PROLOGUE

Today I am getting married and tomorrow I am going to be crowned as the new queen of my father's kingdom.

I smiled with the thought that I was going to be the new ruler of it. I eyed the guests who came to attend my wedding. The most prestigious people not only from New York but from all over the US.

Some of them were aware of my father's identity as the Head of Mafia and some were here from the business world. They respected my father and his authority but from tomorrow they would be bowing their heads in front of me.

I would own their fear and respect from tomorrow just like my father owned it for more than two decades.

I was thinking about my prosperous future and didn't pay any attention to what the Priest was saying.

My Groom cleared his throat to bring my attention to him. I looked at him and found him smiling at me. Lucas was a good man. A good friend of mine too and I know he would be a supportive husband as well. A husband who wouldn't keep any expectations from me and would silently sign the divorce papers when I ask him to.

That's why I chose him to marry. Everything was going as planned in my life. My eyes went to my parents. My Father looked at me proudly while my mother was crying in happiness. This was her dream since forever to see me in a bridal dress. But she knew how different my dream was from hers.

I was not born to play a good wife or mother. No, I was born to rule. Rule over my Father's dark kingdom.

The white wedding gown was the last step toward my crown. I, Aria Salvatore Knight, was going to be the first female Capo dei capi. The one who was going to make history in the world of organised crime.

“Aria?” Lucas once again cleared his throat to pull my attention back to the priest. It was time to say the wedding vows. The priest read the vows, Lucas and I responded to them in 'I Do' at our respective turns.

I was happy with his cooperation and decided to reward loyalty to our friendship by giving him the rank of a captain in my reign.

As per the tradition, the priest was going to give one last chance to object to the wedding.

"…Should anyone here know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest asked the people present there. I knew there was no one who would object to my wedding. He was only wasting his time. But I was proved wrong when we heard the thick manly voice breaking the utmost silence in the church.

"I do!" A sharp and strong voice bombed the church just after the Priest asked about the objection to the marriage. As if someone was waiting for the moment to speak.

My lips parted in shock as I heard the shocking and loud gasps from the attendees. The calm atmosphere of the church turned cold at once. Horridly, I turned my head toward the owner of the voice who dared to object to My wedding.

And there He stood. My vicious rival. The man I hate the most. The Pakhan of Bratva! Aleksandr Fedorov.

My blood boiled and my eyes hardened. How dare this man come here and create a scene like this. The bastard!!

"On what ground do you object?" The priest snapped at him while I gave him a death glare. The knife in my garter was begging me to use it on him. I wanted to rip his tongue out of his mouth to sputter those words.

The people started to whisper among themselves. My eyes shifted to my family. My mother was shocked, my father and brother were looking at Him with the same furious eyes.

My anger turned into fury while that bastard walked casually towards me. He smirked with his eyes set on me the whole way. His face was reflecting a completely different emotion. I was burning in wrath and He was enjoying the drama He was creating.

He stopped beside me and tilted his head to the left. "I object because This bride is already married to me.”

I blinked up at him. Married to him? What the hell was He saying!

"I will kill you, you son of a bi**h!" I gritted out, seeing his mocking features. "Stop this nonsense and leave or I swear to God I will kill you right this moment!"

Aleksandr Fedorov chuckled in answer. Humming leisurely, He stepped close to me.

"Hey!" Lucas snapped at him.

Aleksandr smiled at me and nodded, "Wait, Tigritsa." He whispered and turned his eyes to Lucas. He stepped towards him and slowly his gaze turned hard from amusing one as He threw a dominating glare to Lucas.

"Silence!" Aleksandr snarled at him. "Don't interrupt me again or I will not be responsible for my actions." He warned Lucas, his ocean blue eyes turned dark in anger.

Lucas gave him ugly glare but didn't speak after that. I gave him a disgusting look. I knew Aleksandr's reputation scared him. The man was not known as the Merciless Monster for nothing.

He could scare Lucas with his reputation but not me. Not Aria Knight.

"And if you don't leave from here right now, I will not be responsible for my actions, you street dog," I hissed at him viciously. I could hear the whispers from the guests. I could imagine what they would be talking about.

But I didn't give a damn. He stole every fucking thing from me today. My reputation, my position. Everything. He made the Ice Princess of Cosa Nostra a topic of gossip today.

Aleksandr looked back at me and raised his eyebrows at me in a challenging way.

I was a second away from pulling my knife and was barely controlling my fingers. "Leave!" I ordered him for the last time. I didn't know who long I would be able to control myself from killing him.

But Aleksandr only snorted in answer. "How can I leave without my bride! Wifey?"

"Stop calling me that! We are not married and I am not your wife. We don't have any relationship except for being enemies." I snapped at him. My patience was running out with every passing second as my body was shaking with rage. I just couldn't stand that man.

Aleksandr stepped ahead, invading my privacy. I tried to move back but his words froze me on the floor. "I hope today you are wearing white panty under your dress, Wife. Because the pink panties were also a sight to behold for me last night. I was impressed by your wildness in bed."

Blood drained from my face as I recalled the soreness I felt in between her legs this morning. My eyes went wide seeing the proud look in his eyes.

He smirked, his hot breath touched my skin and I burnt from this touch. Did He?

Abruptly his features turned lethal from the amusing one. His ocean-blue eyes bore into mine.

"You wanted war, Tigritsa. I gave it to you. Now, The ice princess of Cosa Nostra is The wife of Bratva's Merciless Monster. It's called checkmate!" He whispered with an ominous look and gestured to me with his eyes to look behind at the projector.

Stunned, I turned and looked back. I could feel the colour leaving my face when my eyes landed on the running projector.

Today, Aleksandr Fedorv has not only ruined my dream but He has shattered my reputation in the eyes of Cosa Nostra. On top of that, my virtue.

I clenched my fists in utter fury. He was going to pay for his sin. He gave me war. Now He should be ready for my revenge because I was going to take this war to another level.

I was going to ruin this man without any mercy just like He ruined me today brutally.