Chapter 2

Melanie

I had been planning to run away with Miguel for a month. A whole month of pretending to be the obedient mafia princess my father thought I was. You know, smiling, nodding, and resisting the urge to scream every time Dario breathed too close to me while Miguel and I worked on how to carry out our plans.

We didn’t go through with the plan to run away immediately, because I didn’t feel like dying in a ditch and so we made up our minds to run away during the wedding.

I was glad when the month ended, and the wedding day finally arrived. The big escape we had been planning for was finally here, Dario wouldn’t see it coming. Neither would Papa.

By the time they realized I was gone, I’d be halfway out of Città dei Re, probably flipping them off from a speeding car.

I couldn’t wait.

“You look stunning!” My mom’s voice broke into my little daydream.

I turned toward her, doing my best to wipe the grin off my face. You know, the one that screamed ‘I’m running away in thirty minutes.’

“I know you’re still angry at us for doing this,” she started. Here we go with the guilt trip. “But I assure you, sweetie, this is—”

“It’s fine, Mom!” I cut her off, trying not to sound like I’d rehearsed that line twenty times in the mirror. “Papa’s business is tanking. I get it. Nothing says ‘rescue our sinking empire’ like marrying your only daughter off to a mafia maniac.”

She looked at me with those glossy, trying-to-stay-strong eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around me. I hated how good she smelled and I would miss it.

“Dario and his family have arrived!” My father’s booming voice ruined the moment.

Mama let go of me instantly, like I was contagious. “Mela!” she snapped. “We need to greet them. Finish your makeup, darling. Your father will be back in three minutes.”

I nodded and she walked out. The minute the door closed. I smiled. It was Showtime.

I didn’t even move. Just sat there like a statue waiting for the knock that would kickstart my escape.

My heart was pounding and then suddenly I heard three soft knocks.

I jumped up so fast I almost tripped on my veil. Agatha, the housemaid stepped in.

“We have two minutes to change,” I whispered like we were about to rob a bank.

We stripped like we were in a quick-change Broadway show. I gave her my dress, and she gave me her plain maid uniform. She was going to take my place while I escaped.

“Remember,” I said, fixing her fake veil, “stall them. Ten minutes minimum.”

Agatha nodded. God, I loved that girl. “Thank you for doing this.”

“You’ve done more for me, miss. This is the least I can do.”

I slipped out the back hallway like a professional thief. There were no guards. They were probably flexing their egos in the ballroom. I was halfway down the corridor when I heard a loud voice.

“Hey! Where’re you heading?”

Shit.

I paused, trying to look as neutral as possible.

“Don’t waste your time, Rook,” another voice muttered. “She’s a maid. Probably sent to grab tissues for the crying bride.”

I exhaled like a man released from prison and kept walking until I spotted Gustavo’s beat-up truck parked down the path like a rusty miracle.

“Get in,” he said, not even looking at me. I gave him a silent “thank you” and dove into the backseat.

The ride was quiet. Except for the engine purring like an old cat with asthma. Gustavo was allergic to small talk so I didn’t bother to strike up a conversation.

I was glad that he agreed to help because, in his words, “I don’t want y’all to die stupid.”

As we neared the exit of Città dei Re, he killed the engine, and it was during that moment my eyes landed on Miguel.

I flew out of the car so fast I think I broke the sound barrier. I ran straight into his arms, and he kissed me like he hadn’t eaten in weeks and I was dessert.

God, I missed him.

“I hate to stop this reunion,” Gustavo called out, “but y’all need to get the hell out.”

“Right,” Miguel said, pulling away, though I could see the ache in his eyes.

He gave Gustavo that cool, brotherly handshake thing that said a thousand words.

“Be safe,” Gustavo said, pulling him into a one-sided hug.

“Grazie, brother.”

“Don’t forget the pistola. Always shoot first. Don’t wait. The road’s fucking dangerous.”

I raised a brow. Great. Comforting.

We drove off, waving until Gustavo disappeared behind us.

“I can’t believe we did it,” I said, practically bouncing in the seat.

Miguel smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“We can always come back,” I added. “Maybe we can invite Gustavo over. He could use a vacation.”

Miguel forced a smile, but I knew he wasn’t happy. Gustavo was the only family that he had. Now, he was leaving that family behind.

My thoughts came to a stop when I noticed some men with guns standing beside a black jeep,

“Wait—I thought Gustavo said the checkpoint was after town?” I squinted at the armed men standing by a black Jeep like they were auditioning for a fashion show.

“He said that last time he traveled,” Miguel muttered. “Which was, like… 2019.”

Awesome.

One of the guys walked up, with a gun in his hands. “Who are you?”

Miguel’s voice came out all squeaky. “We are just a regular couple traveling.”

The guy sneered. “Where’s the ring?”

Seriously? That’s your concern right now? Not the fact that we look like we just escaped a telenovela?

“She’s my fiancée. I just can’t wait to marry her,” Miguel said, sweating like a priest in a strip club.

I tried to flash him a reassuring look even though I was breaking myself. These men didn’t look like police officers. They were definitely part of a gang but which gang?

Humbertos? Rival of Miguel’s crew? Or… no. Please not Sanchez.

“Get out of the car!”

We stepped out slowly.

“Is there a problem?” Miguel asked, trying to play dumb.

“Don’t act clueless. You know what you did.”

“I’m confused…”

“You’re traveling with another man’s property.”

His voice seemed to be like some official signal, because at that moment. We heard the sound of helicopter blades whirling in the sky. A ladder dropped and a figure descended.

It was Dario.

He found me, but how was that even possible But then I remembered Dario had eyes everywhere he probably saw me, but we made sure we were careful. We took routes nobody plied.

“Stop looking like you’ve seen a ghost, darling,” Dario sneered as he touched down, hair perfect, rage glowing off him like a Bond villain on coke.

His scared face was highlighted with a predatory smile.

“So this is man your thought you could fucking run away with?” His eyes scanned Miguel. “A fucking pauper! Who is part of the lowest gangs in the city of kings.”

I couldn’t speak. I dared not

“You and your father aren’t really smart.”

“My father didn’t know about this. It was all me,” I croaked. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Dario laughed like he’d heard a really good joke. “Sorry can’t save you now.”

I dropped to my knees. “Please Dario spare me.”

He didn’t reply, he moved closer to me and grabbed my neck and lifted me off the ground.

“Do you know how it fucking felt to be informed by my men that you were gone. I stood at the alter waiting for you to appear. I was humiliated, and so was my entire family.”

I quivered as he yelled.

“I’m going to make sure you and your father feel exactly how I felt.” His grip on my neck tightened.

“Let her go!” Miguel yelled pulling out his gun. Dario didn’t speak, his eyes did the talking, and just when Miguel was about to fire his gun. I watched as Dario’s men dropped two bullets into his chest and one in his head.

I tried to scream but couldn’t. Dario’s hands were steel ropes around my throat.

“Don’t waste your tears, darling,” he whispered. “You brought this on yourself. Next time if you ever think of running—remember: no one escapes me.”

Without hesitation, he shoved me into a waiting car.

“Dispose of the body,” he told his men, sliding behind the wheel. “We’ve got unfinished business.”

And just like that, I was back in hell.