Gabriella’s Pov
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, the white gown hugged my body to my skin, showing off my perfect curves. The fabric of the dress was soft and smelled like flowers. I glanced briefly at my wrists which were sore and turning purple from the way the guards had held me at the auction house. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as I remembered today was the day I was getting married to Alessio. However this wasn't a wedding to me. It was a nightmare.
I bit my lip lightly, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. Rosa, the makeup artist, exhaled heavily while looking at my reflection in the mirror.
“It's okay to cry, you know. I cried when I was getting married so I understand the feeling. Today is a special day for you so no more crying else you'll ruin my masterpiece,”she laughed, dabbing my cheeks once more.
I let out a forced chuckle, wiping my tears gently. Masterpiece, that was what she called the broken face staring back at me. Beneath all the foundation and lipstick, I was not beautiful. My eyes were dull, lifeless, lacking the spark it once had. I was literally a corpse in a wedding dress.
“You're lucky, you know," Rosa began, cutting through my thoughts. “I've known Alessio since his diaper days, he's one of the most powerful and influential men in Italy. And also very handsome,” She wiggled her eyebrows and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
"Any woman would trade places with you in a heartbeat.”
I scoffed. Lucky. Was that what they called being forced into a marriage fueled by revenge?
Rosa stepped back, her eyes roaming my face as she nodded in approval. "Perfetto. You look beautiful. Now you have to promise me, no more crying,” she whispered, her hands squeezing mine lighty. "You'll make a beautiful bride."
A beautiful bride for a man who hated my very existence, the voice in my head rang.
Before I could thank her, the door burst open and a guard entered, his expression blank.“I’ll be escorting you to the church Mrs De Luca.”
Mrs De Luca? That was my new name. Gabriella De Luca. I turned back to Rosa, my eyes glittering with tears, hoping she could get a hint. She grinned, waving her hand slightly as she left the room.
I rose from the chair, gripping the bouquet firmly in my hand.
We made our way downstairs and I spotted a white limousine parked by the porch. I have never been inside one of these and the sight was breathtaking. I couldn't help but wonder how wealthy Alessio must be to afford this.
The guard opened the door, gestiring for me to sit. I enteted, exhaling as my back relaxed into the cushy seat.
The ride to the church was filled with silence. I gazed out the window, my hands trembling as I watched the city go by. My thoughts drifted back to memories I had of Alessio. He was the boy who I could always count on, who would save me from bullies during my highschool days. Why did he change so much? How could he believe my father murdered his parents? My father was a good man…..wasn’t he?
I shook my head slightly. He was wrong, my father was no murderer. He could barely hurt a fly, talk more of murdering someone.
The sudden screeching of tires jolted me back to reality. I stared at the massive church in front of me, which sparkled against the evening sky. The door opened and I stepped out, the cold wind grazing my skin immediately. I tightened my fingers around the bouquet, taking slow steps towards the entrance.
The doors swung open, the congregation standing in unison as their eyes instantly fell on me. The room was filled with unfamiliar faces, but I was certain they were powerful mafia families. After all, their Don was getting married. They stared at me with curiosity, or perhaps amusement at my predicament.
My breath hitched when my gaze landed on Alessio. He stood at the altar, dressed completely in black. His blond hair wa sgeles back to perfection, showing off his perfect jawline. How could someone be so cruel and breathtaking at the same time?
He still had an effect on me and I hated it. I needed to clear him off my head, I needed to stop loving him.
His gray eyes darkened the moment they met mine. I cleared my throat, for img myself to look anywhere but him.
The guard nudged me forward and I fought the urge to give him the middle finger. Alessio took my hand from his grip, his touch cold against my skin.
The priest began the ceremony. I barely paid attention, my mind was elsewhere, on Alessio. The time came for him to say his vows. He did so smoothly as if he meant those words. Deep down I really wish he did.
And then it was my turn.
Tears filled my eyes as I turned, my eyes flickering to the door, to the congregation and then back to Alessio. No one could save me from this.
With a shaky breath, I whispered, "I do."
“You may now kiss the bride," the priest concluded.
For a moment I thought Alessio wouldn't do it but then he leaned in, his lips mere inches from mine. I closed my eyes briefly, wanting to know what my first kiss would be like, but then his lips landed on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fluttered open, staring at Alessio who in return smirked.
My cheeks flushed as I straightened myself. I foolishly thought Alessio would kiss me but he just reminded me of what this marriage truly was. A loveless marriage.
******************************
I forced a smile on my face during the reception, and before I knew it Alessio announced it was time to head home. But that wasn't a home to me, it was a prison.
The ride home was filled with silence. I occasionally stole glances at Alessio, who was busy typing Into his phone.
“If you don't have anything to say, I suggest you stop staring at me,” Alessio warned, without sparing me a look
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, turning away, and resting my forehead against the glass.
I closed my eyes, enjoying the cool air and dozed off.
I woke up to strong arms carrying me. Blinking softly, I stared at the face who had these certain pairs of arms. Alessio. I couldn't help but admire him a little longer before his eyes met mine.
Alessio's smirked, dropping me down harshly. He cleared his throat, pointing to a room. “You’ll be staying with me from now on.”
A gasp escaped my lips at the thought of sharing a room with Alessio. Relax Gabriella, Alessio is nice he wouldn't hurt you, I reminded myself but deep down a voice told me otherwise.
I turned, observing the lavish bedroom. It was massive, decorated in black with a diamond chandelier which hung above us. It was more beautiful than the other room I'd been in, but still……
I turned back to Alessio. “I thought I'd have my own room, I mean…….”
"You thought wrong, Bella.” His gray eyes bore into mine.”You're my wife, so I expect you to perform your duties as one.”
I gulped at the statement. Was he expecting us to sleep together? I would have been happy knowing Alessio was the first man to take my virginity but now he seemed different, different from the boy I knew.
“Your clothes are in the closet. Everything you need is here in this room. Go take a bath, your reek of fear." He concluded, stepping out of the room.
I bit on my trembling lip. This was how my life was going to be henceforth, controlled by a man who despised me. Sighing, I walked to the closet, searching for pyjamas. There was none, except see-through lingerie. Did he purposely buy these? I searched further till my eyes landed on a red gown, it was short but not too revealing.
Grabbing the dress, I hurried into the bathroom and I was amazed at how huge it was. It was definitely way bigger than the one I had back at home. I stripped my gown off and stepped into the bathtub, letting the warm water relax me. I used every product I could find and when I was done I smelled good.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I froze, my eyes instantly locking on Alessio. He stood by the window, shirtless, the dim light casting warm light over his sculptured form. I felt my breath hitch as my gaze landed on the butterfly tattoo at the back of his neck, the same one he had gotten for me when we were teenagers. It was a symbol of love between us.
He turned around slowly, as if he'd knew I was gawking at him. His eyes roamed my figure, stopping at my chest area. I pushed my arms up, hoping some parts will remain covered from his stare. His eyes darkened for a moment before he cleared his throat.
“Let me just make this clear, Bella. I don't intend to have a wedding night. Nothing about your body turns me on,” he began. “Don't expect love in this marriage, I don't want you and I never will.”
The words stung, more than I thought it'll will, but I forced
His voice darkened. “Now, the rules. You will not leave this house. You are only allowed in the kitchen, library, sitting room, and pool. Every other room is off-limits. If you need anything, a new maid will be here tomorrow to attend to your needs. Do I make myself clear?”
Did Alessio think I was a puppet he could command? “And if I break the rules?” I couldn't help but ask.
Alessio smirked, his eyes darkening with desire. “If you break my rules, Bella,” he said, taking slow steps towards me, his eyes boring into mine. "you'll be begging for me in ways you never imagined.”
Alessio's pov A week later“The Russians need to be taken care of before they become a bigger problem,” Vincenzo, one of my investors said, his face laced with worry.I hummed, nodding my head, barely paying attention to what he said. My thoughts kept drifting to Gabriella. She was a drug I didn't want to be addicted to. Everything about her from her scent, down to her curves pissed me off. That was why I avoided her.Every morning, she prepared meals for me, but I made sure to leave before she woke up and return late at night. I needed distance. She was getting under my skin, and I hated that."Alessio?" Vincenzo’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked, forcing my focus back to the conversation. "Go on.”“Like I said," he began. “If you want our continued support, you need to guarantee that we can call upon your services when needed. Can we count on you?" I nodded. “Sì. (Yes)"The Russians had started crossing into our territory, and that was unacceptable. A war was near,
Gabriella's Pov I stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep even though it was past midnight. My heart began racing when I thought of what happened earlier. The kiss. It replayed in my mind which made it harder to focus. I felt hot and angry about what Alessio did. The way he kissed me was insane, it was rough, and demanding at the same time. My first kiss, stolen just like that. And the worst part? He didn’t even act like it mattered. Like it was no big deal. That made me furious. Groaning, I turned to face Alessio. He laid next to me, sleeping peacefully like he hadn't just left me all hot and bothered. His blond hair rested messily against the pillow. His features looked relaxed and for a split second I hated the fact that he looked so good even while he was asleep. Of course he had to be sleeping fine. Why wouldn’t he be? He always got what he wanted. We’d kissed once before, back when we were kids playing truth or dare. I was sure Alessio didn’t remember, but it had meant e
Gabriella’s Pov All eyes turned to me the moment I stepped into the room. I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as their gazes remained fixed on me. I couldn't back out now, not after everything I went through to be here. The sound of my heels echoed in the not so spacious study as I walked forward, the shirt dresses clinging more to my skin with every step I took. The room smelled of whiskey and smoke, and I knew I'd just walked into a deadly trap.Alessio sat at the head of the long glass table, his eyes squinting as he looked at me from head to toe. I could see his jaw tightening when his eyes locked on the neckline of my dress. He seemed mad but fixed a smile to his face which didn't quite teach his eyes.“Cara Mia," he called out, his voice low and dangerous which sent a shiver down my spine. To the men, it sounded like he was praising his wife but to me, it sounded more like a warning than a greeting.I held back a chuckle, knowing too well that I was in trouble. I shook my
Alessio's PovI stood in the boxing ring, taking deep breaths as I wiped the blood trickling down the corner of my mouth. I stared at my opponent who looked 5 times bigger than me. He clenched his fists as he circled me, his eyes darkening as a smirk formed on his lips. He was really tough, his punches seemed like he had trained for a long while. He was definitely stronger than me, or was it possible that I'd grown weaker?I shook my head slightly, that was impossible. I slammed my fists, forcing my muscles to be string despite the fact that they ached badly. The crowd roared as they cheered for us. Grittng my teeth, I stepped forward and without hesitation, I lunged my fist Into his jaw in a brutal uppercut, sending him staggering back. He slumped down with a third that echoed through the gym.The referee's count barely registered until he reached ten, and I was declared the winner. The crowd roared once more but my eyes turned as my breath came in short gasps. I stumbled back, my leg
Gabriella's PovI groaned as I sank into the bed, holding the plate of lasagna in my hands. The scent of tomato and cheese lingered in the room. I had no appetite to eat any longer. I stared at the plate, my stomach rumbling but not from hunger. I'd learnt how to make this from my father, it was his favorite recipe. I remembered how he laughs each time he teaches me. How he pretends to sneeze due to the flour in his hands, it made me giggle so loud. The memory remained fresh in my head, and I blinked rapidly, trying hard not to cry.Why was I here? Why did he want to get married to me if he hated me? What did Alessio want from me? And why did he seem to take so much pleasure in my misery?“Get a grip,” I muttered, shoving the plate onto the nightstand. The fork made a sharp noise and silence followed after. I pulled my knees to my chest. I've spent days in the mansion, just forced to be kept here like a slave with nothing to do but think. Think about my parents, about Alessio’s cold e
Alessio's PovI stared at my uncle as he walked slowly. His eyes narrowed. His gaze flicked between me and Gabriella. The shock in his expression was impossible to miss. He clenched his jaw and without saying anything, he shoved past us, his shoulder hitting Gabriella, throwing her off balance. I reached out to her, steadying her as I wrapped my hands protectively around her waist. Uncle Martini let out a cough and I turned to see him glaring at me. Sighing, I turned back to Gabriella.“Go inside, I'll be with you shortly," I said to her and walked away. I followed my uncle down the hall, my footsteps slow and steady. The door The door to my study shook as Martini slammed it shut behind us. He turned to me, his eyes blazing with fury. "So it's true," he bit out. "You married her? The daughter of the bastard who killed your father?" I leaned against the edge of my desk, crossing my arms. "Good to see you too, Uncle." "Don't play games with me, Alessio." He growled. "Why the hell w
Victor's Pov The cold night air grazed my skin the moment I stepped onto the pavement outside an abandoned warehouse. The warehouse seemed like a place they had forgotten for ages, the walls were decaying. I could hear distant sirens wailing in the city, but here, it was dead silent. I knew this was probably the worst decision I had made in my life, but I didn’t care. I needed to see him. Taking a deep breath, I walked forward, the heavy metal door standing tall over me. I curled my fists at my sides. It has to happen now or never. I've heard stories about this place, about the man that ruled it. They said he was the most dangerous man in New York. The kind of person you shouldn't cross unless you had a death wish. And yet, here I was, standing in his territory. The door swung open before I could knock. A man stood in the doorway, his face covered in a mask, his eyes dark and suspicious. He was tall, built like a soldier, and has an aura of someone who takes pleasure in murder
Gabriella's Pov I stared at the private jet in front of me, my eyes widening in disbelief. No way, Alessio owned this. The jet was huge, painted sleek with the letter “A” engraved by the side. My heart raced with excitement. I had never been on a private jet before. The idea of flying in something this grand made me feel so happy. I turned to Alessio, hoping to see if he was as excited as I was, but he was busy typing into his phone. He stood a few steps away, dressed in a black suit as always, speaking in a low voice that I couldn’t quite hear. His face was serious, focused, as if nothing in the world could distract him. “This… is yours?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Alessio barely spared me a glance as he spoke into his phone. “Board the plane. We don’t have all day.” I let out a scoff. He could at least pretend to be as amazed as I was. But of course, he wasn’t. This was probably normal for him, private jets, luxury hotels, expensive cars. Meanwhile, I was still
Gabriella's PovThe car ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet. Paul’s eyes were glued to the road, hands gripped firm around the steering wheel, his jaw locked like he was chewing on a million thoughts he refused to spit out.But me? My mind was racing.Just before Paul interrupted earlier, she slid a paper into my hand. Quiet, quick, unnoticed.I waited until we were clear. I shifted slightly in my seat, making sure Paul’s eyes stayed ahead, and with a racing heart and trembling fingers, I unfolded the little piece of paper.It was a phone number. No name. Just digits.I glanced at Paul again. He was still focused on the road. A slow, strange smile tugged at the corner of my lips. The moment we pulled into the long driveway and the mansion came into view, I practically flew out of the car the second we stopped. I didn’t wait for Paul to open my door. I didn’t even say a word. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as I bolted through the grand hallway, ignoring th
Gabriella's Pov The house felt like a damn museum, big, cold but lifeless. I wandered through the long hallways with no real direction, just bare feet against polished floors and boredom clinging to me like perfume.I had already counted the columns in the hallway twice. There were Twenty-eight in total. The exact number of minutes I’d been pacing. I muttered to myself, “I’m going crazy.”No one answered. Obviously.I made my way to the front of the house, hoping, praying, for some reason to go out. Maybe a fire. An earthquake. A scandal. Anything.Two guards stood at the entrance like they were a statue. One of them, the bald one in sunglasses, turned his head as I approached.“I want to head out,” I said, already bracing for the worst. To my surprise the bald guy grunted. “Can’t let you do that, ma’am.”I crossed my arms. “Excuse me?”“Don’s orders. You're to stay inside.”I blinked. “Are you hearing yourself? Am I a prisoner now?”“No one said that,” he replied calmly. Too calml
Alessio's Pov The warehouse reeked of dust, coil, blood too, maybe. The kind of place which was forbidden to people who didn't deal with guns. I stepped out of the SUV, the gravel stones crunching beneath my boots. I looked around taking in the view. No signs of life, except the figure leaning against the barrel near the far end of the building. Pablo.His arms were crossed, his body relaxed. That alone made my skin itch.I didn’t say anything at first. Just walked. Each step echoing as I moved. Two of my men Carlo and Ricci stood beside me. The tension between all could’ve cracked a concrete wall. “You picked a hell of a place for a meeting,” I muttered when I got close enough to see the sweat on Pablo’s brow.He smirked, his eyes hidden behind those damn mirrored shades. “You’re late.”“Traffic,” I said dryly. “Let’s not waste more time.”He shifted, finally standing up straight. “I got news. But you’re not gonna like it.”I narrowed my eyes. “I haven’t liked much of anything la
Third person pov The dimly lit room smelled of blood and sweat, the air thick with tension. A single flickering bulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls. The metallic scent of iron clung to the atmosphere, mixing with the stale odor of cigarette smoke.Victor knelt on the cold floor, his face battered and swollen, blood trickling from his split lip. His left eye was nearly swollen shut, a deep purple bruise forming around it. His hands trembled slightly as he kept them pressed against his sides, barely able to lift his gaze to the imposing figure seated before him.The man in the chair was silent for a long moment, merely observing Victor with cold, calculating eyes. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, a patient yet ominous gesture. Behind him, two guards stood motionless, their expressions unreadable, their presence filed with a silent warning. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but laced with danger."Tell me, Victor. Why didn'
Gabriella's Pov I woke up feeling light, like I was floating. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Alessio’s face, his features looking soft as the dim light of the plane cabin reflected on him. His arms were wrapped securely around me, holding me close to his chest as he carried me effortlessly.“Finally awake,” he murmured, his voice deep yet soft but there was something else beneath it, relief? Concern?I blinked, trying to shake the drowsiness from my mind. “What… happened?” My voice came out hoarse, and my throat felt dry. I struggled to recall the last moments before I drifted it to sleep. “We landed,” he said simply. “You were exhausted, so I let you rest.”I swallowed hard and slowly became aware of the hum of the plane’s engines winding down. The scent of Alessio’s cologne wrapped around me, it was woodsy, rich, and something undeniably him. I should have pulled away, but his warmth was comforting, and my body refused to fight against the ease of his grip
Gabriella's Pov “You’re awake,” Alessio says, his voice softer than I expected as he rubs my arm lightly. His touch is warm, almost… gentle. I blink a few times, trying to shake off the lingering haze in my mind.“Here, sit up straight,” he adds, handing me a bottle of water.I stare at him for a moment, my mind struggling to process the situation. Alessio… being nice? Is this a dream? I shake my head slightly, pushing the thought away, and take the water from him. The cool liquid soothes my dry throat as I gulp it down in one go.“Where am I?” I ask, furrowing my brows as I take in my surroundings. The bright hospital lights, the scent of antiseptic, the stiff sheets under my fingers, it all starts to make sense.“You’re in the hospital, Bella,” he replies, his voice low and steady. His hand continues rubbing slow, comforting circles on my arm, sending an unfamiliar warmth through me.I don’t know what shocks me more, the fact that I’m here or the fact that Alessio is being… tender.
Alessio’s PovI stepped onto the balcony, gripping my phone tightly as I answered. “Yeah, talk.”Vincenzo’s voice came through, shaky and uneven. “Boss… there’s a problem. I found out who’s behind the shipment.” He hesitated for a second. “It was the Russians.”My entire body tensed. The Russians. Of course, it was them. Filthy, backstabbing bastards. My fingers curled into a fist around the phone, my knuckles turning white. I could feel my pulse hammering against my ears. “What else?” My voice was low, controlled, but deadly.Vincenzo sucked in a breath. “Don… you need to get out of there. Now.”Something in his tone sent a chill down my spine. My instincts sharpened, my grip tightening on the balcony railing. “What do you mean?” I demanded, my voice coming out sharper than intended. “The place has been raided…..”Before I could reply, gunshots rang out. “Shit,” I muttered to myself. My breath hitched as adrenaline surged through me. My mind raced through a thousand possibilities
Gabriella's POVI took a deep breath, smoothing my hands over my red satin gown. It clung to my body just right, making me feel elegant, but the moment Alessio walked in, my confidence started to slip away.Dressed in a sharp black suit, his red tie matched my dress, though we hadn't planned it that way. His dark eyes scanned me slowly, intensely. I felt my face flush under his gaze."You look…" His voice was low, dangerous and seductive. "Perfect."I swallowed hard, looking away. "You’re not so bad yourself."A smirk tugged at his lips as he reached for my hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and steady. "Come," he said, leading me downstairs.His grip was firm, like he had no intention of letting go. Every step we took, I was aware of him, his presence, his scent, the quiet power in the way he moved.The car ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable. I could feel his eyes on me, though he didn't say anything. My hands rested in my lap, fingers twisting together in nervousness."N
Gabriella’s Pov I woke up with a pounding headache, my eyes turning like someone that had uncountable drinks. News flash that was me, my head throbbed so bad. My mouth was dry, and my body felt heavy. Ugh. What the hell happened last night? Then it all came rushing back, Alessio, his cold attitude, the way he dismissed me like I was nothing. Anger bubbled inside me as I pushed the blanket off. That man had a way of getting under my skin like no one else. I looked around the room, expecting to see him, but it was empty. Of course, it was empty, as it always is. Pushing back the thick duvet, I forced myself to sit up, groaning at the slight dizziness that accompanied my movements. My throat was parched, and as I looked around the room, I realized something, it didn't feel like he slept here last night. My eyes instantly landed on the table by the keft, that’s when I noticed it, a small pill bottle, a glass of water, and a note placed neatly on the coffee table. Curious, I pic