Charlie's wide eyes were fixated on Nick. His words echoed in her mind, but she refused to believe what she had just heard. It couldn't be real.

"Are you insane?!" She couldn't hold it in anymore, yelling at the top of her lungs at him. But the moment she spoke, all his men suddenly pointed their guns at her, a cold look of cruelty in their eyes.

A knot of fear gripped her.

Nick raised a finger in command, and they all lowered their weapons. His eyes never left her, and then he chuckled, a low dark laugh that made her feel nauseous, "Rhia," he said, and her name on his lips made her feel a bit lightheaded, "It's best you cooperate with me. I'm not here to play games with you,"

A sharp stab of betrayal hit her. How could he? How could someone she's adored all her life be capable of such cold-blooded violence?

And now he was also trying to claim her. He had ruined this wedding... just to wed her!

Rhia's eyes burned with rage, while Nick's smirk grew.

This was just the beginning.

Nick sent a death glare at the pastor again, "I won't repeat myself again!"

The trembling pastor parted his lips and began talking again. He repeated every word he said when she and Lorenzo were standing there, and then he arrived at the part she dreaded the most.

"...do you...," The pastor paused, glancing carefully at Nick.

Nick understood, and said, "Nick,"

"do you, Nick, take Charlie Cesare to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I Do," He said flatly.

"And do you, Charlie Cesare, take Nick to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Charlie curled her fingers into a fist, clenching so hard her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were red from hurt and pain, and moments passed without a word from her.

Then, she heard the gun to her father's head click, and her breathing became even more erratic.

Nick stepped closer to her, his eyes boring into hers. A hand came up and touched her chin, forcing her to look directly at him and no one else.

A tremor ran through Rhia at his touch, and dread washed over her as a new kind of heat rushed through her body. It made her toes curl, and her knees weaken.

Unwanted attraction.

"Say it, Rhia," He urged wickedly, his face so close she could feel his hot breath fanning her face. His scent invaded her nostrils, and she sucked in something masculine, a deep scent of leather and Tobacco.

A tear slid down her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. For a second, she caught a new look in his eyes that softened the ice in his gaze as he watched the tear fall, but he disappeared as fast as it came.

"Say it!" He gripped her chin, his tone even more dangerous and filled with warning.

Rhia's lips parted against their will, and they shook with flying emotions as she finally uttered the dreadful words, "I...do,"

Nick smiled this time. A full-on triumph smile.

"By the Power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," The pastor continued shakily, "Y...you may now kiss your bride,"

Nick's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't thought about that part yet, and slowly, his gaze fell to her lips. They were heart-shaped and a very pretty pink like he remembered.

But they were also fuller, and desire rose within him.

Those lips were every man's dream come true. Staring at them made him wonder what they tasted like, and what they would feel like wrapped around his cock.

Fuck! He was already imagining it.

Quickly, Nick let go of her chin and stood straight once again. He took his eyes off her, his body language changing back to what it was before.

"Your Job is done here," He said to the pastor.

One of his men walked up to the pastor and dragged him away as he cried and pleaded for his life.

"Let my father go, now!" Rhia demanded, and this time she didn't flinch one bit when they all pointed their weapons at her again, "I've done as you asked, so let him go!"

"Let him go?" Nick shook his head in dismay, "That's not happening, Sweetheart,"

"Do you have to do this?" Her eyes pleaded softly.

His eyes flickered with realization, "You know nothing, do you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"About all this. About this kind of Business,"

"What about it? Just let my father go!"

"Sorry, sweetheart, but it doesn't work that way!"

His eyes moved to one of his men again, and everyone began to move. The rest of Thomas's men, who were still alive, were shot dead, and Rhia looked away from the haunting sight, the sound of the gunshots echoing in her head.

Then, the gun was lifted off her father's head and he was dragged away toward one of the Black cars.

Nick took hold of her arm, and she easily went this time. This whole time, she thought of kicking him off with her fighting skills but she was powerless at the moment.

She had to first make sure her father and brother were safe.

"What about Keith?" She looked back toward where they had left him, "Please, we need to go back for Keith,"

Nick didn't reply and they stopped beside one of the cars. He opened the backseat and flung her inside, and she glared at him.

"Keith Is your best friend, you can't just...!"

"He was my friend!" Nick exclaimed angrily, cutting her off as he also entered the car and slammed the door shut, "Now he means nothing to me!"

"That's why you shot him!" She gritted.

"If you don't shut up...,"

"What will you do?" She raged back with spite, "My brother is out there lying on the sand losing blood; who knows, maybe he's even dead now, and you expect me to be obedient? Sorry, but I don't submit that easily. It's either you let me go back and save my brother, or I'll kick your sorry ass right here and still go back for my brother,"

"Don't test my Patience, Rhia," His voice was cold, making her swallow.

This time, it wasn't just a simple warning. She felt like he was really going to do something terrible to her the next time she spoke.

But she remained too stubborn and didn't let the fear take over, "You're a heartless..."

Her furious words were cut short by the sudden, brutal efficiency of his movement. His hand, like a steel trap, rose, in a controlled, precise strike to her jaw.

There was no pain, only a dizzying shock and a sudden, blinding flash of white behind her eyes. The world spun, then dissolved into absolute darkness as she crumpled against the headrest.