A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 5

Gia's POV-

The last time I had visited this church, I didn’t know it’d be years before I’d be back. I used to visit as often as I could, mourning my parents’ loss, but then it all had to stop. I had tried many times to gather the courage and ask my uncle to resume my church visits, but I never could speak my mind to him.

Today, I was here though. After years and fidgeting behind the closed doors with my uncle beside me. I sensed he was restless, almost holding himself back from bouncing on his feet at the prospect of finally getting rid of me. I had already rubbed the sweat off my palms numerous times and yet I could feel them get clammy. There were so many things to fret about. The people around me, my expressions, my words, and the man I was going to wed.

“Look casual, Gia.” My uncle said just as the doors started retreating into the shadows, exposing me. So I stayed calm, even when I lost my balance on the very first step I took. The music resonated in my ears and I didn’t even dare wager a glance around me. I just walked, my back ramrod stiff as if that would hide its nakedness. It wasn’t until my uncle placed my hand in Dino’s did I lift my head for the first time. My hands felt heavy even though he was the one holding our hands. They were warm and I suddenly felt conscious about my sticky palms. Instinctively, my eyes found his’ because he had already been looking at me which shouldn't have shocked me of course. I felt my shoulders twitch and adjust for the hundredth time as if that would be enough to conceal my back. He wore a black suit, his hair and beard set well, and eyes all icy. I wanted to know what he was thinking but my eyes could hold against his piercing gaze and I focused on the lapels of his undoubtedly extravagant suit.

Uncle and Dino didn’t exchange any words and the priest started his long sermon along with the vows which we both parroted. To say it was all very awkward would be an understatement. The people in the crowd couldn’t feel it the way I did. For them the silence probably symbolized reverence and significance- an acknowledgement of something truly paramount taking place. Standing here with Dino though, the pin-drop silence loudly resembled the hollowness of our relationship.

Dino’s voice didn’t give away his pleasure or the lack of it therefore. His voice sounded more business-like than earlier during our meeting when he had been thoughtful. Mine on the other hand, I was sure even the priest had to strain his ears to hear me.

“You may kiss the bride now.” I kept my eyes on the knot of his tie vehemently as his palm tenderly curled around my head while the other still held my hand, squeezing it in assurance. Slowly, he leaned in and placed a peck on my lips. Just a light peck, before stepping back and turning us to the crowd. My heart was still leaping as I licked my lips– a nervous habit to calm my nerves which betrayed me today because my mind went back to Dino lips probably still lingering there. The priest announced us, man and wife, and soon enough we started receiving congratulations from everyone around us. Vito and Marco stood beside Dino, while Riccardo and Aldo stood beside me. But unlike Vito, who was constantly keeping his brothers company, Riccardo and Aldo stood there like it was just another assignment for them.

People came with smiles dripping of sneers, eyes filled with disgust and poisonous words of prosperity.

“People out there be calling us ruthless bastards for no reason, Dino. Look at you, so generous, ha?” That was Tommaso Grasso. A diabolical man with a funny name who suggested Dino generosity for

marrying a charity case aka me.

“You know you are invincible when even your own can’t fathom your actions,” another had laughed. I couldn’t even look anyone in the eyes with my flaming cheeks. Everyone I looked at was looking at Dino anyway. My shoulder blades were starting to ache with how much I was working them out and my neck was starting to burn with how much I was looking behind me, inspecting if anyone was glimpsing at my back. But suddenly, as the last guest, Dino's uncle slipped before us.

“I hope you both have a good future together,” he nodded at us.

“The sweetest marriage blessing ever. Tell me uncle, how many hours did it take to come up with that powerful speech,” Vittorio snickered, but ignoring him, he turned to Dino and informed about the car waiting to take us back home was ready. Just as he did, two hands came around my waist. One of Dino’s and the other of Riccardo’s. My head snapped to the floor, so I didn’t know what passed between them, but I knew whose hand stayed around me. Dino ushered us both outside and toward our car. A limousine.

Vito patted the driver's back, “Drive safe, yes?”

“Been with this car for years now, sir. She knows me.” The driver replied curtly. I got inside as the driver held the door open for me and finally reclined against the seat. I could feel my back unwinding from all the ache. Dino got in right after me and I straightened up again. He started adjusting the hem of my dress and I pulled it to me even more, fearing it was bothering him. The driver slid in next and adjusting his seat, he roared the engine to life. Dino pulled up the wall, separating us from the driver, and pulled out his phone instead.

“We might have a problem.” His words caught my attention. “I don’t know what it is, but be alert and get inside your cars. Also, drive them yourself,” he said on the phone before replacing it with his gun. Quickly and swiftly he moved. My breath hitched when he caged me between his arms only to roll over to the other end of the seat, the one against the wall separating us from the driver. I could feel trepidation along my back but for a very different reason now. We were in danger and we hadn’t identified it yet. As if feeling my distress, Dino looked at me suddenly and shook his head slightly, telling me that I shouldn’t worry. But how could I not? He had a gun in his hand and we were sitting in a moving car.

Dino pressed the button again and pointed his gun at the man just as the wall went down. “Who are you?”

“Sir—” The man pressed the brakes.

“Who are you?” Dino asked again and, as if something snapped in the man, he moved fast, but Dino was faster. He pressed his gun right at his head.

“f**k off!” No more doubts. This man was bad news.

“If you tell me now who sent you, I’ll kill you right now, just one bullet and it'll hit you before you could feel the pain. But if you don’t, I’ll get it out another way.” He would torture him. I knew.

“You are gonna kill me either way,” he scoffed but Dino pressed the gun harder before stressing his words, “That goes without saying. But you haven’t caused me any harm yet, so you still get to choose. Now speak.” When the driver hesitated, I saw Dino’s finger twitch against the trigger. I didn’t think he would say his Boss’s name. Loyalty was above everything for these men. Suddenly, two more cars came around us and I saw Vito armed in one of them. At least we weren’t alone. But what if there were more men? “My men are a second away from dragging you away and getting the answers out of you.”

“I’ll tell you.” My ears strained. “Pavel Volkov is my Boss. He sent me after you.”

“Are there any more men?”

“No, he wanted to be discreet.”

“And yet he failed,” Dino said before pressing the trigger. Blood splashed on his face and he closed his eyes for a second before calmly turning away from the now-dead man. “Everything is okay now.” No, it wasn’t. He couldn’t be safe from death threats even on the day of his marriage, but then again, today was just another day for him. Dino slid out of the car and I didn’t know what to do.

“You okay there, Gia?” Riccardo slid in instead and my eyes moved to Dino instantly. Riccardo tsked, looking at the man in the front seat. “And it only gets worse. Did you think marrying Dino would bring you peace?” He pulled me in a hug. “It’d only bring you more anxiety, Gia. Enemies will come after you to get to him. And Dino will protect you, sure, but not because he loves you,” he said, looking down at me. “He’d do it because he will be expected to. Because if the enemies got you, people will question his capability to take care of the empire. But me, Gia? I have always protected you because I wanted to. Not because of what people expected from me but because I wanted to.” I bit my tongue, halting the tears at bay. “And you must always remember that, huh?”