MAEVE’S POV

“Are you sure you know what you are doing?” Rocco asks as I run my sweaty palms over the white wedding gown.

“Not the slight clue,” I confess. I am so nervous, and I can feel my heart pounding. My brain keeps asking me if it would be wise to throw my life away for this quest when I can pursue fashion school now without any issues. “I have to do this for Isabella. My father’s documents are in his house, and I need to get my hands on them.”

Rocco nods and pats my shoulder. “I understand everything, Maeve, but think twice. Kaiden is a rock you can’t break.”

I sigh and turn to look at him. “And I am an unwavering tumbalance. I will not back down until Kaiden falls to his knees.”

Reminding myself of the million reasons why I need Kaiden erased from the Mafia world, I walk down the aisle alone while Rocco goes to run an errand. According to him, it would be best if Kaiden never met him since he might recognize him. It makes no sense to me, but I don't push it.

“You may kiss the bride.” The priest says after minutes of reciting the vows word for word. Things I know that I can never say truthfully.

Love him till the end of the earth?

Wasn’t that absurd?

I catch the mischief in his eyes as he leans in.

“Don’t you even dare?” I mouth and shoot him an angry gaze. He smiles with his hands in his pockets and turns to the priest.

“Skip that. My bride here can be shy at times. I hope she overcomes it in the bedroom tonight.” He jokes, and the crowd erupts in laughter.

Yes, you read right, about fifty strangers are sitting in this church, watching me marry the man I despise the most. I want to believe he doesn't know them on one.

“In your dreams, Sucker.” I let out, gnashing my teeth, and he leaned into me, his scent filling my nostrils.

“Maybe you need to loosen up a bit, dear Maeve. You need to watch shows on what marriage entails. By the way, I still don’t understand why you begged me to marry you if you will act so hard to get.” He teases, and I roll my eyes.

“Did you hire them?” I ask as we walk down the aisle, drifting the conversation somewhere else, and he shakes his head.

“They are the families of my loyal men. Why? They bother you?” He asks, and I shake my head.

“Just curious.” I bit my lip. My body can’t stop reacting to him holding my hand, and I know it’s because I don't get this close to men. The closest I have gotten is an online chat.

WeirdDevil321.

His username goes off in my head, and two years later, I realize how stupid it is to have planned my life with my online boyfriend. To have tried to elope with him because he had a music dream to achieve too. And in the end, it cost me everything because WeirdDevil never showed up.

“How long more do you have to hold my hand?” I ask and watch him pause, and his face has no expression.

“You are my wife now, Maeve. Your body belongs to me.” He says mockingly, and I scoff, then snatch my hand, which he holds tightly.

“Let me go, or you will not like what I will do to you.” I send him a cold glare, but instead, a smile parts his small lips.

“You look so cute when you are angry. It makes me want to lean in and kiss you.” He says, and I feel my heart flutter. Redness tries to seep into my cheek before I shake them off.

His words, Maeve, shouldn’t move you. You have to hate him till the end of the earth.

I remind myself.

“Keep dreaming.” in my hand, I step away as I search for his car, but it’s nowhere to be found.

“Looking for someone?” I hear him ask, but I ignore him until he steps closer. “Need a lift?” He asks.

Rolling my eyes in frustration, I turn to look at him. “I’m not some distressed lady in need of a charming prince. I can find my way home.”

He pauses for a while, doing his thinking again. “Fine. I will let you do what you want. Ensure you get home in an hour. Grandfather is coming over. He doesn't like to wait.” With this, he gets in his car and drives off.

I stay there, puzzled as to why we are meeting the once ruthless Capo. I run my fingers through my hair before dialing Rocco’s number. It keeps ringing, but he never picks. Finally, I wave down a cab and drag myself in with the heavy gown. I still didn't understand the concept behind ball gowns when all it cost was discomfort.

Stopping by the rental mall, I remove the gown and change into my regular clothes. I had rented it for just an hour, and luckily, I still had thirty minutes before the expiration, which meant they could refund part. Taking the refund, I walk out and head to another shop. The number one rule of surviving in this den I just stepped in is to make the older man like me.

Minutes later, I am dressed in a Blue gown that hangs on my curves perfectly and ready to see him. I easily get into his Mansion, and I catch voices as they converse and laugh. My anger rises like a volcano, and my eyes sting with tears. This should have been us, but no, Kaiden snatched that away from me.

“She is here,” Kaiden announces, smiling, and my eyes dart from him to his Grandfather and, lastly, the man sitting beside him.

Rocco! Why is Rocco here?

“Maeve, I believe you have met my brother, Leonardo.” He says, and my hands freeze. Cold runs through my spine as I hope that I heard wrong.