Chapter Four

Gabriella.

I sat on the cold floor with my arms wrapped around my knees because I couldn’t bring myself to sit on that bed, it was tempting, maybe too comfortable but then I didn’t want to feel relaxed, at this point I just wanted to be dead. I’d rather die than be his bride.

The windows were shut so I couldn’t tell what time it was, I just paid attention to the noise from outside the door and fiddled with the chains around my wrist.

I still can’t believe how fast I went from being a princess to a prisoner.

Just then the door cracked open and two masked guards, dressed in black, strode in.

I stiffened immediately, swallowing hard. “Stay away from me!” I shrieked, my voice loud enough to make one go deaf, but they didn’t respond. Instead, they grabbed me by the arms one on each arm, their grip bruising.

They dragged me down the dark hallway down the stairs till we stopped in front of a huge wooden door.

When it burst open, I saw a long dining table across the room, with steaming dishes and chandeliers hanging from the roof. The smell of the roasted lamb, tomato sauce, and garlic hit me like a sledgehammer, a reminder that I hadn’t had any decent meal for the past two days.

Marcello sat at the head of the table, he wore a black ironed suit, his brown eyes fixed on his food, I swallowed hard, he didn’t even acknowledge my presence.

Seeing him just stirred the anger and revenge I felt inside of me.

“Sit.” He said his gaze still never left his food. One of the guards forced me into a chair

I glared hard at Marcello, I didn’t know the right words to say, and I was careful not to be killed by him so I swallowed hard before clearing my throat.

“What do you intend to do with me? You can have any girl you want, why me? “I said my voice was barely a whisper.

He scoffed but didn't say anything, he continued devouring his meal, twisting the fork around the spaghetti bolognese like I didn’t just ask a question.

I watched him sip from the glass of water, then he turned to face me, his hand reaching for mine but I flinched immediately.

“You should eat, Gabriella.”

“Don’t touch me, you monster!”

He smiled, setting the napkin down beside his plate slowly.

“I have news, I own the Romano territory now, I thought you’d want to know.” He said his baritone voice resounded across the room.

My heart skipped a beat and I straightened immediately.

“No, you can’t, it doesn’t belong to you, that was my father's property, you can’t just swing in and take it all.”

“Well, I can,” he chortled, dabbing his mouth again. “And I have.”

Tears formed in my eyes, they stung and hurt me so bad but then they were useless, not even my tears could save me. “What about my father? He needs to be buried, please let me at least honor him with a befitting burial?”

A rumble of laughter rolled out of his full-sized lips, it was low yet mocking.

“ I’m not that evil, I already buried your father.”

My eyes widened in a mix of surprise and disgust, he had no right to do that.

“No, I’m his only child, I should be the only one allowed to do that!”I yelled slamming my chained wrist on the table, spilling the drinks, but I didn’t care. “You have no right to bury my father…”

“Of course I didn’t bury him, I cremated him, that’s the only thing he deserves.” He said coldly, his gaze fixed on me.

I went quiet immediately, trying to think of the next step to take.

How dare he cremate my father!

Tears spilled down my cheeks, “You are such a coward, Marcello, you are so frightened of me that’s why you keep me in this damn chain, that’s why your bodyguard follows you around like flies attracted to bad meat!”

He didn't respond, he just kept eating.

My gaze dropped to the silver fork on the plate.

It was small yet sharp enough to get the job done.

Even though that’s the last thing I do on earth, I’d make sure he goes down for my father's death.

I reached for the fork slowly pretending to be interested in the food.

“How do I know this food isn’t poisoned?” I asked.

Still, he didn't respond, I smirked and tightened my grip on the fork preparing to attack, even though my heart thudded so loudly I wouldn’t let anxiety stop me from ending this man.

I took my chance, I lunged across the table even though the chains slowed me, I still thought I’d reach him, but he was fast enough to catch my wrist.

I froze, his grip was so strong that the fork fell to the floor. The pain that followed was enough to make me pass out.

“Please, let me go, you’re hurting me.”I cried, my wrist burning like I’d just dipped it in a bowl of fire. No wonder they called him the Inferno, even his touch felt like fire.

He pulled me close, a smile playing on his lips.

“You should have thought about that before trying to attack me with a fork.” He said in a low yet dangerous tone.

The guards stepped forward ready to attack but Marcello raised a finger and they retreated.

“Get on with it! Kill me! just like you killed my father!”I yelled, my gaze meeting him as I trembled beneath his touch.

“No, I won't, we’re getting married tomorrow,”

I stiffened in fear, what did he mean by we were getting married? Was he crazy? No he is crazy.

“You must be a clown, I’m not going to get married to a serial killer,”

“You have no choice, for your behavior, dinner is denied too, guards!!" He called out to the guards and they stepped forward, he motioned to the guards.

“Take her back to the room and make sure she doesn't see the light of the day till tomorrow which is our wedding day.”

They grabbed me again and I screamed at the top of my lungs. “I’d kill myself then, I’d rather rot in hell with my father than be your wife.”