Chapter 7

• Greta opened the door to an empty room for Mariana.
• "This is your room." She said, smiling.
• Mariana stepped in, looking around. She doesn't want to be here.
• "What is your name?" Greta asked, hoping to start a conversation with Mariana.
• 'I need to get out of this place. Run. I can't let them keep me here as their hostage. It's never going to happen, ' Mariana thought.
• She was so busy with her thoughts that she didn't hear Greta talking to her.
• "Are you deaf?" Greta snapped.
• Mariana flinched.
• She snorted. "I've been talking to you."
• "Who are you?" Mariana asked.
• "The lady of this household."
• "You are Marcello's mother?" Mariana tried to ignore the weird feeling that she had when she mentioned his name for the first time.
• "Yes. Who are you to him?"
• "His hostage." She blurted. "Can you help me?"
• Greta studied her with cautious eyes. "Stay here." She said, walking out of the door and locking it behind her.
• For a moment there, Mariana thought the woman was actually going to help her.
• What was she going to do now?
• She was beyond confused.
• How could time fly so fast?
• Some hours ago, she was dressing for church.
• What were they going to do to her?
• Keep her locked here forever.
• A few minutes later.
• A knock sounded, and a brunette not older than twenty, wearing a maid dress, entered the room. She kept her eyes lowered as she set a bowl of sauce and pasta on a side table near the bed.
• "Wait." Mariana stopped her when she got to the door. "Who is Marcello?"
• The maid remained quiet. Doesn't she understand English?
• "Who is Marcello?" Mariana asked again.
• The maid shook her head.
• "I'm not going to snitch on you if you tell me who he is."
• "He is–someone who nobody wants to mess with. He is the consigliere."
• Consigliere. Like an advisor. He is the advisor of a Mafia family.
• "Aren't you Sir Marcello's fiancee?"
• Mariana raised a brow. "I don't understand."
• Confusion clouded the maid's face. "Aren't you getting married to him tomorrow morning?"
• A cold sensation crawled down Mariana's throat and filled her lungs.
• She must have heard her wrong.
• "You're getting married to Sir Marcello, right?"
• "Married?" Mariana choked a gasp of horror.
• "You're joking?" Mariana gaped at the maid with wide shocked eyes. "You have to be joking!"
• The maid quickly covered her mouth as she realised Mariana had no idea of the marriage.
• "Excuse me." The maid said, rushing out of the room and locking the door behind her.
• Mariana felt like she was falling. There is no way she was going to marry that man. She'd rather die!
• The following day.
• Mariana could not even close her eyes, let alone get to sleep. She spent most of the night pacing the floor cursing her father and Marcello, hating her father.. How could he had done this to her? He couldn't have thought of a worse punishment. She was locked up in a strange environment, paying for his crimes.
• Marriage?
• To a consigliere, the adviser to a Mafia family.
• To him of all people. A dangerous man who had the coldest grey eyes she'd ever seen.
• There was a knock on the door and when she opened it she found a maid holding a tray of fresh fruits, scrambled eggs and a glass of juice.
• "Your breakfast, signora." The maid said, smiling.
• Not long after the maid had left, another one much older arrived, carrying a massive armful of wedding finery which she informed Mariana she would help her get into preparation for the ceremony at ten in the morning.
• "I'm not wearing that! I'm not getting married." Mariana said as the maid laid out the wedding gown.
• "This is your wedding gown." The maid said.
• I can't breathe. This can't be happening. Mariana thought.
• "I told you, I am not getting married. I'd rather die." Mariana snapped at the maid.
• The maid whose name Mariana recognized as Victoria because of the name tag.
• Victoria stared at Mariana for a moment before leaving the room.
• A few minutes later, the door abruptly opened and Marcello strode in.
• "We are getting married today." He blurted.
• "I'm not marrying you!" She flashed him a furious look. "I'd rather die!"
• "Yes, well, you can get that choice." He said, eyes locking with hers.
• Mariana glared at him. "I'm sure you didn't kidnap me just to get married to me. Why?"
• His gaze was as calm and deep as the sea. "I had a change of mind."
• "Why?" She blurted.
• Why did he want to marry her all of a sudden?
• "I got to know that your mother was a part of a Mafia family and the second daughter of the Capo dei Capi, the head of Las Vegas mob." Marcello's eyes bored into her.
• Shock was written on Mariana's face. "What does that got to do with me?"
• "There is no stronger bond than blood. For our connections to be straightened globally and for peace to be an option we have to become family." He paused then continued, "Now, go get ready."
• "Give me a moment." Mariana said in a whisper. She was trying to process all what he had just said. Her mother who had died after giving birth to her was a daughter of a Mafia boss. "I need some time to think. To get used to this idea. We don't even know each other…" as she talked, her eyes filled with tears.
• "Did I break down your dreams?" His eyes darkened. "You were going to get married to the man you love?"
• His words struck a nerve.
• "Damn you…" Mariana yelled in tears.
• He closed the distance between them, caught the back of her neck in a painful grip, and brought his face down to hers. "Shh. Do not yell at me."
• His fingers burned where they held her. His body burned with an unexplainable desire. He fought the reflection of himself he saw in her teary eyes, and something like guilt flashed in his eyes before it disappeared.
• "Either you marry me or you die. Choose one." He said after releasing her.
• She didn't answer.
• "We will never be husband and wife." His voice was soft and full of meaning. She looked at him. "Only our names will stand side by side. Now be smart."
• It still didn't change the fact that they would be legally married.
• She swallowed the lump in her throat.
• "Am I clear?" He asked and she nodded.
• He gave her one last glance before leaving the room.
• Victoria came in.
• "You haven't eaten your breakfast."
• She shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
• I can't believe I'm doing this. Mariana said as she stood up from the chair after Victoria had done her makeup.
• How could it be possible that within a less than an hour she would be married to Marcello? She loved reading romance novels and whenever the couples in them get married, having their happy-ever-after. She'd imagined how her wedding would be. She'd always imagined it would be filled with excitement and love. Empty dreams. How could this be happening?
• She stared at herself in the mirror. The dress was gorgeous; A-line jewel backless chapel train, the diamond necklace glittering wherever the sunlight hit it and her hair was in a bun.
• "You look gorgeous." Victoria gushed.
• "I don't think I can do this." Mariana muttered.
• "You can." Victoria said, smiling.
• Those two words helped Mariana.
• "Are we done?"
• "Just a second." Victoria came with a white short lace bridal veil.
• "Oh, no."
• Victoria gave her a pragmatic look. "Do you want to stay alive or don't you?"