CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVENMAXIMOI stared at Lorenzo as the shock of what he said washed over me.“What?” I chuckled.Lorenzo sighed, but there was a humorous gleam in his eyes as he said, “You heard me, brother. I think you should marry her.”So I kept staring at him until he rolled his eyes.“Look, I just think it’s better if you just married her. You are madly in love, fratello. It’s very obvious to everyone around. You just said it yourself that she makes you happy. You almost shot Uncle Roberto and basically threatened anyone who dared to say anything bad about her,” Lorenzo chuckled at the memory. “You are whipped. Completely. So, why not just get married to her.”As Lorenzo’s words sank into my head, I realized that he was right. I was the Don of the Italian mafia. Why should I have to hide the woman I loved just because of what people might say? I knew that the main reason I kept her at the apartment was to protect her, especially since she no longer wanted to be confined to my mans
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHTARIAMaximo’s words hit me like a strong wave, pushing me off course. My legs wobbled, and, as if he’d expected the reaction, his arms tightened against me.“W-what?” I choked, unable to form any other words. “Did you hit your head or something?”At that, Maximo laughed, but he sobered up quickly as he stared into my eyes. “I want you to marry me, Aria.”I remained silent, a million thoughts and questions going off in my head. Why did he want to marry me all of a sudden? What was the rush for? Was there something else he wasn’t telling me? Did he truly want to be bound to an enemy’s daughter forever?Yes. He definitely hit his head somewhere.“What’s going on in your pretty head, Red?” His whispered words filtered into my mind, bringing me back to the moment.“This is..." I chuckled, not knowing what to say. “This is so sudden.”“I know.”I gently pushed his shoulders. Thankfully, he let me go. I staggered backwards, my heart pounding.“So why...why do you suddenl
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINEARIABright streamed through the dressing room window, casting a warm glow on the chaos around me. I stood in front of the mirror, my heart racing as Fabio, along with two of his best designers, adjusted my wedding dress. The fabric shimmered like liquid silk, hugging my curves in all the right places. Intricate lace details intertwined with delicate beading, creating a gown that felt both elegant and sexy. I couldn’t believe how far Maximo had gone, hiring Fabio, the best fashion designer in the country and my own teacher, to design my dress.“Your husband-to-be must be quite powerful, Aria,” Fabio teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he straightened the neckline. “A rich business tycoon, perhaps? He sent his secretary to handle the order so I still don’t know who it is.”I forced a smile, but nerves twisted in my stomach. I couldn’t find my voice, the weight of the day pressing down on me. All I could think about was how surreal this felt--standing here, pre
CHAPTER SIXTYARIAYou know when you feel yourself crashing down into a pit of darkness, when nothing but blackness surrounds you, threatening to swallow you whole, that was what I felt as Fabio’s words sank into my soul.I refused to believe it. No. It’s not possible. I knew my father was killed by the mafia. But Maximo didn’t kill him. Not my Maximo.“Who sent you?” I asked, taking a step back.Fabio swallowed as a painful emotion welled in his eyes.“I know you probably won’t believe me,” he exhaled. “And I can’t begin to imagine how you must feel right now, that a man you barely know is telling you that your new husband murdered your father.”“You’re lying,” I gasped, moving away from him. “You’re nothing but a liar. Who sent you?” I shrieked.“Please, you have to listen to me,” he said urgently. “Soon, your husband will be here and I won’t be able to reveal the truth to you. I need to tell you exactly what happened years ago. It’s the least I owe my old friend, Emilio.”My heart
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONEARIA“No,” my voice broke. “Please tell me it’s not true.”The phone beeped in my ear.“Hello? Hello?” I cried, hoping someone would tell me this is some sick joke. “What’s wrong?” Maximo asked as he rushed to my side. As soon as he touched me, I flinched.His face squeezed into a small frown as he stared at me. “What’s the matter, Red?”It hurt to breathe as I turned to look at him, tears welling up in my eyes.“Tell me you didn’t do it,” I whispered, grabbing the front of his shirt. He was still in his attire from earlier--wedding--but the suit jacket was gone.“Tell me you didn’t kill my father.”Various looks crossed his eyes—shock, fear, acceptance.“Who told you that?” He asked, gritting his teeth. But his murderous gaze was already fixed on Fabio, who stood at a corner of the room.“Stop looking at him and look at me. Face me!” I screamed, squeezing his shirt in my fist. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn’t do it, Maximo. Please tell me you didn’t d
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWOARIA The moment we stepped into the casino, the air felt electric, charged with tension and unspoken threats. The bright lights and clinking of chips created a stark contrast to the heaviness in my chest. I was still in my wedding dress, the fabric now flowing around me like a ghost, a reminder of the day that had turned into a nightmare.Maximo's grip on my hand was firm and fiercely possessive as he pulled me toward a dimly lit hallway. The smell of smoke hung in the air—a mix of expensive perfume, sweat, and alcohol. Sounds of conversation echoed along with the music playing in the main room behind us. Maximo pulled me angrily as we hurried down the hall, heading towards the last room at the end of the corridor. Maximo pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. It was a meeting room, and from the looks of things, not a regular meeting. The men here, mostly older men, looked dangerous and viscous, and as my eyes caught a man standing at a corner of the room, I
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREEARIA The cold wind blew around me, biting at my cheeks, but I barely felt it. The world around me had dulled to a muted gray, just like my heart. Aunt Evita and my grandmother, who I later learned her name was Elena, lay beneath the earth, beneath my feet. It’s been five days since they died, on the day that was supposed to be the happiest of my life. Instead, it had turned into a nightmare. The silence in the cemetery was thick, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves whispering secrets to the wind. Even though it was daytime, dark clouds hung low in the sky. It had rained heavily these past few days, as if the universe was mourning with me. Gravestones surrounded me in the large expanse of land, jutting from the ground in different shapes and sizes. On most of them, the inscriptions were faded and illegible, as if the memories of those buried beneath them were slowly being erased. The grass was dark green, patches of it wilting under the weight of the d
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR ARIA Settled into the plush leather seat of the car, the city of Milan blurred past in a wash of gray. The heavy rain had been relentless for days, creating a slick sheen on the paved roads. Even now, a light drizzle tapped against the windows, similar to the storm brewing inside me. My heart burned with anger, and I welcomed it. For these few days, I was broken, unable to feel anything. So now, even if the rage hurt, it was better than feeling nothing at all. I hadn’t seen Maximo’s face in five days. Not since he confessed to killing my father and telling me the story about his childhood, not since he shot and crippled a man in my presence before announcing to the rest of his men that I was his queen. As his face conjured in my mind, I felt my rage worsen. He lied to me, even after telling me about his trauma, he lied about not killing Aunt Evita and my grandmother. And I believed him, even after I knew he killed my father. How could I have been so stupid? Ho