The terms of chains

SERAPHINA'S POV

No, he's lying! He has to be! There's NO WAY dad would agree to anything this maniac has to say!

I'm burning with rage and a slight wave of dread as I marched into the mansion, my hands curling tightly around the phone in my grip. It doesn't feel that Lazaro's tailing behind, both hands tucked into his pockets as his stupid gorgeous hazel eyes narrow at my back with amusement.

He finds this funny, but I find it absolutely NOT.

“I'm here to see my dad.” I inform the guards standing outside his study room, gritting my teeth towards Lazaro's direction. “He's…a guest.”

They don't question me or try to wonder what my dad's biggest rival is doing in the middle of the hallway, and simply nod in understanding, slightly moving to the side as they push the big black doors for us.

Does dad already know I'm coming…with him? What's happening?

I inhale sharply, taking a quick intake of air and try my best to lift my head high as I walked into the room. The air is suddenly filled with tension when my eyes move to the back of my father's chair facing our direction, his fingers drumming intensely against the armrest as if trying to control his inner thoughts from spilling out.

I mean, how could he not? The son of his biggest rival is fricking in his mansion, standing behind his daughter like he'd owned her from the beginning.

He'd never own me. I bit the words at the tip of my tongue and force the sweet smile that'd always been expected of a princess.

“Dad.” I greet, my head slightly turning to the ground. “You summoned me…but what does it have to do with…him?”

I can feel Lazaro’s gaze on me as I stand beside my father’s chair, my hands clenching into fists behind me as I watch the muscle ticking on the side of dad's face. It’s the only defense I have to calm down the rage bubbling inside of me—against what father had in store for me.

“A moment, Lazaro.” He say in a cool tone, ignoring my presence for a slight moment.

“Of course, Mr. Alvaréz.” Lazaro chuckles and winks at my frowning face before casually strolling outside the doors, the metal clicking shut behind him, filling the room with a much more tense atmosphere.

“Dad, can you tell me what's happening? I'm getting a little nervous here.” I state. “Since when did we start communicating with the De Lucas?”

“Since this moment, Seraphina.” He snaps, his tone hoarse and firm as he swings his chair to face me. “Are you questioning my decisions?”

“Of course not, father. Forgive me for stating it that way, I'm just worried.” My head's tilted to the ground, eyes boring through the marbled tiles like the good, perfect daughter I am.

“Well, you don't have to be worried anymore. I've found a way to settle things down with the De Lucas.” He reveals, making me slowly raise my head in surprise. “A truce.”

My stomach twists at where this was going. Something about the way father's announcing the news in a formal way, means that business is involved.

I could smell a deal coming from a miles away.

A deal that's going to leave me in tears.

“What does this have to do with me?” I risk a slap by asking this, my heart pounding against my chest when father doesn't answer but instead, stands up to his feet and walks to my front, his eyes narrowing into a deep glare as he searched my face for a reaction.

“You're going to marry his son, Lazaro to fulfill his truce.”

WHAT? My eyes are this close to bulging out of their sockets as I stare back at my dad in disbelief, my breath slowly becoming shaky as I suck in the tears threatening to pool at my eyes.

“You’re the key to creating peace between our families and theirs, Seraphina. You're not going to screw this up by rejecting him, escaping from the contract, or making up scandals. Am I clear?” He instructs, but I'm too frozen to reply back.

That's a wrong move and the worst timing as he takes my silence for disobedience and grabs my chin harshly, squeezing it enough to make me snap out of the trance and stifle out some sobs.

“D-dad it hurts…” I whisper, choking back some hiccups.

“Answer me!” He groans with frustration. “Since when did you start getting disobedient? Do you wish for me to remind you what'll be done if you're bad?”

“Is there a problem here?” Lazaro's voice breaks through the air, making my dad's hand freeze in the midair. I blow some strands away my face and look away as the last thing I wanted was a mockery of my situation.

“Ah, you came just in time.” Dad chuckles and moves away from me. “She's just agreed to the contract marriage and was about to sign the papers…isn't that right, honey?”

They both turn to me, and I bite the bottom of my lips to stop them from shaking. Lazaro seems to catch on my behaviour as he narrows his eyes on them, but I'm quick to flash a smile.

“Y-yes. I agree.” I whisper the words, but it was loud enough for Lazaro to nod and walk towards the desk, grabbing a pen from his front pocket to sign some papers that my dad's spilling across the desk.

I just stood there, silent and hurt, watching as I'm being signed away like some kind of transaction. Like some commodity or property.

Dad already made it clear that women in the family had no say when businesses like these were involved, but I never knew to what extent. I never knew how much being a woman in the mafia could hurt until now.

I thought those days were bad, but this is the worst.

I can't do anything to stop this. I can't say anything or beg. Begging makes it worse. I'll only end up with bruises and being starved for some nights as punishments.

Now that a De Luca's involved who knows the kind of punishment dad had in mind for me if I'd disobeyed him…

I want to cry. I want to cry so bad and plead, but tears like he said, are weaknesses in the mafia. One he can't afford to have spilled in the battlefield.

Well, if I can't refuse this deal. I might as well have my own conditions.

“I have something to add to the clause.”

Dad's head was the first to turn, his eyes shining with warning, but I ignore him and focus my cold gaze on Lazaro instead, watching as he nodded for me to go on.

I was going to talk without his permission anyways.

“I will not be sleeping with you on the same bed.” I add, my arms crossed and my head lifted high as I let the words ring at the back of his head. My head face palms in frustration behind him and ironed his mouth to say something but Lazaro raises his hand in dismissal and moves to me with a smirk, his eyes scanning me from the head to the toe, suddenly making me very self conscious despite that I'm covered in the gown I'm wearing.

“We have to get one thing straight, though.” He slides a contract toward me, my eyes glaring holes through the part where I have to sign. “You’ll marry me. You’ll bear my name, my title. As for the bed…you're going to change your mind pretty soon, just like you did about this deal, princess.”

That damn smile on his face.

Gosh, I want to rip it up so bad, throw the papers in his face and have him thrown in our dungeons, but I know what would happen if I pulled any of them.

They’d have my bones broken before I even had a chance to fight back. Dad wouldn't hesitate, I was sure of that.

With a flick of my pen, I add my clause and sign my part of the contract , my eyes never leaving his as I do so. His gaze darkens with amusement, but he doesn’t say another word as he savors the bubbling expression on my face.

My stomach twists with regret as I'd expected him to change his mind, expected my dad to have second thoughts about the whole thing, but none of that happens.

I watch as dad use his signature ring to stamp on the contract as an official document and give Lazaro a firm handshake in front of me.

A single tear rolls down my chin as I smile through the aches.

I can't believe I just signed my life away to these devils.