“And you think I have the ability to do that?”
Francesca sniffs like I insulted her. “You just said you’re a woman. A woman can make her own choices. So leave. Don’t marry my nephew. If you do, I’ll make life horrible for you.”
I stare at this woman I’ve just met, unable to believe anything she’s saying. It’s too ridiculous. “You’re insane, you know that?”
She gasps, clutching at her chest. “What?”
“You’re insane. I can’t just leave. It would mean war between our families. I have to marry Enzo. I don’t want this any more than you do but I have to do it.”
“A war is not a concern to me.”
“Get out,” I snap. “I have to get ready for my wedding.”
“Yes, you should. And change that hideous dress. Come along, Gianna.” Francesca storms out of the room while Gianna hesitates, looking at me uncertainly before following her aunt out of the room.
I slump onto the chair before the vanity table, not even caring if it wrinkles my dress.That’sthe family I have to marry into? Francesca is horrible enough to make me want to run away from this wedding.
I clench my hands around the side of the chair. No. I can’t leave. It would mean war. It would mean Maksim could get hurt again. Natasha could be kidnapped again. I can’t risk my family’s safety.
I have to go through with this wedding.
I stand beside my father at the doorway that leads to the outside garden where Enzo and I will be married.
“Am I in trouble?” I whisper.
He clutches my arm with his hand. “I don’t know, my darling. I just have to hope that Enzo will treat you right.” But he doesn’t have any hope. I can tell by his tone.
The door opens and we step outside into the garden. Our guests are here – over a hundred of them. Between both the Bratva and the Mafia, a lot of people wanted to witness this union.
Enzo stands at the end of the aisle with a smirk on his face like he knows something I don’t know.
My feet falter and I can tell he notices. I have to be strong otherwise Enzo is going to overtake me.
His eyes lower down to my dress and a scowl crosses his face. He doesn’t like that I disobeyed him but I don’t care. I am going to wear the dress I want on my wedding day.
When I reach the end of the aisle, it’s time to let my father go but I can’t unclasp my hand from his arm. The air grows awkward. Everyone can tell this isn’t what I want.
My father has to wrench my hand from his arm and hand it over to Enzo. The moment Enzo wraps his hand around mine, I know this is my fate. There’s no going back now.
My eyes find Francesca’s in the audience and the scowl on her face tells me she is not happy about this.
Enzo’s own look is hard to read. It’s dark and dangerous but there’s a tiny bit of light there.
The officiant – a priest my father had to bribe to do this wedding without asking any questions – begins the ceremony.
When the time comes to say our vows, I’m not sure I can speak.
“Do you, Enzo Bianchi, take this woman, Kira Petrov, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Enzo is quiet for a moment. Is it to make me squirm? Because if so, it’s working.
And then he finally speaks. “I do.” His deep voice rings throughout the air. It’s a voice that any woman would love. The only problem is: I hate him.
“And do you, Kira Petrov, take this man, Enzo Bianchi, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
All I want to do is run but I plant my feet. I have to do my duty. I have to keep a war from happening. I have to be the sacrifice for peace to exist.
I’ve never been selfless before in my entire life. I guess now is the time.