Chapter 0005

Sarah’s POV

I turned to stare at the man beside me, his utmost attention directed at the road in front of him as the car drove on.

My eyes moved on to rest on he marriage certificate in my hand where our names had been boldly written. 

I only had one question –who exactly was this man? Vincenzo Bruno, a total stranger, I knew nothing about. Yet I had married him. 

My mind ran with chains of thought as I continued to stare at him.

“Might you find me so attractive that you can't look away?” He asked, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting second before moving to look at the road ahead as he drove. 

My face immediately flushed. Did I find him attractive? The answer was yes! But how could I admit it?

“Cat got your tongue?” 

“No…” I trailed, shivering involuntarily.

“Get out.” His deep, masculine voice pierced through my ears, and I turned to look at him in confusion.

It wasn't until he glared at me that I realized we had arrived at the penthouse. I had been absent-minded all through the ride and had not even realized it.

Vincenzo’s harsh grip on my wrist made me wince as he pulled me into the penthouse and over to the elevator.

I could only stand meekly, feeling his grip tighten on my wrist bit by bit–it hurt, yet I could only grit my teeth hard and endure. 

The elevator stopped with a subtle “ding.”  

When the doors opened, my eyes widened in surprise. I saw them. Men–so many men clad in black suits standing in a perfect circle.

The moment Vincenzo stepped forward, they snapped into attention and their heads bowed in unison. I was confused. 

“Don Vincenzo.” 

I was stunned. Don? 

He didn't react. His grip slowly loosened around my wrists, while the men's eyes glued onto me, assessing and calculating. I shivered, cowering behind him. His aura emanated something dark. Who were these men? And most especially, what was the identity of this man who I had just married?

When they stepped aside, I was stunned by the sight. A man was kneeling, bound and gagged. His face was swollen and dripped with blood from fresh bruises. I felt my stomach churn with something unfathomable, or was it fear? Yet I  still managed to calm my erratic heartbeat. 

“Do you know why you are here, Marco?” Vincenzo asked.

One of the men yanked the gag away from the man's mouth…he could finally speak.

“Boss, I swear–”

“You sold information about the syndicate.” Vincenzo cut him off. There was something about his aura that was far different from when we were at the marriage registry earlier. This aura was bone-chilling enough to make anyone cower in fear.

“They threatened my sister! I had no choice!” 

“Oh, but you did,” Vincenzo said, his lips curling up into a deadly smirk that made the hairs on my body rise. 

“There's always a choice.” 

Bang! A loud sound erupted as Vincenzo fired a gun. My breath caught in my throat. Marco's scream resonated, making me clench my fists.

“Kai, take her away,” He said, and I shivered. 

“Young madam, please come with me.” The man called Kai said as he walked up to me, and I stared at Vincenzo’s cold back one last time before going. Vincenzo…was not a simple persona.

I was stunned, unable to speak as Kai drove farther away from the penthouse. I was oblivious to where he was taking me, but I knew one thing –I needed not to cross Vincenzo or any of his subordinates. 

 Kai dropped me off at a Mansion where I was greeted and taken in to freshen up. 

This was Vincenzo's home. A home we would live in together as a married couple. Realization dawned on me–I was married to a man whose identity I did not know.

“Madam, please feel at home.” The maid had told me, and I smiled. 

…

Nighttime came rather quickly, and Vincenzo did not return. I paced around the room before finally heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

When I was done, I pulled open the door and headed back to the room, only to be greeted by the figure on the bed, puffing a whole lot of smoke from his mouth.

“You…why are you back?” I asked, my face flushing with embarrassment.

“Why? This is my home.” He said, rising to his feet to put away the cigarette. 

My face flushed even more as I tried to pull my towel down to cover my exposed thighs. But more than embarrassment, I remembered his temperament from earlier. 

I gasped when he pulled me into his embrace, his hand tracing the curve of my waist.

“Were you scared earlier?” He asked. I thought to answer truthfully, but muttered, 

“No”

“Are you sure? You don't  mind that I keep grudges and eliminate people who cross me, do you?” I shivered. Was I being threatened? 

“I…” I was at a loss for words. 

I gasped when his lips landed on mine, biting and sucking until I was breathless.

He finally let me go, licking his lips seductively.

“Who are you?” I managed to ask, seeing his lips curl up.

“Don Vincenzo”

“You're a Mafia lord,” I stated, confirming my suspicions, and he didn't refute me. 

“Are you scared?” He asked.

“No.” 

I was caught off guard when he took out his gun, playing with it. I shivered in fright.

“Loyalty is the only thing that matters in this world, ” He said. His green eyes appeared obsidian in the dimly lit room as he stared at me. I felt anger curbed in my chest for my family, for John. They had betrayed me! They had toyed with me for so long. 

“The people who hurt you? They’ll never stop unless you make them stop.” 

I gasped when he pulled my hand, placing the gun in my palm.

“Do you want to be weak? Or fight back?” He asked, and I felt something stir in my chest. 

For the first time since my father had kicked me out of the house, I did not feel weak. I only felt the immense anger and hatred.

“Teach me,” I whispered only for myself to hear, but I knew he had caught it. 

My heart skipped when his thin pink lips curled up into a mischievous smirk. He looked like a mischievous Greek god on a quest to seduce innocent maidens.

His face lowered, his lips grazing my ear.

“Good girl.” He whispered, making me shiver. I was now bound to him.