BURN FOR ME: MR. MATTEO'S DESIRE

ARIELLE POV 

As I stepped into the sunlit nave of St Catherine’s. My veil trailed behind me with each step. The white roses were a reminder that today was the big day I had waited for all my life. 

My father's arm was steady beneath mine. He has always supported my dream, and today I get to marry the love of my life. I smiled at the familiar faces in the congregation, family, friends and distant relatives, even some of my father's alliances had shown up. 

My eyes found Jake's, those familiar orbs that made my heart swell with love. He looked up, handsome in his black tuxedo, nervous in the sweetest way. 

We'd talked about this day over dinner countless times, and it was finally happening. Jake and I met in high school and today we vow forever in front of the people we love. 

Jake and I stood facing each other, eyes filled with love for each other.

The priest began.  “Dearly beloved…” he began and the door exploded inward. 

The first gunshot fired in the air, people's screams erupted everywhere. Black suited men stormed into my wedding venue, faces covered with masks and riffles raised. 

The congregation rose to their feets, women cried as they moved close to their men. My bouquet trembled violently in my arms as I struggled to breathe. 

This had to be a nightmare, there was no way in hell that this was reality.  My father shoved me behind him. “Get down.” 

Bullets tore through the air and beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. One of Jake's grooms men jerked backwards, blood rolled down his white shirt. The chief bridesmaid wailed from behind me. I was still processing everything when rough hands yanked me up and down the aisle. 

I looked back to where my father stood alone in the center of the hall, gun in his hand as he fired at intruders. I watched as they shut at him, he staggered violently, blood spraying across the marble floors. 

He dropped to his knees, as our eyes met from across the room. “Father!” I screamed in agony but the strong hand held me in my place. 

“Nooooo…” 

I watched him fall back on the white rose petals which had now turned crimson, from his blood. 

The gunfire stopped suddenly and a man in a charcoal suit stepped over the bodies. He walked over to me and someone dragged me to my feet. 

My heart pounding against my chest, tear stricken face and my bridal bun scattered across my face meant nothing to me at this moment. 

He stared at me curiously without mercy. “You're coming with me Giselle.” 

“My name is Arielle,” I said, my voice sounded so broken I barely recognized it. 

“We'll see about that.” He declared as his arms seized my arms. 

“Jake! Please help me…” I screamed helplessly. 

Jake stayed motionless from the other end of the room, staring at me blankly. 

They dragged me out of the building, the sun was hot outside the church. A fleet of cars waiting to escort us out. 

He stood and lit up a stick of cigarette while his men forced me inside the car. The door slammed and tires screeched as we pulled away from the church, and other cars followed behind us. Sirens wailed in the distance, but it was too late. 

The drive was silent aside from my soft sobs and whimpers. The man sat besides me, scrolling through messages on his phone as though kidnapping a bride was just another errand. He didn't care. 

I stared out of the tinted windows, my mind running different thoughts. Dad was dead, my wedding was ruined and I have just been kidnapped by a syndicate. 

My hands twisted together until the engagement ring Jake had bought for me broke into my skin. 

After some hours the car turned into a private road, tall trees stood at both sides. I watched curiously as a large iron gate opened up to let the car inside. 

The SUV stopped in a courtyard, stone steps led downwards. They led me from the steps to a dimly lit corridor, then tossed me into a room. 

There was a single chair in the middle of the room, a metal table with chains dangling from a hook in the ceiling. It dawned on me that this was a dungeon. 

My knees buckled but he caught me before I fell. Lowering me into a chair like I weighed nothing. He crouched in front of me at eye level, then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. 

“Where are the documents you stole Giselle?” His voice was low, almost conversational. “And the gold, twenty- two bars. My gold.”

I shook my head violently. “I…I…. didn't steal anything from you. I swear, I've never even met you before.” I said, almost panicking. “My name is Arielle Vasquez, and my father's name is Eitene Vasquez. You just killed him at the wedding. I swear that you have the wrong person.”

He tilted his head, studying my tear stricken face like it meant absolutely nothing. 

“Your father called you Giselle when you were small, A childhood name you hated. You stopped answering it when you were twelve.” He said and stepped closer. “You went to boarding school in Switzerland under the name Giselle Montes. You speak fluent Italian with a Tuscan accent because your mother is from Sienna. You have a birthmark shaped like a crescent moon on your left hip.”

What was this man saying? “I'm not …” I tried again but my voice cracked and broke. 

“I am Matteo, Don of the Moretti Clan.” he introduced and my blood ran cold almost instantly. 

Matteo stood. He removed his suit  jacket and folded it neatly over the back of a second chair I hadn't noticed when we came in. He rolled up his sleeves with slow deliberate movement. 

“I have all the time in the world Giselle. You are wearing the same dress I pictured you in when you ran away with what belonged to me, my property.” His gaze trailed every part of my wedding dress.

“Although I admit that the setting is more dramatic than I planned.”

Tears spilled freely now as I bowed my head, I was already feeling too weak to even argue. “I swear on my father's grave…” I whispered softly. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I have never stolen anything from anyone, I was getting married today, I was happy.”

He watched me for a long moment, then reached out to grab my chin , forcing me to meet his eyes.

“Happiness is a luxury people like us rarely keep for long.” His Italian accent dripped from each word. 

He released me and moved towards the door. “Think carefully tonight, tomorrow we begin, again Giselle.”

The door closed and I heard the clicking sound of the door getting locked. 

“What's going on, I'm not Giselle. Please….get me out of here!” I screamed when I finally processed what had happened. 

The rotten feeling in the pit of my stomach was a sign that this was just the beginning.