress attracts too much attention. Hurry, take it off! I'll help you." I turned my back to her as she unbuttoned the pearl buttons. I stepped back, feeling exposed in just my underwear. Thankfully, I was at an angle where I couldn't be seen through the windows. 

The woman took what remained of the immense, luxurious wedding dress and tossed it into the clay oven. It was quickly consumed by the flames and reduced to ashes.

"Thank you, but I can't run in the street like this."

"Come with me. You're thin, but I should have some old clothes of my daughter's that might fit you." She grabbed a plastic bag from a counter and guided me toward a spiral staircase leading upstairs.

"Remove your tiara, let your hair down, and put it, along with your earrings, in this bag. They look very valuable; you might try to sell them."

"Thank you." I followed her advice and took off the jewelry. We reached a narrow hallway, and I quickly realized the house was very humble. From up above, I saw Antonella and several men pass by on the street. They were still looking for me, and I didn't think they would rest anytime soon.

"Stay away from the window." The woman pulled me aside and handed me a floral dress.

"Thank you."

"Get dressed quickly."

I nodded and slipped the clothes over my head, pulling them down until they fit my body. My heart was still racing, but as my breathing steadied, my limbs began to ache. I had pushed them too far.

"These shoes should fit you." She opened a trunk and handed me a pair of ballet flats.

"Thank you so much, but why are you helping me?"

"To escape a marriage, you must have a very good reason."

"Yes. I'm immensely grateful, but I need to leave before they find me here. I don't want to cause you any trouble."

"Who?"

"My marriage was with Marco Bellucci."

"The mafia." The woman paled and took a step back. I couldn't blame her for being afraid, because I was too, even though I knew I was born into a family involved in illicit activities as well.

"You really need to go. Soon, they'll start searching houses for you."

I nodded, doing my best to suppress my trembling. Inside, I wondered if fleeing this marriage was the most foolish decision I could have made in my life. However, only time would reveal the answer.

MARCO'S POINT OF VIEW

The church was packed. A massive circus was about to take place, and a suitable audience was essential. I was getting hot in this suit and feeling restless, anxious to be precise, but I maintained my composure. It had always been crucial for someone in a dominant position like mine. Great leaders could never appear desperate, as everyone depended on them to remain calm.

Though I tried to keep my gaze fixed on the altar, I could still see a few heads turning toward the enormous double doors at the entrance. Like me, they must have been wondering when the bride would walk through. This was one of the highlights of the wedding, and impatience was becoming increasingly evident on everyone's faces.

I tried not to check my watch to avoid showing any discomfort. She was late, but I couldn't tell exactly how late.

I noticed Afonso, my fiancée's father, was also growing impatient. I wanted him to hold it together, but he didn't. When he stood up from the pew and approached me, all the guests knew something was wrong.

"Where is my daughter?"

"I'm waiting here, just like you. She should have arrived by now. Do you think I'm happy not seeing her?" I glared at him, my teeth slightly bared, and the man recoiled. Taunting me at that moment was the most foolish thing he could do.

Before Afonso could dare to open his mouth again, the doors swung open as if blown by a strong winter gust, but instead of my fiancée, it was Antonella, disheveled and gasping for breath.

All the guests' eyes, including mine, were fixed on her. When her gaze turned back to me, I realized they were wondering, just like I was, what had happened. Of all the possibilities that had crossed my mind that day, none included my fiancée not walking down that red carpet toward me.

I stepped down from the altar. Theo and Mateo rose from the front pew, where they were standing as groomsmen, and followed me to the entrance of the church. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my heavily armed men moving to protect me from any potential attack that could come from any direction.

"Where is Laïs?" I asked bluntly, my voice sounding like a fierce lion's roar.

Antonella was usually steadfast; she was a ruthless warrior ready for any situation, which is why I had put her in charge of the girl these past few years. However, when I saw her back away, I realized that something grave must have happened.

"Sir..." She swallowed hard, and my gaze turned even deadlier.

I leaned in and grabbed the gun that was attached to my belt. She had one minute to respond, and she knew very well that I would pull the trigger before asking again. Antonella understood me well enough to know that.

"She... she ran away."

"Ran away?!"

Antonella nodded affirmatively.

"Tell me, how did a twenty-one-year-old girl, locked away in a convent since the age of eleven, manage to escape you and half a dozen of our best men?" asked Theo, who was beside me. It was the question we were all asking.

"She took advantage of a traffic jam and slipped away."

In one swift motion, I grabbed Antonella by the throat and pressed my fingers against her neck and jaw. I could feel the pressure my firm grip exerted on her bones. I had the strength to crush them as if they were made of polystyrene. I pulled out my gun.

"How did she escape?" I aimed the weapon at her temple. "She's just a damn girl."

"She ran into the alleys, and I followed her." Antonella was trembling in a way I had never seen before.

"Then where is she?" I cocked the gun, and everyone heard the click. I was ready to pull the trigger, and that would be my last question.

"She got away." She struggled to swallow.

I was about to pull the trigger, splattering her brains on the pale floor and my beautiful suit, but before I could, my mother grabbed my arm.

"Marco, please, don't stain the steps of God's house with blood."

"My fiancée..." I muttered under my breath.

"You will find her."

"I will kill her!" I breathed, furious. Who did this woman think she was to leave me at the altar?

"Theo and Mateo, get your brother out of here and take him home. I will dismiss the guests."

"Let's go, Marco." Theo pulled me by the arm, but I shrugged him off. I was furious; I wasn't going to leave my own wedding like this, humiliated by a brat who had no idea who she was messing with.

I wanted to spill blood and make someone pay for my dishonor. If my mother hadn't stopped me, I would have started with Antonella. However, her punishment was not yet due. She would not go unpunished for failing a mission as simple as bringing a bride to the church.

With my brothers, I headed to my car. Mateo sat in the passenger seat next to me, and Theo took his own car; I drove home, followed by two other vehicles with our men.

I didn't know what my mother had said that afternoon to dismiss the guests, but I didn't care. There was no excuse she could offer that would erase the fact that I had been abandoned at the altar.

Laïs was truly a foolish and naive girl, as she had no idea of the mess she could cause for herself and everyone around her. The relationship I had with the Barbosa family depended on this marriage, and if it didn't happen, everything could collapse. I wouldn't be able to buy their fight with the Costas, and our access to the port would be cut off. This was very bad for both families, but it would be even worse for the Barbosas, as they would lose our protection and control over the territory. All I had to do was wait for a new family to take over and forge an alliance, but it wasn't just a matter of business; she had played with my ego.