Preface

        What I hadn't expected. Our heirloom. When Moretti got married, he always gifted his wife a platinum band that curved the first letters of their names. The band that Amato handed me. It had been carrying the first letters of my parents’ names. My mother was pregnant when she died. Our jeweller could tell more about this piece of jewellery. There was one more thing to prove the truth. 

      "Boss," Alberto, our family doctor, bowed his head. 

      I nodded and motioned him to walk in. I didn't need to tell him how to do his job. He placed his medical box on the high table. 

      Andre watched him with a deep frown. He never stopped struggling against the ropes. 

      Alberto took out the syringe for his blood sample. 

      "What the fuck is all this?" He growled, glaring at Alberto. 

      "I'm taking your blood sample. Stop moving." Alberto told him as he forwarded his hand. 

      If he were actually who I thought he would be. He must be fucking stubborn. 

     Forwarding my strides, I gripped his upper arm so Alberto could do his job. 

     "Are you planning to kill him?" His girlfriend spoke, her big eyes stared at us with fear. 

      I motioned at the guard. Without wasting time, he hauled her back to her room. 

      "Don't touch her." Andre growled glaring at his back. 

     Alberto put the blood sample in his box and closed it. "I'll let you know ASAP, Russo." He said, heading for the door. 

     "What the fuck was that for?" Andre asked, snapping, looking furious. 

      I stared at him. He had the same identical eyes. I took the ring out of my pocket and rolled it between my thumb and fingers. "Are you certain this belongs to your parents?" I asked him, watching him closely, looking for any sign of a lie. 

      Instantly, he dipped my chin. "Mrs Abruzzo kept it hidden from Jenoah Abruzzo. She gave it to me the day Ariana told her about us. Though she worries that old Abruzzo would never approve of this. Unbelievably, she showed faith in me and handed this to me." He paused, glaring at me.

      I had a feeling he wanted to explain everything but our status deterred him. "If," I lifted my hand, revealing the ring. "Mrs Abruzzo's story is true. Soon, you'll figure out everything about your parents." I told him and walked away. 

      "What do you mean? Do you know them?" He asked, struggling against ropes. 

     "I'm untying you." I told him and he stopped struggling. "Patch yourself up. You're attending my wedding and you'll take a blood oath." I told him.

     "Is this your condition?" He asked, frowning. 

     "You'll thank me later." I told him and took out my pocket knife.

     "I don't need to take the oath. I'm not planning to hurt her ever." He huffed. 

      "Who is talking about hurting?" I flashed my lopsided smile. "I'm talking about keeping her safe from whatever Abruzzo has planned." I told him.

      His shocked gaze snapped at me. He narrowed his eyes to hide his expression. I must say Abruzzo had taught him very well. I shouldn't expect much from traitors.

      "I'll never work for you." He snorted. 

     "I don't need you to work for me." I untied him.

     "Ariana," He asked, freeing himself from ropes, turning to the door where the guard took her. 

     "She's not here. You'll meet her if you attend my wedding like a gentleman and bless the newlywed couple. The choice is yours." I told him and headed down the path Amato took. 

      "I can kill your men and you with my bare hands." He said. 

     I stopped walking. He could try if he wanted to. I would show him what I was capable of. A full smirk appeared on my face. I kept my back to him. "You wanna see your girl alive. Do as you're told. I don't need to teach you how a guest should behave." I snapped and headed toward the hallway.

       The door opened. My gaze shifted from my reflection to the door in the mirror. My heart began to flutter. I wasn't certain the man in that dull hall was dead or unconscious. I was aware of one thing for certain. I couldn't stop him if he wanted something. I never took my training seriously. It wasn't used crying over the spilt milk. 

      He looked like a God in a custom-made expensive dark suit. With his sharp features and commanding presence, he was stunningly good-looking. 

     He waved his hand, dismissing everyone. It took them a few seconds to leave the room. I was nervous, my hands shivered at my sides in dread. He could easily use his strength on me. Why was he wedding me?

     He took a long stride and tilted his head as he kept his gaze locked onto me. "You're looking drop-dead-diva." He said and flashed his perfect smile, showing his cheek dimple. 

      A soft knock came on the open door. Our heads turned to him. 

     Dark-blue-eyed suddenly looked happy watching us. "Everything's done. It's clear." He told him. 

      They seemed to talk in code. Russo extended his hand. His hard fingers curled around my soft hand. My stomach tightened and warmth spread through me. 

      "We'll do a proper wedding ceremony after you turn twenty-one with our families." I heard him muttering.

      I was too scared to respond. My brothers would kill him. I let him tug on me with him. My high heels made noise every time I plucked a step behind him. 

      My lips parted in shock as he took me to the hall. It wasn't a dull one, the walls were painted white, and it was decorated with curtains and real flowers. The air was filled with the scent of various flowers. I couldn't believe it, was it the same hall they captured us in? I lifted my chin and saw that the vines of flowers were hanging from the ceiling. 

      The priest cleared his throat. He whirled me to face him, his hand still holding my hand. 

      The priest invited us to face each other. When I signed the paper with Andre, that felt more like a contract. But going through the ceremony with Russo made me nervous. 

      Dark-blue-eyed murmured a prayer in Italian. 

      “Mr Moretti and Miss. Bianchi, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?" The priest asked us, he was an old-looking man, kindness visible on his face. 

      No! I wasn't. But did it matter? Would the priest help me if I refused? Russo would kill him and replace him. The next one wouldn't dare to ask the same question. 

      "I have," We said in unison, my voice was weaker compared to his. 

     The priest nodded, holding a soft smile. "Do you, Maximo Russo Moretti, take Miss Shelly Bianchi as your wife with love and honour willingly?" He asked him. 

      It felt like Russo had remembered the vows by heart. "I, Maximo Russo Moretti, take you, Shelly Bianchi to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." He said.

      I stared at my trembling hands in his strong hands. It was my turn to repeat. I didn't think I could do that.

     "Do you Shelly Bianchi take Maximo Russo Moretti as your husband with love and honour willingly? " The priest asked me. 

      He should have asked something else. It wasn't willingly or lovingly. 

      He softly squeezed my hand as I just stared at them. "Yes, I do," I said. 

      After we took the vows, the priest declared us husband and wife. "May the Lord strengthen the consent, I declare, you husband and wife, what God has joined, let no one separate. May God bless these rings which you'll give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity." The priest gave them to us. 

      Russo put the platinum band on my ring finger. It was similar to one Andre. He put a second ring on my ring finger. The round brilliant point ten-cent diamond band sparkled under the light. It was beautiful. 

      Dark-blue-eyed held the ring for me. I took it with my shivering hand. It was a similar platinum band like mine. I shoved it on his ring finger with my shivering hand. 

      "You may kiss the bride." The priest announced. 

      My big eyes snapped at him. My first kiss would be against my constant. My dilated eyes locked onto his. I could clearly see his stormy blue eyes from this close, they were a deep, vivid shade of blue, carrying a light greyish tone. His eyes were beautiful, like him. He was the opposite, a God of destruction, a mafia man. 

      His hand raised to my face and he cupped my cheek. Goosebumps rose on my skin. I was frightened of him. I never thought about my first kiss before. It wasn't in my mind until now. 

     He leaned in and I squeezed my eyes shut. I hoped it would pass soon. His lips touched mine softly. My stomach tightened for a second, and the next moment I felt butterflies swirling in my stomach. His lips moved softly as he kissed me. My skin heated under his touch. 

       He broke the kiss and drew his head back slightly, looking at me with impossible calmness. It was masked immediately. He leaned closer. My heart fluttered in my chest. What was happening to me? There should be only fear and hate. 

      "Te amo, mi vida." He whispered clearly in his velvety tone and took a step back. My heart thudded twice before beating in my chest rapidly. His arm curled around my middle as he turned. We also signed marriage papers. 

       My eyes blinked, still lost in shock. I looked around and the hall was filled with his men. I noticed Andre leaning against the wall as he watched us. I found the same calmness on his face the day I saw him for the first time the day we got engaged. I averted my gaze from him, turned in the ring of his arm. André wasn't my husband, but a ruthless mafia boss was.