Chapter 3

• ALESSA
• “I need to see my father,” Alessa cried, her voice breaking. Marcella stood by the door, arms crossed. “Please, Marcella. Just five minutes.”
• She sighed impatiently, brushing invisible lint off her dress. “Your father has more important things to do than deal with your theatrics, Alessa. Put your shoes on and be in the hall in fifteen minutes.”
• Tears spilled over, and she choked back a sob. “Marcella, please—”
• “Enough!” Marcella shouted, glaring at her step-daughter. Since the meeting in her father's study, Marcella had become harder and harsher with Alessa. “You’re not a child. This is your duty. Stop embarrassing yourself and the family. Stop embarrassing me!”
• Marcella turned and left without another look, slamming the door shut behind her.
• Alessa fell to the floor, tears staining the face the make up artist had spent hours on. She was really doing this. She was really marrying Gideon Falco.
• The most handsome man she'd ever met. Also the most cruel.
• Alessa's best friend, Beth rushed to her side, kneeling next to her. Beth was already dressed in a red bridesmaid dress, her black hair styled in large curls. Her hands gripped Alessa's tightly. “Alessa, you don’t have to do this. Run away.”
• Alessa shook her head, her voice whispering. Alessa had already thought of that, but her father had doubled her guards, and always made sure she had one with her no matter what.
• “There are guards everywhere. I wouldn’t make it past the front door.”
• “I’ll distract them,” Beth said firmly. “I'll go stand outside and pretend I'm talking to you while you drop out of the window. Both of them are outside your door, no?”
• Alessa stared at her, her mind racing. Was this even possible? She could change into pants, drop down the window and run as fast as she could. But was it possible?
• “Go,” Beth whispered, pushing Alessa. “Hurry!”
• Alessa didn’t think, she couldn’t. She tore off the grown, cleaned her eyes, then hurried to the window just as Beth called out to her from outside.
• Alessa looked out the window. The mansion’s gardens stretched out below her, flowers, fountains, and trimmed hedges. Beyond that was the gate and freedom.
• She could do this.
• She pushed the window open, grabbed the pane and climbed down carefully. Her heart pounded in her chest as her heels slipped against the polished wood. She hit the ground running, her bare feet sinking into the soft grass.
• The freedom was overwhelming, even if it was short-lived.
• She ran, not caring where she was going, just needing to get away. The moment she reached the side gate, she froze.
• Two guards stood chatting nearby, their rifles worn casually over their shoulders. Holding her breath, she went around the corner, heading for the long driveway.
• A long line of luxury cars was parked there, each more expensive than the last. Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, and a blood-red Lamborghini parked at the very front. Her father has invited the highest ranking members of the Mafia for his beloved daughter's wedding.
• Alessa wiped her eyes when tears came again. “Almost there,” she whispered to herself, breaking into a run.
• But as soon as she reached the driveway, a shadow fell over her. “Planning to run away, little bride?”
• She turned around to see him.
• Gideon Falco.
• He was taller than Alessa remembered. His broad shoulders filled the space like a wall she couldn't escape. His black suit looked expensive enough to buy an entire neighborhood, and the watch on his wrist was done with diamonds.
• His dark hair was styled back neatly, and his sharp jawline could have been carved from marble.
• Alessa took a step back, but he grabbed her arm before she could turn.
• “Let me go!” she struggled, trying to pull herself free.
• “And what then?” he asked, calmly, holding her hands without even struggling to. He forced both of her arms into a single band of his. “You think you can outrun my men? Outrun me?”
• Alessa frowned at him, wishing she wasn't so weak, and wasn't so useless against this man. “Let me go. I don’t want this. I don’t want you!”
• He stepped closer, his blank face making her shake. “You think you have a choice?”
• “Please, let me go.” Alessa begged, sinking to the floor as she cried.
• He laughed coldly. “You have no idea what the world out there looks like, Alessa. Go ahead. Run. But you won’t make it far.”
• His words stung, and tears came pouring out again. Alessa was sure she must have been looking ugly by then with all the crying she had done. “You’re a monster.”
• He tilted his head. “Maybe. But monsters get things done.”
• Before she could reply, he started pulling her forward, firm but not painful. “Let’s go. The clock’s ticking. I'd love to hear what your parents have to say about this.”
• Alessa hung her head. Her father would kill her for embarrassing her this way. But which was worse? Who was the greatest evil?
• Gideon who was dragging her back to her prison? Or her father who has put her there in the first place?
• “I hate you,” Alessa said softly. “I will always hate you, Gideon Falco.”
• Gideon stopped and stared down at her. For a moment, Alessa thought he would slap her. There was so much hate in his eyes.
• “You can hate me later,” he said finally, dragging her back to the house. “For now, you must marry me.”
• Marcella was waiting by the door when they arrived, her face red with anger. “What is the meaning of this?”
• “She thought she could run,” Gideon said calmly. “But I don’t think she’ll try again.”
• Marcella’s gaze turned to her, cold and icy. “You’ve humiliated your father, Alessa. He’ll deal with you after this.”
• “No, he won’t,” Gideon interrupted, his voice like steel. “She’s my wife now. Any punishment she faces will come from me.”
• Marcella opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it, stepping aside.
• The wedding ceremony was already starting in the grand hall, a space so rich it made the rest of the mansion look poor. Crystal chandeliers spilled light from the ceilings, throwing rainbows on the marble floor.
• Gold arched every frame, with guests dressed in designer suits and gowns.
• The wedding passed slowly.
• The vows were a blur. Alessa barely registered the priest’s words or the heavy ring sliding onto her finger. She kept her head down, her eyes dimmed by tears.
• “Smile for the pictures,” Marcella muttered under her breath as the cameras snapped them. She pinched Alessa's arm but she barely felt the pain.
• After the ceremony, Marcella led Alessa toward the waiting car. The guests clapped politely as the newlyweds exited, but Alessa couldn’t bring herself to look at any of them.
• Marcella held Alessa's hands tightly. “Be submissive to your new husband, Alessa. I know you hate my life, but that's all that has kept me alive these years. Gideon is not any worse nor any better than your father. But if he kills you, I promise you no one will care. Not even your father.”