Chapter 6

Celeste shivered with the aura of anger radiating around him. "Don't you dare speak to me in that tone. You have no idea what I can do to that mouth of yours which works foolishly of its own accord."

The words of her father rang tough in the mind and heart of Celeste. She can never forgive a man who had brought such a huge grief for her and her family - a mountain of debt, disability of her dad and psychologically unstable mother, all because of this emotionless, insensitive beast with no human values. "You may win me with your power but you cannot rule my heart. You're the poison who destroyed my family. I hate you." She threw the words on him like pelting stones. 

Celeste was about to leave but his rough hand on her wrist stopped her. 'That touch...she is very familiar with that touch...as if she had dwelled in it for so long...as if she relished it. It brought peace to her soul and goosebumps of thrill on her skin. But then the words of her father rang in her head again. "You keep asking me how I lost my leg. It is because of this devil. Stay away from him." Celeste turned back, an unavoidable repugnance in her eyes for him. 

Anthony felt like somebody was running a drilling machine on his heart. The pain was unmanageable but he cannot let her slip away from his arms. Will he show her his vulnerability? Never. "How can you escape without paying me? Your dad owes me. Psst! But he is disabled and you are my only trump card. Clear my dues and marry whichever rascal you want to marry. But until then you are mine.  

"Dave, my future husband will pay you." There was pride in her words.

A nerve popped out of his throat. 'Dave, my future husband' the words repeated in his head like a toxicant. His throat felt restricted with an untameable temper. 

"Dave?" Anthony's head hung back in chortles. "When a ship starts drowning, the first creatures to run away from it are rats. I'm seeing how smartly you make your decisions. You are a beauty with no brain who blindly believes in her dad. You are not going to marry him and I will see you follow my command. "  He flattened his palms on the table before her and bent forward in emphasizing his words to her.

Her eyes turned down in terror unwilling to meet his deathly stare. And then she saw the sparking ring on his ring finger. The little gold ornament had a lot to convey only if the eyes of the viewer had the capacity to understand it. Was he married? To hell with it! Why should she be even disappointed if he was married? He was nobody to her. But all of a sudden, like a whirlpool his archaic words with a fire of passion roved her in.

Mr. Cold suddenly glanced up at her and she felt like a child who'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. A ghost of a smile whispered across his disconcertingly sexy lips, and his eyes locked with hers. "You're mine,  sweetheart." He pulled her to his embrace with his hand on her waist and kissed her cheek.

Sheesh, that was unexpected! Celeste stared at him point blank. As a reply he shot her a cocky grin.

What an imp of arrogance! But why did she feel so warm all of a sudden? She averted her eyes and twiddled with her thumbs. Celeste was a bundle of nerves from inside but managed to say pooling up some courage.  "None of your business." 

"None of my business? It is my business, damn it!" There he stops it again. He is a devil from the nether world meeting her with his threatening gaze when he is angry. Why does he talk in parables?

Anthony couldn't tell the whole story of the past to Celeste. He had his reasons. "I don't say anything twice and you're testing my patience. Don't do it!" He warned

Anthony was holding the last bit of his control to get his love back but now it has proven beyond a folly. Her dad is worse than a Satan. He is a selfish bastard and can go to any extent to fetch money even if it means destroying his daughter's life. The eyes of Celeste are closed. Nothing can be done about it! After all he is her father and she trusts him with her heart. "You cannot do anything. But keep your hands tied. Dave Hawkins is a big name in the mafia business and Pharmaceutical industry." She challenged him by matching the rule in his eyes.

"Is it?" A sardonic laugh left out of him. "Try me."

****

Five days later on Friday 

Tom and Lucy's faces were glowing with happiness. The groom was waiting at the aisle in his crisp black suit. The groomsmen and bridesmaid were waiting in the line. Guests from all parts of the world came to witness the eternal bond, the wedding of Dave Hawkins the successor of a very powerful mafia group King of Shadows. The priest was ready with the Bible to call for the vows. Music started. Everything was set. But, what about the bride?

Tom reached the room of Celeste with anticipation of seeing his princess in her beautiful white gown. His eyes were already drizzling with tears of happiness. Hands were clammy but the joy in his heart was unbound.  

He twisted the doorknob of the room in felicity but the next second everything was lost. 

The room was found empty. Neither the hairdresser nor the beautician were present along with the missing bride. "Calm down. Everything is gonna be okay." He repeated the words like a mantra. "Celeste, where are you? No jokes with daddy now, princess."

He knocked on the door of the washroom. But there was no reply. With a shivering hand, he twisted the doorknob. And there it was! His eyes stationed ahead  and fell aghast, staring at the sheet of paper stuck to the wall of the bathroom. DON'T MESS WITH ME, SHE IS MINE!