Chapter 7
A R I A N A
Just like my father had said, two days later I was getting married to Dante Russo. The morning of my wedding arrived like a death sentence.
I sat stiffly in front of the vanity as a team of stylists buzzed around me, transforming me into a perfect bride.
The white dress hugged my body tightly, the lace scratching my skin. The heavy veil weighed down my head like a crown of thorns.
I felt nothing.
Empty.
Dead inside.
The girl staring back at me in the mirror was a stranger pale face, red lips, hollow eyes, I looked like a doll dressed up for a show.
“Beautiful,” the makeup artist murmured, dabbing more powder on my cheeks.
I didn’t respond, what was beautiful about this? About being sold off like cattle to pay for my mistakes?
I gulped a lump my eyes stinging with tears. Thr hatred for my father burned within me like a burning fire.
A knock at the door snaps me out of my thoughts, the man I call father entered, his expensive suit perfectly pressed, his cold eyes assessing me.
“Time to go,” he said simply.
The church was enormous, filled with hundreds of guests all the most powerful families in the city, Ricardo Melendez click, the elite he rolled with, all of them were there.
They whispered as I walked down the aisle on my father’s arm
I kept my head down, staring at the white petals scattered on the floor my fingers dug into my father’s sleeve,
“Remember,” he whispered harshly, his lips barely moving, “one wrong move and you’re nothing, no money, no name, no home and most importantly your mother pays for this”
I swallowed hard, the threat settling like poison in my stomach. I resented my father saw much, I felt like shoving a sharp knife deep into his throat till he could no longer breath.
Then we reached the altar.
My father stopped making me stop.
And for the first time, I finally lifted my head and there he was.
Dante Russo.
Through the haze of my veil, I studied the man who now owned me.
Tall, broad shoulders straining against his tailored black tuxedo his dark hair streaked with silver, neatly combed back his strong jaw covered in perfectly trimmed stubble.
And his eyes p>
Even through the veil, I felt the intensity of his gaze, dark, dangerous eyes that seemed to see right through me.
This wasn’t the old, balding businessman I’d imagined.
Dante Russo was p>
Too handsome.
Too powerful.
Too everything.
My father grabbed my hand roughly and placed it in Dante’s waiting palm.
The moment our skin touched, a jolt went through me his hand was warm, strong, his grip firm but not painful his thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles, a mockery of comfort.
I wanted to snatch my hand back to run but my father’s warning rang in my ears.
So I stood there, numb, as the priest began the ceremony.
“Do you, Ariana Melendez, take Dante Russo to be your lawfully wedded husband p>
I hesitated everyome in the church anticipating my response.
Dante’s fingers tightened slightly around mine. A silent command.
The priest turned to Dante. “And do you, Dante Russo p>
“I do,” Dante interrupted, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.
No romantic declaration or promises of love. Just cold, hard fact.
Then it was time for the kiss.
Dante lifted my veil slowly, his dark eyes locked on mine there was something unreadable in his gaze not kindness, not cruelty something I couldn’t point out.
He cupped my face with one large hand, tilting my chin up.
And then his lips were on mine.
It wasn’t the quick peck I expected he kissed me slowly, thoroughly, his mouth moving against mine with a confidence that made my knees weak.
His other arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body.
The guests erupted in applause.
I couldn’t breathe.
When he finally pulled away, his lips curved in the faintest smirk.
“Welcome to hell, wifey,” he murmured, just for me to hear.
His statement made my stomach churn.
What had my father gotten me into?
Dante took my hand and turned us to face the crowd everyone was clapping, yodeling as though this was a holy alignment.
Then my gaze caught his, Angelo.
Standing near the back, his face white with shock his eyes locked onto mine hurt, betrayal burning in them.
My heart paused.
What was he doing here? Who invited him? How did he know?
And why the hell did he look so upset? As though he put me in the mess I was in now.
But before I could think more, a woman grabbed my arm.
“Ariana! Welcome to the family p>
“I’m Maria, Dante’s one and only sister” She says pulling me into a tight hug, her perfume strong and flowery.
“You’re so beautiful!” she gushed, holding my shoulders. “Dante is lucky p>
I forced a smile but my mind was still on Angelo. Why was he here? Did my father invite him?
No it couldn’t be, the last thing Ricardo Melendez would to is invite a minor into his affairs.
Maria kept talking but I wasn’t listening over her shoulder, I searched the crowd for Angelo again.
But he was gone.
Just like that.
Vanished.
Like he was never there at all.
Maria dragged me toward the reception hall, still chattering excitedly.
But all I could think was
Was Karma finally getting to me?