Chapter 10 - We are gathered here today.

V E L I N A

"Yes, of course," my father eventually answers, his voice tense as though he tries to sound composed as he nods toward Luciano, his hands resting on the table in front of him as he rises to his feet while the rest of the room remains quiet, everyone watching the exchange unfold.

"Wonderful," Luciano replies calmly, still holding my hand, his thumb brushing lightly across my knuckles as though we are standing here under entirely different circumstances, and I try not to react to the warmth of his touch even though my pulse begins to race again.

"First things first. My money, and documents of course..." he continues, glancing toward my father.

"Everything is there, please have a look through them," my father answers, gesturing toward the briefcase and folders arranged neatly on the table.

Luciano then turns to a man I don't remember seeing earlier, dressed in a dark suit with a pair of glasses on, his expression neutral as he stands a few feet away from us. Luciano gives him a brief nod, making him step forward and walk towards the table, taking a seat as he sets the documents in front of him. The man adjusts his glasses before he begins reviewing the paperwork carefully, his eyes scanning each page while the rest of us wait in silence.

Another man then walks toward my father, holding out a tablet, and my father takes it from him, his fingers tapping across the screen as he enters information quickly. The silence in the room is loud and ominous, broken only by the faint tapping sound and the quiet shuffle of papers as Luciano's lawyer continues reviewing everything.

Then, a notification sound echoes from the tablet.

"Done," my father says quietly, and almost immediately, Luciano's phone chimes in his pocket. He reaches for it calmly, pulling it out and glancing at the screen before a faint smile appears on his lips, just as he looks back toward my father.

"Received," Luciano replies simply before turning toward his lawyer again.

The man nods after a few more seconds, arranging the documents neatly before setting them down.

"Everything looks good," he confirms.

"Wonderful. Now, to the better part of our evening," Luciano says, his voice smooth as he turns toward me again, his gaze settling on my face.

"Velina... if you may..." he says, nudging me to follow after him.

My chest tightens as I glance around the room nervously, my family's eyes all fixed on me, my mother's expression impatient, Kyla watching me with that familiar cold look, and my father avoiding my gaze entirely.

I gulp. I realise they don't at all care what happens to me, and so slowly, I step forward, my gaze returning to Luciano. My hand trembles slightly as he holds onto me, his fingers wrapping around mine gently as I lift my gaze to meet his. His grey eyes hold mine, and once again, I feel that confusing pull in my chest, my breathing turning uneven despite everything happening around us.

Then, another man, who I assume is the officiant, steps forward, standing in front of us, clearing his throat as he looks between us, a sudden smile forming on his lips.

"We are gathered here today..." he begins, and that's when Luciano interrupts him calmly.

"No need for all of that, sir. Please just do what you're here to do," Luciano lets out, silencing the officiant immediately and making the smile drop from his face just as he glances around the room, almost as if he's reading the energy, before he turns back to Luciano and I.

"Of course..." the officiant answers nervously, nodding quickly before glancing toward me. He then adjusts the papers in his hands before speaking again...

"Do you, Luciano Diomani, take Velina Merrano to be your lawfully wedded wife?" He says, his tone returning to a much more formal one.

"I do," Luciano answers without hesitation, and my heart pounds louder in my chest at how easy it was for him to answer. The officiant then turns toward me...

"And do you, Velina, take Luciano to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He asks, and my throat immediately tightens as I feel everyone's eyes on me.

I think about refusing, I think about what would happen if I said no, I think about my family, about the guns still present in the room, about the deal already made, about the way my mother looked at me earlier, and I realise there is no way out of this...

"I..." I begin quietly, my voice trembling, tears filling my eyes as I force the words out.

"I do..." I finally say, and as words leave my mouth, I feel a strange emptiness settle inside me as the reality sinks in.

"Then by the power vested in me... I now pronounce you man and wife," the officiant says, glancing at the two of us. "You may now kiss your bride..." He then says, and that's when my heart sinks as I realise...

I will have to kiss him... a man I have only known for a few hours... the man that has threatened to kill my entire family, and the man I've just been married off to against my will...

I watch as Luciano smiles faintly, and he looks down at me, his gaze softening as he steps closer, his hand briefly tightening slightly around mine before he releases it and slides his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him until I am resting on his chest.

My breath catches as the distance between us disappears, at how smooth his movements are, how I practically fit perfectly in his arms... His grey eyes hold mine, and I feel my heart pounding rapidly in my chest, my body reacting before I can stop it, even though fear continues to settle deep inside me.

His hand rests firmly at my waist, keeping me close as he leans down slowly, his face inches from mine, his presence too overwhelming to ignore. I feel my breathing grow uneven as I stare up at him, my mind racing as I try to process everything happening at once, the fear, the uncertainty, the strange pull that refuses to fade.

Then, I feel his lips press against mine.

And the moment they do, it's like I forget everything around me...

The kiss is... gentle, his lips warm against mine as I freeze, my body tense as I try to process what is happening. His hand tightens slightly at my waist, holding me closer as he deepens the kiss slowly, and I feel myself reacting despite everything, my fingers gripping lightly onto the front of his jacket.

My heart races uncontrollably, my mind clouded as I feel the warmth of his lips, the firm hold at my waist, and the strange comfort in his touch that confuses me even more...

The room fades into the background as he continues kissing me, his hold possessive as he keeps me close, and for a brief moment, I forget where I am, forget why this is happening, and simply react to the warmth and closeness...

Then reality settles again.

Fear returns.

And yet, I still do not pull away.

Luciano slowly pulls back, his gaze lingering on mine as he keeps his arm around my waist, holding me close as the silence fills the room once more.