A Wedding Interrupted

Viviana’s POV

"You look beautiful, child, and that dress is a true sign of your purity."

I bit back the hysterical laugh that threatened to burst out of me, trying to keep myself from squirming at the ache in between my legs.

"Thank you, Papa." I kept my gaze down in a sign of deference.

My grandfather didn't like to hit me, because I scarred so easily, and he didn't want anything to spoil the show he put up of flaunting me to the other family heads and capos. But he often starved me and locked me up for days at the slightest sign of my disobedience.

His hand suddenly lashed out and gripped my jaw painfully, jerking my head up.

"Do not embarrass me today, Viviana," he warned, eyes burning with hatred. "Everything I have done has been for this moment. I could have easily left you to die with my slut of a daughter and your useless father, but I didn't. I took you in and raised you since you were a year old. You will repay me by submitting yourself to Sergio's will. If he asks you to jump, your only response should be how high. If he tells you to spread your legs for him, you'll do it with a smile."

Tears filled my eyes at the pain of both his words and his nails digging into my skin. "You're hurting me," I cried.

"Listen to me, child," he continued, voice a sharp threat. "Sergio will not be as merciful as I am, so if you think you can wrap him around your little finger and play your childish games, you will quickly find yourself in a wooden box six feet under."

I flinched, terror making bile rise up my throat.

The expression on my face must have satisfied him because a smile curved his mouth, and he stepped away. "I trust that you will not do anything stupid. You are a smart girl, and you should know what a man like Sergio is capable of. Will you do something stupid, Viviana?"

I shook my head. "I won't, Papa."

What would be my fate when my new husband learned that another man had already been deep inside me? Just a few hours ago, I had been clutching at another man's shoulders, screaming as orgasm upon orgasm ripped through me.

"Good," he nodded. "You are far different from your slut of a mother."

I wasn't. In fact, I was far worse than her.

There was a sharp knock at the door, and he turned to me with a small smile playing on his mouth, "It's time."

My belly swooped down. It was time for me to place my life into the hands of a murderous forty-seven-year old man.

"Are you ready?"

I nodded. I didn't really have a choice, did I?

The double doors were pulled open, and I placed my hands on Grandfather Antonio's sleeve, allowing him to lead me out of the waiting room and into the packed church. Familiar and unfamiliar faces watched me curiously as I walked down the aisle, a placid smile fixed on my face.

I refused to look at the terrifying face of my soon-to-be husband until my grandfather handed me to him, and he was right before me.

Sergio Abate was an ugly beast of a man, and his personality matched his appearance perfectly. His hair was a sandy brown that had thinned severely and was brushed back over balding spots. He was overweight, his suit barely fitting around his massive body.

A man like him could easily pin me down and have his way with me.

Cold sweat dripped down my back at the way his tiny, beady eyes raked over me lasciviously.

"I heard stories of your youthful beauty, but I thought they were exaggerated," he smirked. "Now that I've seen you, I realize why Antonio hid you all these years. He was wise to protect a valuable investment such as yourself."

And then he leaned closer, his cloying perfume filling my nose and almost choking me to death.

"I can't wait to take you to my bed and make you bleed for the first time."

Revulsion threatened to twist my expression, but I kept my face neutral, knowing that I would only face a worse fate if I made my hatred for him obvious.

"Begin," he barked at the priest impatiently.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Viviana Materazzi and Sergio Abate."

The sound of blood rushing through my ears was loud enough to drown out the rest of the priest's words. As a last resort, I had strapped a small blade to my garter.

When Imelda had seen it, she had assumed it was for harming my husband, but the truth was that the blade was for myself. Earlier, I hadn't been sure that I would go ahead with my plan, but as I stood before this beast, my mind was made up.

I'd rather end my own life than let Sergio Abate lay his filthy hands on me. I was dead anyway when he discovered my lack of virginity, so why not save myself from death at his cruel hands?

"Do you, Sergio, take Viviana Materazzi to be your lawful wedded wife, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and health, and until death do you part?" The priest's voice cut through my reverie.

The corners of the fat man's eyes crinkled as a malicious smile split his face. "I do."

The priest turned to me, "And do you, Viviana, take Sergio Abate to be your lawful wedded husband, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

My heart pounded against my chest as I stared at my soon-to-be husband. It seemed death would do us part faster than he would expect.

"I_"

The booming sound of a gunshot tore through the church and swallowed the rest of my words.