Chapter 2

'Never said I was.'

Mariana's brows pulled together.

"What gave you the right to be in such a place and pretend to be a priest?"

 He glanced her way, gaze lazy. "I came here for confession or isn't that what this place is for?"                                              The most embarrassing thing about it was that she couldn't tell if he was mocking her or not. It was obvious he was. He had sat there pretending to be a priest while he listened to her embarrassing confession. His stare swept her from head to toe, burning her skin. But when his gaze met hers, watching her with hooded staring into-the-sun expression, waiting for a remark from her.

They stared at each other. Mariana takes in his appearance. He was handsome and sexy. He had the kind of rugged good looks that belonged to outdoorsy men, like woodcutters. He was wearing an all black suit and a black leather glove. He wore black from head to toe. 

She swallowed. Black ink covered the left side of his neck. Warmth rushed through the pit of her stomach and spread through her like wildfire. His appearance gave her the expression that getting involved with someone like him would bring nothing but danger. 

"Yes, but you're not supposed to be in here. Someone like you shouldn't be in such a sacred place." She told him.

He raised a brow. "Someone like me?"

"Someone who isn't a priest." She replied, frowning.

He let out an unamused breath before saying. "Are you angry with me because I listened to your confession?"

Mariana's cheeks reddened with embarrassment. He got her right there. "Yes. And, because you pretended to be a priest."

The smallest yet darkest smile pulled on his lips. "Guess I did. " 

Butterflies blew up in her stomach. That mischievous, wicked smile was the exact reason why most women like bad boys.

Christ.

She needed some air.

He took a step towards her. His expression was serious, and truthfully, with this attraction spiralling out of control between them, dashing under her skin like electricity, she suddenly didn't have it in her to accuse or argue with him anymore.

"I care less about your stupid confession."

Her stomach tightened at his statement. She stared at him with her big eyeballs as she watched him take threatening steps towards her direction.

"W...what do you think you're doing?" She stuttered, as she took a few steps back until her back hit the wall of the confession box. What was he trying to do? She hoped it wasn't what she was thinking.

"Step aside." Marcello muttered with annoyance.

"Huh?" Then she realised that she was actually blocking his way of leaving. "Oh, I... I'm sorry..." She said, smiling nervously as she stepped aside for him to leave and watch his back as he continued out of the confession box.

Mariana finally released the breath that she had been holding for long.

She stood on shaky legs, moving the curtain of the confession box out of the way. The priest who was supposed to take her confession was standing outside instead of the handsome stranger.

She found it embarrassing that she told all that stuff to that man. 

Embarrassment flooded Mariana's face.

How could she have told a stranger that she had dirty thoughts that led her into touching herself?

Imagine words getting to her father about her confession.

Oh, no.

She tried to convince herself that there was no certain chance that she was ever going to meet that man again after this incident.

She forced a smile. There is no big deal, right? It is not like he is a regular face in the church. It must be his first time coming here.

And if by chance they meet again, he might have forgotten about meeting her and all that she had said in the confession box. He even said it himself that he cared less about her confession.

She scoffed. Why should he care?

As if it would make any difference if he did.

"Mariana," Reverend John called and Mariana smiled.

John Smith, a Reverend in the church and also Mariana's long-term crush. Tall, lean and charming was standing in front of her with a worried look. "Are you okay? You look pale "

"I am fine. I'm just a little bit startled by something..." She said and gave a nervous laugh.

It was foolish of her to have fallen in love with John, but it happened a long time ago. 

She started having a crush on him at the age of fifteen.

She still remembered the day it happened. She had gone with her father to Reverend Smith's Villa for a function. John had been home and he'd been assigned to keep her entertained while her father and Reverend Smith had a business meeting before dinner. She had been in the home entertainment room, idly sitting when John came in.

Her cheeks had literally turned red when he had come in. He had been so tall, lean and stagnantly handsome, with a charming smile that had travelled all the way to his eyes.

"Hi, Mari." He was the only one who called her that and she loved it. She loved it when he called her name.

"John," she called in a whisper.

He came forward and patted her head. "My father said I should keep you entertained. Do you have any idea what I should do to keep you entertained?"

"Play me the guitar." She stared at him, smiling.

Gosh, when would he start noticing she had a crush on him.

Mariana had watched him dreamingly while he played the guitar and sang a song. He is just too good.

"Mariana," She was brought back to reality when she heard him call her name in a worried voice. "You don't seem fine to me. For a moment there, you looked deep in thoughts like something is making you feel bothered."

"It's nothing, John."

"Did your sister tell you about us? Is that what is making you feel bothered?"

Us?

What does he mean by that?

Mariana stared at him, confused.

"We're dating." He broke the bombshell to her and Mariana could feel her heart tightening. "I wanted to be the first one to tell you but I didn't know she already did."

Her heart sank.

"O...I...I think she did." She stuttered.

How could Isabel have done this to her after knowing she really likes John? 

It's not like Isabel even liked John. She always said he wasn't her type.

This must be Isabel's way of getting revenge on her.

Isabel was Mariana's step younger sister and she sees Mariana as nothing but a competition even when she and her mother had already made Mariana's life a living hell.

"I'm sorry, Mariana." John muttered under his breath.

Mariana frowned. No wonder he was calling her with her full name.

She raised a brow. "Why should you be sorry?"

"Isabel told me that you had a crush on me ever since you were young and she didn't want to hurt you by getting in a relationship with me."

Mariana's knuckles tightened. Isabel had gone too far by telling him about her feelings for him.

"I have no idea about that." She forced a smile.

She needed to get away from him as soon as possible. She didn't want him to see her shed a tear in front of him.

"I need to get to my father's office. I will see you later." She rushed her words and walked away.

While walking, a tear rolled down from her eyes to her cheek. She tried blinking back her tears as she used the back of her right hand to wipe the ones on her cheek.

She knocked on the door of her father's office but there was no response.

"Father, are you in there?"

No response.

"Father, it's Mariana."

"Come in." A low whisper came from the room.

Her heart stopped at the sight before her and her eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she was seeing right now.

A man, dressed in a black suit and his dark hair neatly combed stood in her father's office with his back facing her. Somehow, he looked familiar.

Her mind was spinning. She didn't even have the brain right now to process what was happening, all her focus was on her family.

Her father and stepmother were tied up onto chairs with ropes wrapped all around their chest and legs. There was a gag placed in both their mouth and her father had a black eye. He must have gotten beaten.

He looked scared.

She looked to her right and saw her step sister being held by a strong man.

There were three other men in the room, not including the man before her father and they look like they are about to kill someone any second now.

"What is going on here?" She demanded.

The man standing before her father turned and she let out a gasp.

"You,"

Marcello seemed shocked but he didn't show any expression.

"Welcome, we have been waiting for you." He stared at her with indifference, while his chest twisted with aversion before going cold enough to burn.

"Who are you?"

"We have already met."

Huh?

His indifferent voice ran down her spine with a strange thrill following in its wake.

She swallowed.

Something dangerous played in his gaze. "Earlier at the confession box. Remember, Mariana

How did he know her name?

Her heartbeats collided with a crash. Why had her name rolled out of his tongue like he knows her?

Her gaze darted to her father.

What was going on?

Why were these men here?

Did her father gamble with them?

Who was this man?

Was he here to hurt her and her family?

A lot of questions seeking answers ran through her mind.

Fear clawed at her chest. "Who are you?"

"I am a man who knows what he wants."

He stared down at her

She stared up at him.

As a corner of his lips lifted, she realised she was amusing him. Her cheeks heated with annoyance. 

"And what I want right now is you."

Her heart skipped a beat as his words echoed in her head. He wants her. This handsome and dangerous stranger wants her. "I am Marcello Colombo. I'm the consigliere of a Mafia gang in New York City and your father is in big trouble."

Mafia. What exactly is going on?

"You see, Mariana. Your father is no honest man. He stole from my boss and he must pay back for it."

This can't be true. Mafia?

How can her father be involved in such an illegal business?

Just feeling the hard gazes behind her made her hair stand on end.

She summoned the courage to ask her father if it was true. "Is that true, Father?"

The gag was removed from her father's mouth and he whispered a 'yes'

"What do you mean that it is true? So, you were involved with a Mafia gang." Mariana stared at her father in abject horror.

Anthony gave a negligent shrug but she could see his Adam's apple moving up and down as if he'd just had to swallow something unpleasant. But then, Mariana couldn't believe all she had just heard. None of this could be true. Her father was a Deacon in church for Christ sake.

How could he be involved with a Mafia?

Her stomach felt as if it had been scraped at with a rusty spoon.

"Don't tell me that you didn't tell your precious little daughter that you've been involved in business with us for a while now." He paused, then continued, "My boss wants you."

A cold sensation crawled down her throat to her longs.

"Me? Why?" She snapped.

"You will soon find out."

He walked towards her and took her by the arm. She struggled against his hold, trying to break free from him.

She can't let them take her. No, she can't. She wasn't going to pay for her father's crime. Only if they knew her father hated her and didn't think of her as his precious daughter.

"Help me! Someone please help us." Mariana shouted, hoping for someone from outside to hear her. Marcello pushed her against the wall, used one of his hands to hold her hands above her head and used the other to cover her mouth to keep her away from screaming.

Something fluttered in her chest and spread throughout her body. Desire.

He stepped closer until his suit brushed her dress, and her breast tightened in anticipation. She couldn't breath with him so close, his hold on her wrist, and his hand covering her mouth. The men in the room watched them, seeming to show no expression.

She looked up, and their eyes met. She was utterly bewitched by his grey eyes. 

What is happening?

Her heart was beating so fast.

She tried saying something but her tongue only met with the leather glove.

His eyes darkened. "Make one more sound and I'm going to shoot your father." His tone was as chill as the glint in his grey eyes. 

It was obvious he wasn't making a mere threat. He dropped his hand from her mouth and pressed a gun against her waist making her let out a small gasp.

"I told you, I know what I want and I'll stop at nothing to get it. Do you want to come with us the easy way or not? Choose one."