The mafia's bride

As I raised my hands, my fingers shook like leaves in the wind, and my heartbeat quickened to the rate of a hummingbird. When Damon grabbed my hand in his strong hand, he held it firmly and steadily as he placed the ring onto my finger. Damon is a very steady and powerful hand. Twenty very little diamonds are set in white gold. What other couples took to be a manifestation of their love and commitment was, in reality, nothing more than a declaration of his ownership over me. A constant reminder of the shiny gilded prison in which I would be confined for the rest of my life. It wasn't just a meaningless phrase to them, unlike the vows of so many other couples who entered into the sacred bond of marriage willingly together . There was absolutely no way for me to get out of this marriage. I was Damon's until the very end.It is possible that the last few words of the oath that men had to swear when they were initiated into the mafia might have just as easily been the last words of my w

No matter how badly I wanted time to pass more slowly and allow me more time to prepare, the last few months had passed far too quickly. It will be my engagement celebration in two days. Mother was busy running the household staff around and making sure everything was running smoothly. Not even a large party was held. We were the only ones invited, along with Luca's family and the families of the leaders of New York and Chicago. Umberto said it was for security purposes. It was still too soon after the truce to risk inviting hundreds of people. I wanted it to be completely scrapped. I couldn't care less if I didn't meet Damon until the wedding day.On my bed, Fabiano leaped up and down while pouting. He was only five years old and far too animated."I want to play!" "Mother does not want you to run through the house".For the guests, everything must be flawless."But they're not even here"I say. Please God. Luca and the other visitors from New York would show up the following day. I

The men went to the lounge after dinner to drink, smoke, and talk about anything else that needed to be talked about. I went back to my room, but I had trouble falling asleep.I eventually changed out of my jammies and into a bathrobe.I snuck out of my room and down the stairs. In a moment of madness, I entered the path that led to the lounge's hidden door behind the wall. My Grandfather always believed that because the family's males typically met in the office and the fireplace lounge, it was essential to have hidden exits in both locations. After the males had all escaped through the hidden passage, I questioned what he believed would happen to the ladies.Gianna was staring intently through the door's covert peephole when I discovered her. Of course, she was there already. When she saw me, she turned around with her eyes wide but unperturbed. "What is happening there?" I was afraid the men in the lounge would overhear us, so I spoke in a low whisper. I was able to look through