Chapter 5

~ VITTORIA ~

A thud from inside Simone’s office made the whole room fall silent and dragged both me and Roman’s attention to the door. Another noise followed from inside making Yara walk over to where we were. A thud from inside Simone’s office made the whole room fall silent and dragged both me and Roman’s attention to the door. Another noise followed from inside making Yara walk over to where we were.

“I think they’re fighting.” She stated like it wasn’t obvious enough.

Every Argentero in the room had their eyes on the non- Argenteros and before we knew it, some of them had started to drop their glass cups. Roman hadn’t moved from his position and I was still trapped by him, unable to stand or do anything.

Another thud followed again and a shattering sound was heard.

Roman sighed looking back at me. “They just had to ruin this. I was actually enjoying it.” He said before straightening up. “Might as well go over and prevent some bloodshed yeah?” He asked and without waiting for an answer, he walked into the room where they were.

“Are you alright, Ma’am?” Nicola asked and I nodded while signalling to the Soldatos to get ready in case anything was going to happen soon.

“Told you it wouldn’t go peacefully.” Someone said from beside me and I looked over to see Cleto taking some cash off North’s hand while Diego laughed. I hadn’t even noticed they were there all along. And I just hoped they didn’t hear what that Roman Argentero had just said.

“You just got lucky, klepto,” North mumbled with a little smile, handing a few remaining notes into Cleto’s outstretched hand.

Yara slid down next to me on the couch and even if she didn’t show it, she was shaken up a bit.

No noise was heard any longer after Roman had walked into the room and I just sat still studying every Argentero I saw. In the midst of all the heated tension and chaos, my mind drifted to the fact that Isabelle had in fact maybe sat at this exact seat I was in and had probably met all these people before me. And it saddened me how alone she must have felt being here.

I dug my nails into the armrest and gritted my teeth. If not anything, at least marrying into the family would help me find out why she died and give me the closure I needed. And I was going to do it for myself, her and my mother no matter what.

The door of the room opened after a while and Robert and Uncle Quinto matched out first, followed by some Argenteros before Roman, Tiziano and Simone followed suit. Their expressions were almost unreadable and I was sure whatever they had agreed to in there, Uncle Quinto was not in support.

Simone gave out a fake laugh and waved his hand in the air. “Good news everyone. The wedding date has been fixed.”

* *

Standing in front of a mirror as the church bells rang faintly at a distance gave me a reality check that I was indeed getting married. Getting married because greedy Tiziano saw it as a good business deal to merge territories and expand business all while not caring what his own daughter wanted. And if it wasn’t worse enough, I was getting married to a man I hated so much and knew almost nothing about.

The sweet temptation of wanting to unalive him at the altar out of rage swam around my head intensively and it took every inch of my soul to keep me calm.

But that did not stop me from sliding a little pen knife into my elbow-length hand gloves. Because to be fair, who knew what would happen out there?

Yara and Nicole were in the room with me as my bridesmaids together with Robert’s mistress who wouldn’t stop talking at any chance she got. My poor social life had reflected greatly on me having no one to invite or any other person to use as my bridesmaid. But that was by the way. It wasn’t like it was a happy day for me per say.

“I can’t stand you on a normal day but you look absolutely beautiful today,” Yara said crossing her long legs.

“Nicest thing you’ve said to me in forever,” I replied flatly taking up my phone to check the time.

“Shut up.” She snapped and I scoffed.

Everything was going fast and before I knew it, I was walking down the aisle while Roman waited next to the priest and groomsmen in his jet-black tuxedo and black underneath shirt. He looked good, that I would give him but the stupid smirk which sat on his lips irritated the shit out of me.

I wasn’t going to fake being happy as I walked down the aisle and with the big Argentero family on one side and our small Belluci on the other side, the tension was still in the air. Those who looked happy probably were faking it and I didn’t miss Simone’s tightened jaw as I walked past him.

“For a day that’s supposed to be one of your happiest days, you don’t look too happy,” Roman said to me immediately in a low tone as he grabbed my hand. “You look beautiful too.”

“My face clearly shows what I’m feeling and I’m not going to be out here pretending like the lots of you.” I snapped at him.

He smiled widely at me and I rolled my eyes at him as we stood facing ourselves.

“If you don’t wipe that stupid smile off your face, your blood will be washing down the altar stairs soon” I threatened in a whisper leaning into him.

He smiled even wider, annoying me more. “The best you can do on your wedding day is to not be a widow, babydoll.”

“Don’t fucking call me that.” I hissed at him.

“Looks like the couple is so much in love that they can’t get enough of each other.” The priest jeered.

I rolled my eyes hearing his big family laughing and some of them clapped even. Surprisingly, the mood wasn’t as bad as it was earlier.

And it made me annoyed.

Love? As if.

How would I love someone from there or even begin to like any of them when I was sure a good number of them there had a hand in Isabelle’s death or know who did?

And for Roman, if he continued this, I wasn’t going to hesitate taking out my whole anger on him and unaliving him. After all, it was just going to cost me my life if I got caught.

Everything went slowly and some fake speeches were given. Soon, we said our vows and exchanged rings just as the priest said we could kiss ourselves.

He winked at me.”Told you, you’ll be living under my roof soon.”

I reached for the knife in my handglove slowly, making sure to never leave his eyes all while smiling sweetly at him and closing the gap between us.

Maybe a little threat from me to him was what he needed to stop acting this way. Maybe?

I hugged him, my arms around his neck, placing it directly on the artery on his neck. One clean swipe and he would be gone. “You can dare me one more time and watch me keep my word,” I said into his ear sweetly.

“Uhuh. My baby doll is so feisty. It makes you even sexier honestly. I’m so much in love.” He answered, hugging his hands around my waist and pulling me closer to himself.

Didn’t this man fear for his life at all? And didn’t he think I could actually do it if I wanted?

Just then, we heard a gunshot in the air which grasped our attention and made everyone scream.

Some masked men stood at the back of the church at the aisle where I had just walked in a few minutes ago. Both had guns in their hands and were dressed in all black. The two shot their guns a second time and the priest dropped to the floor beside us. Everyone started taking out their guns and weapons and finding covers here and there.

“Duck!” Roman shouted, pulling me down and taking out his gun.