Marrying The Head Of The De Castello Family.

ALESSANDRA

Everything felt like a nightmare to me.

Leonardo had followed through with his intention to marry me, whisking me away to New York City, plunging me into his world without warning. Just a week later, he organized every detail of our wedding, sending invitations to the most notorious crime syndicates across the country.

Papa was not invited. My mama and sister, Mia, had received their invitations, but they were unable to attend since they were busy mourning my uncle, Enzo. Ironically, the date that Leonardo chose for his wedding happened to coincide with Enzo’s burial. What a cruel man.

On the day of the wedding, he presented me with the most beautiful dress I've ever laid eyes on, crafted with delicate lace and shimmering silk, after vanishing for an entire week. I felt like a caged animal, losing the hard-fought independence I had gained after my first marriage.

Rocco, one of Leonardo's trusted men, entered the room with a package in his hands. "You have a package," he announced as he carefully placed the box on the ornate vanity table in front of me. "I think it's from your mother."

Upon seeing the opened box, I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. Privacy was a luxury I could no longer afford. Dismissing Rocco, I eagerly delved into the contents of the package. To my surprise, it contained a photo album and some letters. My mother was not an overly affectionate person so I was pleasantly surprised that she had sent such gifts.

However, my surprise turned into confusion when I noticed something hidden beneath the photo album cover. Without hesitation, I reached for a knife and carefully peeled back the cover, revealing a sleek, black USB drive.

Grabbing my laptop and plugging in my AirPods, I inserted the USB drive. An audio file promptly appeared on my computer screen, and as I pressed play, my father's voice filled the room. "Alessandra, if you are hearing this audio file, that means you have received it well. I have a proposal for you; I need you to gain intel on Leonardo's operation and in exchange, I will set you free. ”

I laughed bitterly because I didn't believe a single word he was saying. My beauty made my father believe that I was his most valuable chess piece so there was no way he would let me walk away that easily.

Before I could catch the rest of his words, Rocco suddenly reappeared and solemnly announced, "It's time."

Unlike my first wedding, I did my best to summon a smile in front of our guests to hide my internal despair as I walked down the aisle. Leonardo made me wear a fucking white veil, despite knowing that I was no longer a pure virgin anymore. The church was as silent as a graveyard, the guests' stoic faces a blur as I moved past, their eyes piercing through the veil of the facade I wore.

I bit my lower lip hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over as I approached the altar. The sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting colorful reflections around the space, but all I could see were the groom and the priest standing expectantly ahead of me. Each step felt heavy with emotion, my heart racing in sync with the soft rustle of my dress as I tried to manage the overwhelming tide of feelings surging within me.

For my family's sake, I repeated the wedding vows. For my sake, I slipped the ring on his finger and let him kiss me, sealing a bond that felt anything but sacred.

At the wedding reception, with laughter and clinking glasses drowning my turmoil, I seized a moment to escape my husband's arms, slipping away into the gardens as his business associates congratulated him. The sight of the rose shrubs planted everywhere made my stomach twist in knots, so I moved deeper into the garden until I stumbled upon a figure sitting beneath the gazebo.

Our eyes met for a fleeting moment before I picked up my dress to leave, mumbling an apology. “I'm sorry for intruding-”

“You must be the beautiful bride everyone is talking about, Alessandra De Castello,” the tall, beautiful woman in a red dress dumped her cigarette on the floor, stomping on it with her red heels. She patted the spare seat beside her and introduced herself, “I'm Isabella, Leo's cousin. Please sit, Lexi dear.”

I tried not to cringe at the sound of her endearment and closed the distance between us. She passed me a glass and poured some whiskey into it. “For a bride, you look too unhappy. Do you want to talk about what is going on in your mind?”

“Not really,” I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to exchange sob stories with a woman I barely knew, especially Leonardo's relative.

The woman kindly smiled and handed me the bottle before she stood up to leave, “Here, I will leave this whiskey for you. You look like you will need it for tonight,” she winked.

After she left, I grabbed the bottle from the table and drank its contents in large gulps. Isabella was right, I needed all the courage I could muster to face Leonardo tonight because there was definitely no way to avoid what was going to come.

The amber liquid slid down my throat, its warmth igniting a fire that made my eyes sting with tears. Yet, at that moment, I could feel a strange lightness enveloping me, a sensation unlike any I had ever experienced. My worries were dissolved, replaced by a blissful state that made me feel lightheaded. I loved this feeling and wished it would never go.

“What the hell are you doing here?” An angry voice jolted me out of my thoughts.

Leo stood in front of me with a serious expression, flanked by two other men. He was dressed in a black shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, showcasing the tattoos on his muscular arms. I found myself holding my breath in awe as I took in every detail of his striking appearance. From his tousled black hair, neatly cut at the sides of his ears, his deep emerald eyes, to his sharply defined jawline. He was perfect.

Goodness, how did he become so incredibly good-looking?

"Leo," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

As he heard me utter his name, his intense gaze softened, and he extended his arms in a silent, welcoming gesture. "Come here, mia principessa."

I walked to him with wobbly legs but as soon as I entered his private space, his arms wrapped around me. I took advantage of the opportunity to press my lips against his own, causing him to stiffen in shock.

My lips trailed to his ears and whispered, “Let's go home, Leo. Make love to me tonight.”