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 Pov The next morning, I couldn't sit still. My heart was a tangled mess of questions as I paced my bedroom, glancing every few seconds at the drawer across the room, the one hiding that photograph.I bit my lip, debating with myself. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe it's not what it looked likeBut the doubt was there. I couldn't pretend I hadn't seen it.I rushed over, yanking the drawer open and pulling out my diary. Carefully, I slipped the photograph free from between the worn pages.There it was.My mother, smiling so warmly, standing close to Martini like they had shared something... something I wasn't meant to know about. Their bodies leaned just a little too comfortably toward each other, a kind of familiarity that spoke louder than words.I stared at it, my fingers trembling slightly.Why would she be this close to him? What are they hiding?A thousand questions burned in my chest, but only one thing was clear: I couldn't sit here waiting for answers. I'd find them mys
Alessio's Pov The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting golden streaks over the polished wood floors of the mansion. It was rare to feel a sense of calm in this house, rarer still to feel something close to happiness. But as I stood by the window, sipping black coffee, watching the trees move. I realized there was something different in the air. It was warmer and lighter. I didn’t know why I felt it, but I wasn’t going to question it. Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the way the chaos in my head had reduced. . Or maybe… It was her.Gabriella.Carki noticed it too. He stood across from me in the hallway, his arms folded, one brow raised like he was trying to read me.“You look less like you want to kill someone today,” he muttered, his usual dry sarcasm creeping in.I grunted, shaking my head. “Don’t start.”He shrugged. “Didn’t say it was a bad thing.”But he knew better than to push further.I hadn’t told anyone, not even Carlo, that I was starting to see Ga
Gabriella's Pov I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The soft blue gown hugged my curves like it had been made for me, delicate silk cascading to the floor. It was simple, no jewels, no embroidery, nothing loud, yet somehow, that simplicity made it all the more stunning. My hair was loose, curling softly around my shoulders. After so long behind locked doors, stripped of even the smallest luxuries, it felt almost rebellious to wear something that made me feel... beautiful, alive even. Tonight, I wasn’t going to hide. Tonight, Alessio would see what he’d tried to keep in a cage. I took a deep breath, smoothed the gown over my hips, and left the room. The heels clicked softly against the marble stairs as I descended, the chandelier above scattering golden light across the foyer like falling stars. I saw him before he saw me, Alessio, seated at the long oak dining table, phone pressed to his ear, brow furrowed in that way that meant business. Even when
Gabriella's Pov I sat on the edge of the massive bed, my arms folded tightly across my chest as I stared at the wall. The silence in the room was deafening, but it was nothing compared to anger I felt inside me. How dare Alessio lock me in like some possession? Like I was a bird that needed to be trapped in a cage. I hated him for it. I hated how he thought he could control me, trap me in this mansion and expect me to act like a good wife. But I wasn’t going to let him break me.My stomach growled loudly, interrupting my spiral of frustration. Ugh. Even in anger, my body had needs. I slid off the bed, grabbed the silk robe from the chair, and wrapped it around me before heading out of the room.As I walked down the grand staircase, I was greeted by the cold marble under my feet and the faint aroma of something warm and buttery. My eyes darted around the hall, but it was eerily empty, as always.A maid walked by, her head slightly bowed, and I called out to her.“Excuse me, can you b
Alessio's Pov I sat in my office, my fingers drumming restlessly against the mahogany desk. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, but it felt like time was stuck, like it was mocking me. Gabriela's presence lingered in the corners of my mind. I couldn't focus on any other things except her. She was locked upstairs, tucked away behind steel-reinforced doors and top-tier security. Not because I didn’t trust her, but because I didn’t trust the world with her. It was the only choice I had, the only way to keep her safe. Still, I felt guilty . I could almost hear her voice echoing in my mind, asking why I had become her captor.A knock broke me from my trance. Carlo stepped in, looking rigid as always, his face showing little to no emotion. “We’ve got a lead,” he said simply.I nodded my head furiously. “Good. I’ll finish up here. Then we go.”Carlo didn’t ask questions. He never did. That’s what made him invaluable.When the door shut behind him, I leaned back in my chair, letting my
Victor stood at the front of the mansion, the cold wind doing nothing to make him calm. His boots crunched against the gravel as he took a shaky step forward, his heart pounding louder with every breath.He knew this was a mistake. A dangerous one.No one was allowed to step foot inside the master's estate without being summoned, especially not someone like him. But this wasn’t a time for him to follow the rules. Not tonight.His fingers trembled as he reached for the call button on the gate’s stone pillar. He hesitated but th, he pressed it.He waited for what seemed to be minutes. Just as he was about to turn away, the massive iron gate made a slow noise and creaked open. A single guard stepped forward, his face filled with disgust. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here,” the guard said, eyeing Victor like he was a ticking bomb.Victor didn’t flinch. “I know. But I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”“i need to speak with him,” Victor said quickly. “Please. It’s urgen
The next morning, Gabriella woke up with her heart pounding in her chest, the bitter memory of last night still hanging over her like a storm cloud. She didn’t want to see him. Didn’t want to hear him. Every fiber of her body ached with frustration.Kicking the covers away, she stood and marched over to the balcony. Her eyes scanned the property. Guards. Lots of them. Standing still like statues, guns hanging from their shoulders, eyes constantly sweeping the grounds. It was clear—Alessio wasn’t taking any chances this time. There was no escape.Gabriella let out a deep breath and turned away. The room felt like a golden prison. Big bed, soft rug, polished floor—none of it mattered. It was still a cage.She walked into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water run over her skin, hoping it would wash off the weight sitting on her chest. She stayed there longer than necessary, not wanting to come out. Not wanting to face what was waiting.A soft knock on the bedroo
The tension in the De Luca's mansion could be sliced with a knife. Alessio stood by the large window, arms folded, eyes scanning the grounds with an expression that teetered between fury and fear.Carlo entered without knocking.“She’s not home,” he said flatly.Alessio’s voice dropped, dangerous and cold. “Who?”“Gabriela. I checked her room, the garden, and the west wing. Nothing. I asked one of the maids. They said she left a couple of hours ago. With Stella.”Alessio’s eyes darkened. “With Stella?”“Yes, boss. The guards thought she had your permission.”Alessio turned fully now. “And they’re both missing?”Carlo nodded. “I sent two men to check the nearby blocks. Nothing yet.”Alessio slammed his hand down on the table beside him, making the vase rattle. “Traitors in my own walls, and the one person I need safe is strolling around the city like it’s a damn holiday?”Carlo stayed silent, knowing better than to interrupt when Alessio was on edge.“Mobilize every man we’ve got. I do
The sky was beginning to turn golden as the cab Maria was in finally stopped in front of a small, cozy, looking house with white windows and a porch that had potted flowers sitting on the rails. Hidden just a little down the road, Gabriella and Stella sat inside their own cab, watching closely.“There,” Stella whispered, pointing.“I see her,” Gabriella replied, narrowing her eyes. Her tone was calm, but her fingers were drumming nervously on her knee. “We wait till she goes inside.”Maria stepped out of her cab, adjusting the strap of her bag. She glanced over her shoulder once, then walked briskly to the front door and disappeared inside.“Now,” Gabriella said.They got out quietly and walked toward the house. Stella’s heart was racing like a drum in a parade.“Are you sure about this?” Stella asked, tugging on Gabriella’s sleeve.“Yes,” Gabriella said firmly. “But follow my lead. No surprises, okay?”Stella nodded. Gabriella stepped up to the porch and knocked softly. The door cre