Chapter four

Alas, it was a special day. When I mean special day, I don’t mean my special day, I mean the special day for Father because he was the one very enthusiastic for today. Yes, you are right, it was my wedding and also my birthday. It was the 12th of June. Though my birthdays weren’t really celebratory, at least I never had a grimace on my face like I did now.

“You look so gorgeous” Anya, my favorite aunt, exhilarated into my ears. Anya is Fathers sister but then she's nothing like father. She is cheerful and one of the people that understood my feelings. She flew all the way from Switzerland to attend my wedding. At least she was fortunate enough to leave the Bratva and marry a normals. He was a businessman and trust me, I envy her.

“She sure does. She is so fortunate” Alina, one of my distant aunts also complimented. Explaining how we both are connected would take forever because I too don’t know completely but all I know was that she was from fathers side.

“Fortunate you say!?” I snapped aggressively and turned my stare at her. Her brows spiraled down. “If getting married to Antonio forcefully makes me fortunate, then I’d rather be unfortunate.” I blurted. Right then, I regretted accepting the marriage when Antonio asked me two months back during our engagement. One part of me had the urge to immediately tell him a big heavy NO, but then I knew dad would have charred me to crisp if I had done that.

“I have told you to stop saying this” mom interjected with a scowl. I wish I could just stand up and run away from the house and very far from the city. Everyone in the room sounded very annoying to me. I would have said I wished they were in my shoes, but funny enough, they all were in the same position at some point in time. As a matter of fact, Alina is always brutalized by her husband who is one of the bridgediers. It was gossip, but the womens gossip in the Bratva always turned out to be ninety percent correct.

“Smile” a voice poured from the door. It was familiar and I knew just who had it.

“Bianca!” I screeched and sprouted up from the mini chair without hesitation. I rushed towards her with an invading smile and force. I clasped over her with my hands smashed and locked behind her.

“You look so beautiful” she whispered into my ear and laid her lips very close to my ear. I initiated the break of the hug. Her blonde hair was styled like a waterfall. Her smile was as bright as usual. Bianca was the only friend I had. She is the daughter of the former Derzhatel Obshchaka, better known as the bookkeeper, Marco Giovanni. He retired himself after grandfather died and Father had to become the new Pakhan. Though it wasn’t written tradition that the Pakhan retires with his board, but then it was what was done. Probably it was done because of pride, I do not know.

“I’m so happy you came!” I clenched Bianca’s hand firmer. Her family relocated to Panama after retirement. We are the same age but she left when I was only eleven years old. We only

Communicate via mail and social media sometimes.

“Enough of the catchup, it can be completed later. It’s time to go to the church. I’m sure everyone is waiting.” Mother interjected. My brightened face slowly collapsed.

Bianca winked at me and nodded calmly. I returned and put some finishing touches to my attire. I felt slightly uncomfortable in my white strapless wedding gown. Whilst everyone admired me, I wondered how my wedding night was going to be. I saw Antonio as a rough man underneath those ice eyes of his, there was surely turbulence. I wasn’t ready for sex, but I was sure he was going to rip me into shreds and that scared me even more.

We drove to the church and the farther we got from home and closer to the church, the more my heart pummeled aggressively. My phone chimed while in the car with Father. I picked up my phone and looked to see that it was a text message from an unknown number. I slid it open.

“Hey bitch! You are getting married to an impotent man. Antonio can’t even have an erection for up to a minute. Don’t waste your life with him. Run! He is an asshole. He managed to get me pregnant and made me abort the child which led to the loss of my womb. Run!!! He is a beast!!!” The message literally made me go blank for seconds.

Alas, we reached the church. I dropped out of the car and hooked my hand in between my fathers still having the thought of the text message in my head. Various thoughts banged my head. It now made sense to me why Antonio said we weren’t going to get physical. It all made sense! I didn’t know how to feel about the information. I stared at my father, That was the first time I saw my father smile genuinely from ear to ear. Everyone’s attention was fixed on me while I walked beside my father on the aisle towards the altar. I only imagined what was going to happen if I told him the truth.

I was grateful that I agreed to cover my face with a veil because I couldn’t have been able to withstand the eyes all gawking at me. My eyes were directly stapled on Antonio Luca, Aka The dark Angel of merciless death. I don’t know why he was named that, but people did.

His eyes were cold and aloof as usual. His fierce demeanor cramped me as soon as father handed me over to him. It was silly, but I pictured him in the room with me naked and his dick dangling without a slight spasm. There was a sensation that sparked as soon as I came in contact with him. It was eccentric and scary at the same time. There were no emotions on his face.

We sat unorthodoxly apart while the padre did the sermon. Eulogies were heaped on father and his enormous donations to the church was acknowledged. Our family has always been a core part of the Catholic Church in Russia. There were rumors that lingered around about the family’s illicit deals and business, but of course the church didn’t care but always collected the huge donations that were given quarterly and annually since great grandfather.

I stole a glance at the congregation and Bianca sat in front and read Antonio with her eyes. I wondered who sent the message. Could it have been the lady in the pictures with Antonio? I didn’t know what to think. She was the only closest lady I saw with him. I already told her about Antonio and the Cosa Nostra. I also told her I didn’t want to consummate our marriage on our wedding night because I was scared. Mother sat beside Some women in the Bratva. The Fyodors sat on the right roll while Lucas sat on the left. Though guns weren’t allowed in the church, I could see some men with cocked guns in their Holsters. Probably because of the fear of the Mexicans attacking or better still they didn’t even trust each other. It baffled me how they aligned with people they didn’t fully trust.

It was time to exchange vows. I stood up and stood facing Antonio directly.

“I, Antonio Luca, take you, Olga Fyodor, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow.”He said. I just wished he meant every word, but I was sure he didn’t.

It was my turn but my tongue was heavy. There was slight pity I had while staring at him. I really wondered if truly the great Antonio was impotent. I tilted my head a little and looked at the congregation. They were smiling and others were gossiping.

“I, Olga Igor Fyodor, take you, Antonio Luca, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow.” I whispered with a feeble voice. My eyes shut immediately I took my vows.

The priest blessed the rings and placed them in front of us. Antonio picked up and easily swiped it into my finger. There was no sense of commitment in the way he did it. I’d always wished for this day when I was a kid. I fantasized a more romantic scene of my vows taking. I got the total opposite and not even an ounce of resemblance to what I dreamt of.

“Antonio Luca, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit.” I coo.

Ironically I professed a love I didn’t even feel in the slightest. I wonder how many other couples also indulged in the same facade. I picked a glance and gulped down saliva at the realization that there was no way out anymore.

“In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!” These words cooked me up. The moment of ultimate dread came.

Without hesitation, The Dark Angel of death pulled my veil. My eyes locked with his frosty orbs. He abruptly grabbed me by the waist and yanked me closer. His grip was firm. He relaxed his warm lips on mine and bashed his tongue on my lips for access to my mouth. I gave in. It was relaxing and not perturbing like I thought it would be.

It was done. Truly, it happened. I am now the wife of Antonio Luca and a member of the Cosa Nostra. A new phase of life with disturbing opportunities and secrets to unravel about Antonio. Now I was even more eager to find out the truth about him. I could also imagine the agony and grisly torture I was going to face in the hands of the Death angel. I continued ogling at My Husband while the congregation cheered. All of a sudden there was a loud gunshot that froze me. The Mexicans I guess. Indeed it was going to turn into a bloodbath…