Run to Ruin

Viviana’s POV

"Get them out of here!" Someone barked amidst the chaos that had erupted in the church.

My gaze refused to shift from the priest, who had wrapped his hands around his neck and was trying to stop the blood that was pooling down his shirt. The man made a choking sound and then dropped dead, his body making a sickening thud on the floor.

Someone grabbed my arm roughly. "What the hell are you standing here for? Run!"

I snapped back to my senses and glanced around for any familiar face. Ahead, I could see Sergio's men trying to block his fat body with theirs as they ushered him in the direction of the side door.

My grandfather was nowhere to be found, but I recognize the man before me as one of his men.

"Where's he?" I asked.

"He's waiting outside. Let's go," he said. But as we turned to go, there was the sound of another gunshot, and half of the man's face blew up in a spray of blood and brain matter that stained the bodice of my previously pristine white dress.

My legs felt like noodles, and I dropped to the ground, covering my ears with my hands to drown out the sounds of the gunshots.

"Get up!" another of my father's men raced toward me and yanked me up to my feet. "Sergio is waiting for you outside."

"No!" I cried, "I'm not going to marry him. Leave me alone." I tried to push the man off, but his face twisted up in anger before the back of his hand smashed against my face, sending me flying into one of the pews, the wooden edge knocking painfully into my side.

"Argh," I screamed, tears of pain streaming down my face.

"Come with me obediently if you don't want me to hit you again," he growled. "I'm already risking my life trying to save some spoiled princess."

I reached under the folds of my tulle dress and pulled out the dagger I had stowed into my garter. As the man reached for me again, I let out a scream of rage and dug the blade into his shoulder.

He staggered back, a howl of pain escaping his mouth.

Without sparing him another glance, and knowing that I was sealing my fate as the rebellious granddaughter and runaway bride, I took to my heels, weaving through the chaos of the room and trying not to stare too closely at the bodies littered around the ground.

The only thing on my mind was getting out of the church. Where I would go, I had no idea, but what I knew was that I was never going to marry Sergio Abate.

I burst out of the large double doors, my gaze flying around the parking lot wildly. In the distance, I could see my grandfather being shielded by his men as they escorted him to his car amidst the flying bullets. On the other side of the garage, I could see my darling fiancée crouched behind a pillar.

I scoffed.

I guess in the face of danger, both my loving grandfather and fiancé had chosen their lives and forgotten all about me.

Well, good riddance to them.

"Viviana!" Sergio's voice roared as I began to turn toward the line of trees bordering the church, "Where the hell do you think you're going? Get back into the church."

And have my brains blown out? No, thanks.

Ignoring him, and knowing that if he ever caught up to me, I would face the consequences, I kicked off my shoes and began to run. Even with the dress weighing me down, I ran faster than I had ever run in my life, unbothered by the thorns cutting my feet or the branches scratching at me. All I cared about was my freedom.

Just ahead of me, I could see the main road. All I had to do was get a cab and disappear. My heart pounded, and tears of joy flowed freely out of my eyes.

Finally!

Just as I broke out of the tree line, a hand reached out from the side, and I was suddenly pushed face-first into the large trunk of a tree.

"Let me go!" I screamed, thrashing against the large figure pinning me to the tree, "Let me go! Tell Sergio that I'd rather be in a wooden box six feet under than marry him and tell my grandfather that he can go to hell."

"Is that so?" A familiar voice asked, amusement dripping from his words.

My eyes widened. It couldn't be. No, it was impossible. "What do you think you're doing? I can't believe you stalked me here! Are you crazy? Let me go. If my father's men catch you, they'll never let you walk away alive."

Had I made the stupidest mistake of my life by giving my virginity to a stranger who was now obsessed over me to the point of hunting me down in the woods?

But even my new fear couldn't completely hide the fact that my nipples had hardened and a flood of moisture had begun to seep out of me.

"I'm not afraid of Abate and Antonio," he said. "My men will keep them at bay till I'm done with you."

"What men? What are you? realization hit me like a ton of bricks, "Your men are the ones that killed the priest? Who are you?"

I was suddenly spun around, my back pressed against the tree, leaving me facing the dark-haired man who had brought me undeniable pleasure just a few hours ago.

Out here in the forest, he looked impossibly large and forbidding, and there was something dark and possessive glinting in his eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked again, because I was starting to feel like he wasn't just a stranger from room 312.

"Isn't it a little too late for introductions, Viviana?"

I shivered at the sound of my name on his tongue, but I didn't let him distract me. "Who the hell are you?"