OWNED BY THE DON

~JEMMA~ The last time I wore white, it was to bury my stepsister. But today, I was wearing it to marry the most dangerous man on earth. ROMAN MORETTI. The most feared and ruthless mafia Don. A man who now owned me. A man who would destroy me and my family if this wedding didn’t hold. And now here I was being dressed up in an extremely tight wedding dress and heavily guarded like I was some prisoner. I had never even seen Roman pictures but I sure had heard a lot about him. He was feared and known for his ruthlessness. He was someone whose name was never written in small letters. Yeah, his name was always written in capital letters. And just the mention of his name made people shudder in fear. “Can you men just f*****g give us some privacy so she can be comfortable while dressing up?” Valentina, my best friend, lashed out at Roman’s men in frustration. “It’s fine, Val. Really. This is my fate. I have accepted it.” I smiled sadly and she scoffed in annoyance. “I’m so pissed at everything and everyone right now. You don’t deserve all this at all. First, your stepmother and stepbrother hit you all the time. I mean look at all these bruises on your face right now. Does your Dad want to tell me he doesn't see or notice this?” Valentina complains. And then gasps dramatically. “Oh, except he's the one trading you off to the world's most dangerous man,” She yelled, her breath coming out rapidly as her chest rose and fell. “Valentina. Seriously you're not helping,” I told her and she sighed and hugged me. I loved my Dad regardless of everything. Even though he never treated me like I mattered and blamed me for my Mom’s death. But I still loved him. My mom died when I was 3 years old. I didn't know exactly how I caused her death because my Dad never told me no matter how many times I asked him. I hated my Dad for being so cruel as to give me away to ROMAN MORETTI of all people. The man who killed my own mother. When he first told me about my arranged marriage with Roman, I complained and objected. I begged him to call off the arrangement. Then he said, “You were never meant for anything else since you caused your own stepsister's death. Be grateful I even kept you this long.” Tears began welling up in my eyes but I pushed them back because today was my wedding day. Even though I was being forced to do this, it was still a big day for me. Valentina began my make up. By the time she was done, my face looked perfectly clean. “You look beautiful as always, Jemma,” Valentina smiled as she looked at my reflection in the mirror. “Thanks,” I sniffled back the tears threatening to fall. In a world where no one loved me, I still had her. But I knew I wouldn't be able to see her after today. Roman wouldn't allow that because I was after all going to be his prisoner. “It’s time for the wedding,” One of Roman’s men stepped forward and announced. I turned to Valentina with a sad smile and told her that I would keep in touch with her on the phone if I was going to be allowed to. The men held my arms and literally dragged me into the chapel just because I requested time to hug Valentina goodbye. The dressing room I was dragged out of was just in front of the chapel. I asked the men to let go of me so that I could walk on my own but they acted like they didn’t hear me. When we arrived in front of the entrance door, one of the men opened the door and they dragged me inside the chapel. When we got in, Roman, my groom had his back to us but when he heard the chapel doors open, he turned to us and my breath hitched. No one ever saw Roman’s pictures. Hell, people even feared to say his name. So forgive me, but my jaw dropped when I saw him. He looked like sin, dressed in a black suit. Not just that, this man was the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on. His pointy nose, his intense grey eyes were captivating and a cigarette hung out of his lips. He had long dark hair tied back into a neat man-bun, showing off his sharp jawline and perfectly trimmed beard. And the small dark mole below close to his cheek? It was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. Gosh, this man was beautiful. Tattoos of black roses and skulls covered his neck and hands. Everything about him, ranging from his serious face to his strong build, screamed danger, power, and control. Of all things, I never expected Roman to be this handsome. I shook the thought away and focused back on my hatred for him. “Get your f*****g hands off my bride,” Roman said in a calm but menacing way that sent shivers of fear down my spine. He spoke calmly yet the two men holding me flinched in fear and abruptly let go of me as though my touch burned them. “Both of you, come here,” He gestured to his men who scurried over to him immediately. I knew that was my chance to run away, leave the city, and go into hiding but I was too scared too. Roman had this domineering and commanding aura that didn't let me move an inch from where I stood. He had a stoic look on his face and I began to wonder if he ever smiled. I looked around the empty chapel and that was when I noticed my family was there. At the moment my eyes locked with my Dad’s, he smirked. He f*****g smirked and I knew he was happy that he would finally be rid of me. I exhaled and began walking according to the rhythm of the wedding song. When I reached the altar, Roman turned me around as though he was inspecting me. I was terrified of him, he had this deadly and dangerous aura that I felt more now that I was standing close to him. The priest made us say our vows and Roman still had a stoic look while saying his, while his eyes fixated on me as though I would disappear if he looked away. When I was asked if I took Roman to be my lawfully wedded husband, I hesitated and turned to look at my family and they all glared at me, especially my step-brother, Rocco. The priest asked again but I didn't answer and then one of Roman’s men came to me. “Say the f*****g words,” The dude said while holding my jaw and the next thing I heard was a gunshot and blood splattering on my face. I flinched and froze where I stood as blood dripped down my jaw and my wedding dress, stained with blood. The moment the dude dropped to the floor, I saw Roman retracting his gun. He just killed a man on an Altar of God. He was truly the monster people said he was. A psychopath. “That’s what you get for touching what’s mine,” He spat coldly. Then he turned to his other men. “Seems like you all need some reminding. Spread the word to the rest.” Then he pointed at me. “Touch her and you die,” His face hardened. “I… I do,” I said to the priest who also looked as terrified as I was. “Don, you may kiss your bride,” The priest said almost in a whisper as he shuddered in fear. Roman grabbed my waist, pulling me closer, and then began leaning forward to kiss me. I held my breath and closed my eyes, this was gonna be my first kiss. Even though I never imagined it to be with a killer, I had no choice but to give in. But instead of feeling his lips on mine, I felt his lips close to my ears. “There is no escaping me, Amore. You’re mine and you’re going to be my plaything,” He whispered in a low and deadly voice. “You run, you die.”