CHAPTER FOUR

>ISOLDE'S POV

>>THE WEDDING HALL

My future had been set in stone.

This was what I thought as I adjusted my veil, my fingers trembling slightly.

I went to stand in front of the mirror with my eyes glued to the woman that stared back at me.

The wedding gown that hugged my body was made of expensive white lace.

"I can't believe this is happening," I whispered to no one.

Everything had happened so fast.

The wedding was planned in a blur.

One minute, Leonardo was telling me about the proposal, and the next minute I was being fitted for gowns.

There had been no space for me to think, no time for me to run.

There had only been orders, from Leonardo, and silence from the simmering Martins.

And Vincenzo?

I hadn't set eyes on him, not once.

I was about to get married to a man whose name brought deep fear, carried power and the whispered stories in the tabloid.

The gossip news told us enough of how ruthless he is, a killer.

His presence always seemed to tilt the city to it’s core.

I stared harder at her reflection.

"What if I can't survive this?" I asked myself with a sigh, fluttering my false lashes.

It was a soft knock on the door that pulled me from my thoughts.

I turned to see the chief's bridesmaid standing in the doorway.

She’s a woman I barely knew.

I had only needed a dress, and Vincenzo had taken care of the rest.

It made me believe that this Mafia Capo was intent on getting married to me.

But why?

"Miss Moretti, it's time," she informed me. I nodded and followed her out of the room.

My heart was pounding with each step that I took, bringimg me closer to him.

The wedding procession has started outside the door as they were waiting for me.

I joined the bridal train and my breath hitched when the wide double doors to the hall was thrown open.

There was silence.

I suddenly felt frozen, unable to walk as the intro song began playing.

The guests who had been sitting quietly all turned to look at me.

"The procession can begin," I vaguely heard the chief bridesmaid say behind me.

But, I couldn't get my feet to move.

I was stuck, and so was oxygen because it was not getting to me.

My body grew numb.

My head was woozy with a suffocating feeling that nearly smoothered me.

The bouquet in my hands fell to the floor as my eyes dimmed.

Everything became a blur.

I took two steps backwards, slightly staggering to the side.

Someone held unto me, pulling me forward to stand properly.

"Breathe, Isolde, Breathe

And then, I saw him, only him.

Vincenzo De Luca.

He stood before me, peering down with deep blue eyes and a sharp jawline.

"Breathe," he kept whispering, bringing me closer to his chest.

And for a moment, I felt safe.

My heart calmed and my heart beat slowly returned to normal.

"You panicked," he whispered.

I stared at him, stepping back.

The chief bridesmaid handed me the fallen bouquet and I took it.

He held out his hand and I placed mine in his, surprised at how warm it felt.

He escorted me to the altar while the scent of his cologne filled my nostrils.

The moment we reached the podium, the priest began.

He kept talking, his words floating through the air as I stood there staring at Vincenzo.

He was in a tailored black suit.

And even like this, he looked dangerously calm and in control.

"Do you, Isolde Moretti, take Vincenzo De Luca to be..."

I didn't allow him finish. "I do."

Vincenzo raised a brow at me.

"Do you, Vincenzo De Luca, take Isolde Moretti..."

"I do," he said, holding my gaze.

The smirk that graced his lips sent a warm tinge through my body and that surprised me.

"If anyone..." The priest carried on as the entire world vanished from my eyes.

All I could see was this Mafia Capo who was scrutinizing me with his piercing eyes.

My skin grew several centigrades under his heater gaze, wanting something.

"You may now kiss the bride," I heard the priest say as Vincenzo stepped closer.

He removed my veil and stared down at me for a tensed second or two.

I didn’t move.

I held my breath as he scanned my face.

My heart thudded in my chest as he wrapped his hands around my waist and easily drew me to him.

Then he leaned down and his lips brushed mine, soft and brief.

And in that moment, something sparked to life between us.

I felt it in the tension .

It was raw and primal, drawing.

He took my lips again and kissed me properly, a deep kiss that titillated all of my five senses.

Desire rushed through me.

He pulled away first, leaving me needy and breathless.

His eyes lingered on mine and I could clearly see the passion in his.

The crowd cheered politely behind us as he stepped back.

The reception followed shortly after with food, several toasts and a few dances.

It was cold and formal.

Later that night, after it was all over, we returned to his mansion in a black Audi.

The ride was silent.

I sat still beside him, staring out the window while trying not to think.

When we arrived, he showed me to his bedroom and said it was now mine.

And now, about an hour later, my heart was racing as I stepped out of the ensuite bathroom into the large bedroom.

I had changed into a silk nightgown which was a pale pink colour.

I was standing near the bed, drying my hair when the door opened.

Vincenzo walked in.

His eyes darkened as they landed on me, scanning me from head to toe.

I kept my back straight, trying not to tremble as he watched me.

He turned away, took off his jacket and placed it on the couch at the side.

I swallowed as I watched him loosen his tie and take off his shirt to expose his chest.

I gasped loudly and he stared at me.

"What?" he asked.

I said nothing, looking anywhere else but at him as my hands shook.

He took a step closer.

My eyes snapped to him as I shrinked back in fear of the unknown.

"Are you going to take me on our wedding night?" I asked, nervously moistening my lips. "We barely know each other!"

His eyes moved over my body and I could feel heat wash over me.

I swallowed, biting my lips.

"You speak a lot," he pointed out.

My heart wouldn't stop screaming in my chest as he stopped just in front of me.

My lips parted and I was unsure what to say.

But he spoke first.

"Let me make something clear. This marriage is not real."

I blinked, once, twice.

I should have felt only relief at that, but disappointment sneaked in.

"So what does that mean?" I asked, rubbing my wet fingers on my night gown.

"We will play the married couple only in public. But behind closed doors-" His voice fell to a whisper. "-We are nothing more than a deal. Understood?"

I nodded.

"I want nothing more to do with you," he said eyeing my gown once more.

A sharp sting instantly pricked my chest.

He turned away and went to bed.

He pulled back the sheets and slipped under them, unbothered.

And before I could say another word, he looked at me again.

"You are mine now, Isolde."

Then he closed his eyes.

I stood there, frozen in confusion.

He wanted nothing to do with me.

But, I guess I was to always remember that I belonged to him, the Mafia Capo.