Chapter One

Gabriella

“He’s dead!” I managed to mutter under my breath. It felt like a dream until I saw the blood pool around him like a dark shadow.

Instantly, my vision blurred and it dawned on me, I’d lost the only family I had.

But the gunshots didn’t stop flying, not even at his death.

I covered my ears with my hands trying to block out the sound.

Earlier that day, I’d felt gloomy, yet I still managed to put on my white dress in preparation for the meeting.

It was my favourite dress and I wore it because I was going to meet my husband to be for the first time.

A man I barely knew. Yet I managed to be in good spirits, hoping this would be for the best.

Irene, my maid, told me I looked gorgeous, I still didn’t believe her, or maybe I just wasn't happy.

Maybe it was just instincts.

Because right now I was caught in the middle of chaos and commotion. A bad sign.

It’s funny how everyone I ever knew was dead including Irene.

Something told me to run but my body refused to move an inch. Fear glued my feet to the ground!

That’s when I saw the Devil himself. The architect of this destruction.

He strode in like he owned the place. A pistol in his left hand, a gun in his right. His presence was suffocating, jet black hair plastered to his forehead, cold eyes that promised no mercy.

Was this my groom?

After all, I’d never seen him before.

I covered my hand over my mouth to stop myself from making any noise.

But something in me sparked, it was hard to describe, it was like my world had shattered into tiny bits.

I knew I was supposed to scream or even shed a tear. I mean, that’s the logical thing to do especially when you just watched your father get taken out and your world had just shattered, that can hurt as hell.

But I didn’t, I wouldn't, because my father wouldn’t want me to. Instead, I was going to honor his last wish, I’ll make his killer pay for this.

Tears blurred my vision threatening to spill but I tilted my head backward pushing them back in.

That's when I heard the heavy thud of his boots as he crossed to where Stefan lay almost lifeless. He squatted, pressing the nuzzle of his gun to Stefan’s forehead.

Stefan Lombardi was my father’s business associate, and I wondered why he was even here.

“Please…. Don't kill me…”Stefan pleaded weakly.

“I won't,” The man mumbled slowly, pulling back the silver gun, tapping Stefan's cheek with it.. “I won't waste my bullet on you, run back like a coward to your family, Stefan, tell them ‘Don Marcello Ricci, the inferno Lord’ won, eh?”

The way he spoke, the mix of British and Italian accents, made it hard to breathe. How could one have both accents at once?

Don Marcello Ricci? So he was a mafia lord.

Stefan shivered, scurrying away like a stray dog, Marcello let out a low rumble of laughter that sounded like thunder.

He was really having fun.

His laughter died when his gaze landed on me.

Our eyes locked for a few seconds, and my heart began to pound so violently that I was scared it might explode from fear.

I shut my eyes bracing for the knife or the gun, anyone who was fast enough to get the job done.

But instead, his lips curved in a slow terrible smile.

“She is coming with us, capisce?” he said in a low voice yet it still echoed across the almost empty living room. He pointed at me, and his two buff guards moved towards me. They were all dressed in black and their faces were covered with masks. “She’s going to be my bride.”

What?

The room went silent with shock.

Marcello's eyes simmered with pride “She is mine now. My prize.”

I shifted in fear, I was willing to marry him but now that my father was dead there was no way in hell I was going to go with him willingly. “I’m not getting married to you. ”I panicked.

“You will…” he purred.

“Stay the hell away from me!”I managed to say, moving back.

“It's too late for that honey, you will do as I say!”

Before I uttered any more words, his men had held me by the arm. This time I finally let out the emotions I was holding. I yelled, screamed, cried, and fought hard yet all my efforts proved useless because their grip was far too strong.

They dragged me out of the house, tied my wrists and legs then hurled me at the back of a Ford Transit black Van.

I didn’t give up, I screamed louder, clinging to the hope that help would come, Then I felt a very sharp sting on my neck. My vision blurred and my body grew weak instantly. Just before the Darkness claimed me. I saw Marcello Ricci’s face, a cruel smile plastered on his face.