Claimed ruthlessly

Chapter - 4 Maeve

I stared at my dad dumbfounded.

What does he mean by I'm getting married to Rhys Luciano?

"A-are you serious?" I stuttered, as I stared at him with glassy eyes, which were filled with unshed tears.

Not being able to look me in the eyes, he turned around.

"Rhys Luciano as in the devil?" I asked him. Feeling both betrayed and angry about his sudden decision.

"Yes" he answers and finally turns to look at me.

" I just want you to be safe" he muttered.

In the morning

I woke up to a slight knock on my door.

I rubbed my palms over my eyes to force them open, but failed.

I groaned.

Why does it feel so.....sticky?

"Are you awake, Mae?" A faint feminine voice drifts through the door.

It takes me a minute to realize that it's my mom, outside my bedroom door.

I immediately jumped out of bed and rushed towards the door.

I opened it so swiftly that my mom flinched.

"Oh my!" She gasped, looking at the mess in front of her.

Eyes roaming from head to toe with an uneasy expression.

I don't blame her, I went to sleep crying.

I can't imagine how awful I look right now.

But I know I look like a complete mess.

I sighed. "Does it look that bad?" I asked my mom, who still had wide eyes and parted mouth.

She immediately fixed her face and gave me a nervous smile.

"It just needs a little help," she muttered.

I know she's lying. I mean which parent wouldn't make her child feel better.

I just noticed that she looked...dressed up. My eyes travel to the midnight blue satin cloth in her hand.

Her eyes followed mine and she immediately beamed.

"Oh! I got you a dress!" She exclaimed excitedly, waving the dress in front of my face.

I just noticed her appearance. She looks radiant, this early in the morning.

Looks like she heard about it last night. I am not surprised. She did come home early and upset. It's not every day that your mom comes home early and is tense, for no reason. She was aware of it last night, when she came home early. She was aware of it when I was helping her prepare dinner last night. She knew everything, even when we spent time last night. She knew that I would be against it, so she tried to make me happy.

Still, I couldn't help but ask her. " Mom, did you know about the arrangement?"

Her face suddenly changed to an expression that was filled with sorrow and guilt.

Her face already gave all the answer I needed, still I was waiting for her to answer.

Now that I look closely, she has puffy cheeks that are blazing, glazed eyes, and dark circles under her eyes.

I can make out her baggy eyes even with her professional makeup skills.

It doesn't take a genius that she had been crying. And definitely did not get enough sleep.

"We didn't know what to do" she admitted.

"So, you arranged me for a marriage with someone I don't even know." I asked, feeling the ugly emotions that are beginning to form in my mind.

"We didn't have a choice", her voice broke when she spoke.

"Sure" I said, not wanting to believe her. Even though that is the truth.

She averted her eyes downward. Mom looked like she would be shattered any minute now.

So, I changed the topic to remove the tension from the air.

"How about I try on this dress?" I asked. Pretending to be excited.

She looked at me and smiled at me gratefully.

I turned around. Not only to avoid her eyes, so she could not see the tears that were forming in my eyes.

"Safe!?" I yelled furiously.

I don't even want to imagine what I look like. Wide eyes, cheeks red and panting.

God, I must look awful.

"You're handing me into the hands of the devil to act as my guardian." I screamed, trying to ignore the tears that were streaming down my cheeks.

He flinched at my tone and his eyes filled with guilt.

"I know it's a lot to take in, dear, but I need you to understand that it's for your own safety." He reasons.

"What do you mean by 'my own safety?' " I asked, seething in anger.

He sighs and stands. He walks over to a cupboard, opens the front drawer and takes out a piece of paper and some documents.

I am terribly confused.

" This is Laeve Vittale," he says, handing me a picture of a pretty black - haired guy. I blinked, trying to look at his picture, but failed because of tears in my eyes.

I stared at the picture in confusion.

Dad must have seen it, because he continues.

"He wants our family fortune and the only way he'll attain it is to -"

"Marry me". I finished it for him.

"Yes" he says, his voice heavy with emotions.

I can see worry growing in my eyes.

I dropped the photo I was holding, preparing to scream at him. To tell him how much I hate being used and thrown away like a scraped doll.

Used like a scraped doll that has no use anymore. I wanted to....until I saw his face, filled with guilt, sorrow and regret.

I may hate my dad at this moment, but I love him.

"Why can't you protect me?" I ask, trying to ignore the acid that's building inside me.

"They - " he cuts himself off as he sighs and turns around.

He closes his eyes tightly to not let any tears out of the soft shell.

It breaks my heart seeing my dad like this. He was always lively and cheerful, at least around us.

But now he's trying so hard not to cry...for my sake. Still, it was him who took that decision before asking me about my opinion.

He's arranged a marriage for me with someone I don't even know.

Someone who is known as the devil.

I've heard he kills people without hesitation.

I've heard he's a ruthless piece of s**t, who never abides by anyone's law.

He likes being that way, according to the rumors. That's what I've heard.

Dad turned around to look at me, while I was recollecting the small piece of information I had on Rhys.

"I am sorry, mi amor", he said with regret.

I don't know what to say. I know he's only making this decision to keep me safe.

But this is not the best way.

As much as I want to scream at him and hurt him with words, but I can tell he's hurting.

I can see the remorse in his eyes. Does everyone know about this?

Does mom know?

I can't help but ask, "Does mom know?" I ask, my voice void with emotions.

"Yes"

I nod slowly. That explains why she came home upset.

I feel so numb.

"Who's this laeve vittale anyway?" I asked with anger in my tone.

"He's a man with connections." he says, nodding at the photo, lying on the floor.

"Both legal and illegal help," he adds.

"Illegal?" I question him.

he nods again.

"He has legal help from illegal gangs, mafias to be exact."

I process all this information.

"Lowe mafia gangs. Lower than Rhys's right?" I asked him, having no interest of talking about hm.

"Reapers" he corrected me, and added.

"They are the biggest empire in the world." He says and pauses as if debating in his head if he should let me know.

"If Rhys manages to marry you, he will be given access to the council," he said.

"Yes, I know" I said, annoyed.

He shakes his head and his eyes are filled with remorse.

I turned away, not wanting to look at his eyes.

Even though I don't like being a bargaining tool, even for my own safety, I can't stand to see him like that.

"When the biggest mafia empire and the most powerful enterprise emerge, through their heirs, they go through a ritual," he said.

"A ritual?" I asked, feeling worried all of a sudden. I turned towards him.

"A traditional one," he answered.

I narrowed my eyes at that sentence.

Traditional?.

Before I could think any further, he says "It's a ritual that has to be performed, compulsorily, after their vows."

"Why is it compulsory?" I asked him. Feeling more confused.

"It is like a pact between the mafia and the powerful empire, to conclude their heirs as the king and queen."

This is a lot to take in.

What happened to my life?

Why am I being forced to do something I don't even want to?

"Okay..." I resigned and reluctantly agreed.

His tensed body finally eased and relaxation crossed his face, as he smiled at me gratefully.

It's nice to see him smile once more. But this is too much for me.

I need to be alone for now.

"Can I get some sleep?" I asked. Wanting to wake up from this nightmare and start a carefree day.

"Of course, but we're meeting Rhys and his father tomorrow," he said.

"Alright". That was my only response before making my way to my bedroom.

I know we're out of choice, but does it have to be him?

Rhys Luciano? Of all people.

What if he's forced into this marriage like me?

What if he only marries me for the sake of the dowry and a seat on the council?

He earned his name as the devil himself. He must be ruthless, as they claim.

These questions haunt me until I'm trembling with fear.

I close my eyes and wait for sleep to approach.

It soon does after tossing and turning for nearly an hour.

I sleep like I haven't slept for days.