His Donna

Nora’s POV:

“Do you Miss Nora Romano take Leonardo Mancini to be your lawfully wedded husband”

“I……I do” my heartbeat pacing fast as though it would break free from my chest

The church was quiet, not like a regular happy wedding that was usually magically mixed with a feeling of joy and nervousness but mine was the opposite, no laughter or even whispers of joy, but rather a heavy silence.

The only people I knew were my parent, everyone else was strange men dressed in dark suits with straight faces carrying an unreadable expression.

“I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Mancini.”

That was it. One sentence, and everything I thought I knew about my life collapsed. Why me? Why now? All I knew was that my father had insisted and who was I to disobey him?

Only weeks ago, I was still in New York, fresh out of college, ready to take the LSAT and start law school. My dreams had been so clear. Who could have guessed I’d be standing here instead, in front of a priest, being handed over to a stranger? Who knew my next address wouldn’t be a student apartment, but a man’s house… as his wife?

The man in question hadn’t even looked at me while making his vows. He’d turned on his heel the second the priest was done, leaving me rooted in shock.

My father’s eyes flicked to mine across the altar, and for a second I wanted to scream. Maybe he avoided my gaze out of guilt, perhaps not but the truth burned anyway.

He was the reason I was here. He had tied my future to a man I knew nothing about. For something I was completely ignorant about all I knew was that he was in debt and I was leverage.

“Mrs. Mancini, we have to leave now.”

The voice belonged to one of them a tall man with a sharp Italian accent.

“To… where?” The words stumbled out.

“The Don has business back in Italy. I was told to get you to the airport.”

Italy. My stomach flipped. This was not real. It couldn’t be real. Nooo I wanted to scream so bad but I didn't

I turned once more to my mother. Tears streaked her face. She looked broken, and I hated it. This wasn’t how I was supposed to leave her. This wasn’t the life we dreamt of together nor was it like any elaborate wedding we had pictured. I breathe in trying to suck up my tears that tried to escape my eyes.

But there was no time. I was marched straight from the altar into the waiting car, still in my gown, veil slipping down my shoulders.

The car door slammed shut, completely blurring the world behind us as the car drove off.

The silence was heavy, the only sound was the wind as the car moved, I looked out of the window trying to distract myself from my new reality

“You know, frowning won’t change the fact that you’re married to the Don,” the driver said after a silence stretched too long. His voice was lighter than I expected, almost teasing.

I ignored him.

“I’m Luca,” he continued, as if this were a casual road trip.

“I’m your bodyguard now. Better get used to me we’re stuck together.”

He smirked. I didn’t. Instead, I pressed my face to the glass, watching the city blur by.

Married to the Don. What did that even mean? I only knew his name was Leo. Leo Mancini. Wealthy, dangerous, untouchable. That was all. He was a story, a rumor, a name whispered in places my father told me to avoid. And now… now he was my husband and I was now Nora Mancini, the name felt strange as though it didn’t belong to me because it didn’t.

The car rolled to a stop in front of a private jet with MANCINI sprawled across its side in gold. My chest tightened.

“She’s here, boss,” Luca announced his thoughts a sing smile completely replaced with an unreadable emotion

“Get down, Nora. The Don is waiting.”

And there he was.

Leo Mancini.

This was the first real look I’d gotten at him. He looked like he was in his late twenties, he was at least 6’2 tall. His raven hair fell neatly into place, his storm-gray eyes cold and unreadable. His rolled-up sleeves revealed dark tattoos wrapping around his forearms. He radiated power, dominance.

Girls would kill for a man like him. Not me though

I wanted to vomit.

“Get in. We’re about to take off,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with command.

I froze. The idea of leaving everything behind… my life in New York, my law school dreams, for this? I didn’t have any friends that would miss me in New York yet I was terrified

Terrified of the man before me

Terrified of the life that awaits me

“Nora. In the plane. Now.”

The second time, his voice was steel. His stare pinned me, sharp enough to slice through skin. It was clear he wasn’t making a request but a command

I forced myself to move. Step by step, I climbed into the jet, each motion breaking something inside me.

The door shut, sealing my fate.

Reality had finally set in.

I was the wife of Leo Mancini, the Don of the Italian Mafia.

“Check the changing room,” he said without sparing me another glance. “You’ll find something more comfortable.”