The Devil's Bride

Viviana’s POV

"Luca Vallario," he finally said.

I blinked at him, wondering if I was supposed to recognize the name. I knew all of the mafia capos, dons, and major players, but I had never heard of a Luca Vallario.

"What do you want with me?" I asked, "If you're hoping you can use me to take down my grandfather or..."

"Oh, don't worry, Viviana," one corner of his mouth hooked up, "I don't have any interest in taking down your grandfather. You're of more worth to me than to be used for the likes of Antonio."

My mind scrambled, trying to keep up with his cryptic words, "I don't understand."

"I know."

I felt a pinch against my wrist, and when I glanced down, I saw that while I had been caught up in his dark gaze, he had succeeded in wrapping a length of rope securely around my wrists. I gaped at my bound hands and then snapped my head up to meet his.

"You bastard," I hissed.

"We're going to be late; let's go," he tried to pull me along, but I stood my ground, almost tumbling to the ground when he jerked on my bindings.

"I'm not going anywhere with you until you tell me what you want with me," I cried, tears of frustration filling my eyes.

The eyes that I had seen as so dark and charming the previous night now resembled two soulless pools. "You weigh about one hundred and thirty pounds soaking wet, Viviana. I can drag you by the rope on your wrist all the way out of here, or you can come with me of your own free will."

I stared at him with hatred burning inside me. "Why did you do it? Why did you pretend to be a good man and take my virginity?"

He stared at me silently for a long while, and then finally a chilling smile appeared on his mouth, "I never claimed to be a good man, Tesoro. You walked into my room and offered yourself to me on a silver platter, wearing that red dress. There's no man on earth who could have said no to that."

"So I did this to myself?" I asked in disbelief, "I attracted the attention of a psychopath?"

Laughing, he began to gently pull me down the path. I let out a pained groan as a thorn stabbed into my feet, but Luca continued to drag me down, ignoring the fact that I was exhausted, battered, and bruised.

Finally, we came upon a clearing where a man in a priest collar was waiting, two other men lounging against the trees scattered around.

"Finally," one of them said, peeling away from the tree, "Let's get this over with."

I yanked free from Luca's hold and ended up sprawling on the floor, gaze wide and horrified. "Why is there a priest here?" My stomach was churning, and I had a feeling I knew the answer even before he spoke.

"Because, Viviana, we are getting married," Luca replied, pulling me back to my feet.

"I won't do it. I won't marry you!" I cried, flinching away from the menacing promise in his eyes.

"You don't have a choice," the other man snapped, approaching us.

"You can either become my wife, or I'll tie you to my bed and turn you into a hole for my pleasure," Luca promised. "There's only one way you get to keep your dignity here, and it's by marrying me. And anyway, my child might be growing in your stomach even as we speak."

Blood drained from my face, leaving me feeling dizzy.

"She doesn't look anything like The Sculptor," the second man cocked his head. "Are you sure this is his grandchild?"

"Yes," Luca snapped, "She's the daughter of his runaway son and Dahlia Agosto. I did thorough research. She's the one, and she's going to help me take control of the underworld."

"Did you hear me? I said I won't marry you. And I have no idea who the sculptor is. I'm not his granddaughter. You have the wrong girl."

"Vivi!" A small, terrified voice cried from behind me, and I spun around to find my maid being led out from the cover of the forest trees by a huge tattooed man.

"Mel!" I screamed, taking a step toward her.

The man pulled out a gun and positioned it against her head. I froze in my tracks, staring at Imelda's bone-white face.

"How about a marriage in return for your friend's life?" Luca asked from behind me.

"Don't do it!" She roared, "You don't know who this man is, you—"

"Quiet," the tattooed man warned, cocking the gun. "One more word from you and I'll blow your brains out."

"Don't hurt her." Tears poured down my eyes as I faced Luca, who looked cold and untouched by my emotions. He was even worse of a monster than Sergio.

"I'll marry you," my shoulders drooped with defeat.

The priest immediately took his place between us and began the proceedings. This time around, no sudden gunshot stopped my 'I do.' When it was done, Luca brushed his mouth against mine in a featherlight kiss that reminded me of the man who had handled me like glass the previous night.

That man was gone, though.

I raced to my friend's side and dropped down to my knees beside her, enveloping her in a tight hug. "I did this to us, Mel. I ruined everything. Now I've gone from one monster to another."

She grasped my shoulders tightly, her body trembling. "It's far worse than you think it is, Vivi," her eyes were grim. "The man you just married is the leader of a crime organization that is not a part of the code of the mafia. They kill and destroy as they wish. He's worse than Sergio. Far worse."

My blood ran cold. "Wh-what?"

"Didn't he tell you who he is?"

"Luca Vallario, that's what he told me."

She nodded, voice shaky with terror, "Yes, but to the rest of the world, he's known as Lucifero."

Oh God. What had I done?

"The man you married isn't just a monster; he's the Devil himself."