A False Escape

ARIELLE'S POV 

The second wedding came faster than I could count the days. The church was different, smaller tucked high in the hills outside the city. Only Matteo's men lined the pew in dark suits. The priest was the same one who was supposed to join Jake and I a few days ago. 

His hands shook as he flipped through the pages of the missal. And I wondered if he remembered the blood on the floors of St Catherine. Was he so desperate that he would lean into Matteo's cruel actions?

I stood at the back in a gown that wasn't mine. He hadn't even bothered to get me a proper dress, it dawned on me that he didn't care. It was an elegant dress, but there was no veil, nothing that related to a wedding.

There was no music or flowers. The priest began. 

“Do you Matteo Alessandro Morretti take this woman…” my legs carried me three steps away from him, down the aisle before my brain processes what I was doing. 

I stopped and the church stared in shock. Then I screamed. “No! I do not consent to this madness, this is kidnapping!” My voice echoed in the room. 

“I will not marry him, I refuse.” 

I spun around and made to leave the venue. Two men stood in front of me. Matteo's voice got to me, it was absolutely calm, almost bored with the scene I was pulling at the wedding. 

“Let her go,” he said and the men stood aside. 

I burst out into the bright afternoon, barefooted. I had kicked off my heels somewhere in the church. My lungs burned hot as I ran into the parking lot, seeking help. There in the parking lot was Lucian's car, I could recognize the plate number even in my sleep. 

Had he come to save me from the wedding? I rushed towards it.  The car door opened and he stepped out of the car, dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. He looked very okay, nothing like the man I had seen at the hospital. 

“Jake,” I threw myself at him, sobbing so loud I could barely hear myself. “Thank God here, please get me out of here. Drive. Now!” 

He caught my hand, steadying me. He grabbed my arm and gestured towards the car. I got in. He slid behind the driver's seat and drove calmly. From the side mirrors I saw Matteo standing in the church doorway, with both hands tucked in his pocket, watching us go. 

We drove in silence for ten minutes, then Jake turned back, driving towards the road that led back to the estate. 

My stomach dropped, fear running through my veins. “Jake what are you doing, this isn't the way out! Please!”

He didn't answer, not until he stopped at the second gate. The one guarded by two of Matteo's men in their signature black suits. 

One approached the mirror and Jake rolled down the windows without hesitation. The man passed a big duffel bag across, they didn't exchange words but understood what they were doing. Jake took it and set it on the back seat then gave a nod. 

Only then did he look at me. “I'm sorry Arielle, I'm so sorry.”

It felt like the world paused for a split second. Was this reality? 

“You…” I paused, stared at his face, the bag and the guards behind. “How much?” 

He didn't meet my eyes this time around. “Enough,” 

The car rolled back into Matteo's estate. I let it out at that point, I didn't care that I was sobbing. I clawed on the door but it was already locked. 

“Please,” I begged Jake. “You said you loved me. We were supposed to get married, you said you loved me.” 

He parked in the courtyard. Matteo was already there. Waiting on the stairs with that same unreadable expression on his face. 

Jake got out first, he opened my door but didn't touch me. 

“Hello again Giselle.” 

“My name is Arielle.”I spat through the tears. “And you just paid my fiance to bring me back like a lost dog.”

Matteo stared at the duffel bag Jake brought out of the duffel bag seat. “Everyone has a price, this was lower than expected.” He turned to Jake “You can go.” 

Julian turned around, our eyes met one more time before he got into his car and drove out of the estate. 

I stood trembling in his courtyard. Beads of sweat broke on my forehead, shame washed over me. 

Matteo took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulder. I wanted to shrug it off, but the afternoon was already cold and I had been running for too long, not even the sweat on my forehead could help me. 

I was shaking too hard to fight him. “You humiliated me in front of my men…” he began. “That would have its consequences. I gave you a chance to run. You see now that there is nowhere to run.”

I wiped my face with his jacket. “I'm not here, I haven't stolen anything from you. How do I prove it to you?” I asked desperately.

He studied with me for a long time. “Until you prove otherwise,” he began. “You'll remain under my roof. You'll eat on my table, sleep in the room next to mine and prepare for the wedding.” 

I laughed, broken and bitterness dripped from my voice. “You can't be serious right now after what just happened, Matteo.”

“I am always serious, Giselle.” He said and reached out his hand for mine. “Come inside Giselle, Dinner is waiting. Tomorrow we will try again, the third time is tradition after all.” 

I stared at his hand, feeling too tired to fight or pull away. I stepped closer and took his hand. 

He led me through the steps in his villa and I could hear the door shut behind us. I had just one thought in my head, though escape was inevitable, I would learn to survive.

And when the time comes I would make them all pay. Jake, Matteo, every single one of them who have turned my life into a nightmare. 

Starting with the man who's arm I was now holding.