Blood stained vow

ChapterSix

Sienna’s POV

By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, Luca was gone, good.

I needed space. Space to breathe, to gather myself, to plan.

I dressed quickly, choosing a simple blouse and fitted pants. Nothing too formal, nothing too casual. It wasn’t that I cared about appearances, but today, I was going to have to play a part.

A part I wasn’t sure I was ready to take on.

The weight of the situation pressed on my chest, but I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to let fear control me not now. Not in his world.

I moved quickly down the hallway, instinctively aware of the silent eyes tracking my every step. His men were always here. Silent shadows lurking in the background, watching, waiting.

I didn’t acknowledge them. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

I made my way downstairs, the sound of my heels clicking against the marble floors filling the empty space. The mansion felt cold, the high ceilings too vast, and the walls too silent. Every inch of this house screamed power Luca’s power and I couldn’t ignore it, no matter how much I wanted to.

The dining room was already filled with the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm bread. I didn’t feel hungry, but my body craved something, anything to ground me in this strange, suffocating reality.

Luca was seated at the head of the table, as always. His dark eyes followed me as I walked in, an almost predatory gleam there. His presence was all-encompassing, he commanded attention without even trying. And still, I fought the urge to shrink under his gaze.

Morning, moglie mia, he said, his voice smooth and full of dark amusement.

I froze, Moglie mia his wife. The words sent a chill through me. I hated hearing it.

Don’t call me that, I bit out, my voice laced with the venom I had to keep in check.

He smirked, unbothered by my words. It’s what you are, isn’t it?

My nails dug into my palms. I wasn’t sure if it was the anger that surged through me or the need to feel something other than suffocating fear. I’m only what you made me.

Luca’s expression didn’t change, but his gaze darkened. What I made you? he repeated, leaning back slightly in his chair, the words rolling off his tongue like a challenge. No, Sienna. You chose this. You agreed to marry me. No one forced you.

I felt my blood run cold. He was right, in a way. No one had forced me, my father had just given me to him as though I were a prize, a token in a game of power. But Luca didn’t see me as a choice. I was a pawn. A possession.

I poured myself a cup of coffee, my hands steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. I didn’t agree to this, I muttered, more to myself than to him. You don’t get to claim me.

He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table, his eyes never leaving mine. You’re right about one thing, he said softly, a dark edge to his voice. You didn’t agree to it. But you will learn to live with it.

My pulse quickened, but I refused to let him see how deeply his words cut. I had to hold on. I had to survive this.

You have somewhere to be today, he continued, his voice calm but commanding. Your father expects you to visit.

The words hit me like a blow. I froze, the cup in my hand suddenly feeling too heavy. My father. Alessandro Alejandro the man who had sold me to Luca without a second thought.

I forced myself to breathe, to hold onto the façade I had created. I couldn’t let him see the chaos his mention of my father caused me. I couldn’t show him how much it rattled me.

I lifted the cup to my lips, trying to steady my voice. And you expect me to go willingly?

Luca’s lips twisted into a smile, but it wasn’t a smile of warmth, it was dark, mocking. It’s not a request, Sienna. You will see him. And you will act like the loyal wife you claim not to be.

I fought the urge to lash out, to scream, to let everything inside me shatter and explode. But I couldn’t. I had to play the game. I had no choice.

I set the cup down, forcing a smile. It wasn’t a real one, but I could fake it. I had to. And if I refuse?

His smirk deepened, the flicker of amusement never leaving his eyes. Then I’ll drag you there myself.

The words were a promise, not an empty threat.

My heart skipped a beat, the tension in the room thickening. I knew Luca didn’t make idle threats. He was a man who got what he wanted. Always.

I swallowed hard. “Fine,” I said, my voice as cold as I could make it. But don’t expect me to play happy family.

Luca chuckled, low and rich, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. Oh, dolcezza, I expect a performance. His gaze sharpened. And you won’t disappoint me.

I stood up from the table, the chair scraping slightly against the marble floor. I wasn’t sure if it was the anger that fueled me or the sense of dread swirling deep inside me, but I turned and walked out of the room, not sparing Luca another glance.

I didn’t want to be anywhere near him right now.

Luca’s POV

I could feel the tension in the air even after she left.

Sienna was a contradiction wrapped in fire. She fought against everything I did, everything I was but there was something about that fight that excited me.

Her defiance was everything I craved.

But it also meant I had to break her down. I couldn’t let her get too comfortable in her own skin. She needed to know her place, under me.

But I’d never break her completely. I wanted her submission, yes, but I didn’t want her to lose herself in the process.

It wasn’t just about control. It about her choosing me.

As I watched her walk out of the dining room, my smirk faded slightly. She was walking to war, ready to fight at every turn, but she didn’t know yet she was already in my world.

Dante entered the room, his usual knowing look in place. The car’s ready, he said, glancing at the door where Sienna had just exited.

I nodded, pushing myself out of my seat. I’ll be there in a minute.

Dante hesitated, but then he spoke. You really think she’ll go with you quietly?

I gave him a brief glance before answering. She doesn’t have a choice. It wasn’t a threat. It was the truth.

Sienna was mine. And today, she’d see it.

I walked to the door, feeling a strange sense of anticipation. The games were only beginning.