Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride

Sloane's Pov: SLAPH!! SPLASH!! SPLASH!! I ran as fast as my legs could go under the rain that wasn't cleansing in the kind you see in the movies. I could barely see the road ahead, but that didn't matter right now. I had to run for my life else I'll be held captive for the rest of my life. My hands were shivering as my fingers clung onto the small bag that I had taken in a hurry without thinking about anything else. I couldn't afford to stop now. I am the Ashford Heirsss…. Or should I say “was” but how did I get to this point?? ………….……..Flashback…………………. “SLOANE!” My father's voice cut through the silent hallway into my room. I had just woken up from what seemed like a really long slumber. I stood up abruptly, wondering what could possibly be the issue. He hadn't come back home yesterday, I had waited until I fell asleep only to be woken up by his deafening yells. Before I could process what was happening, the door to my room flung open, my father entered, terror visible in his eyes. He was shaking and breathless like he had just ran a marathon. “Slow down Dad,” I said, climbing out of my bed. I was already worried, because this is the first time I've seen my father this terrified. “Sweetie, I need your help,” he said without looking directly into my eyes. “What happened Dad? I…..” I couldn't complete the sentence when my dad grabbed my hands into it, I could feel the sweat in it, his hands was trembling “Please Sloane……. You have to help me…..” “Our family is in trouble…..” At this point, I was already scared. “Dad, you have to stop speaking in riddles so I can understand what you're trying to say.” “Where is it?!” He asked his eyes darting carefully around my room as if surveying a land. “Where's what?” I replied with my eyes following him? “The assets your mom left you and the key?” “What are you saying Papa?” I asked confused. “What assets and what key” “Tell me exactly what is going on here” I was already getting slightly pissed. “I’m in debt and if I can't pay in full in the next 30 minutes, our Ashford legacy will be no more.” He said panicking “What do you mean you are in debt Papa” “What about our family's fortune?” “Umm..” he started avoiding my eyes “I lost it at the…..err….casinos” he finally said “You did what?!” I let out a small whisper, audible for him to hear. “And if I can't pay he'll come and take you away.” “What do you mean by that?” My voice is a little shaky now. “I put you up as a collateral” I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I shook my hands away from him. I could feel the tears welling up. “How could you do that?” I finally let out a sound almost like a whisper. I still couldn't believe what my father had just said. “Mother had worked hard for years to get the Ashfords where we are today, and what have you been doing?” “Just to gamble everything away, even your daughter!!” I let out a bitter laugh as I moved towards my bed stand. I held the photo of my mom and I as the tears that have been gathering were released like water from the spring. I looked at my father, the anger visible in my eyes “Who is he?” He hesitated before answering “D…. Dante…. Moretti” Those words felt like thousands of arrows piercing right through my heart. “What?” I said in a shaky voice almost couldn't believe it I turned to look at the man before me, wondering if he was even my father. I haven't seen him before but I have heard of the stories, how ruthless, deadly and evil he was. A lot of thoughts were running through my mind. I finally mustered the courage to speak “No father, I will not marry him neither will I have anything to do with that monster” “You're the one in debt, not me. You cannot sell me to pay off your debt and…..” I was still speaking when I felt a grip on my arm. It was my father obviously, his grip was tight “You're going to marry him, whether you like it or not” He argued, we was no longer shaking or stuttering like he was earlier. “Or you hand over the assets and the key left to by your mother” I twisted my hands to loosen the grip on my hands. “I will not marry him,” I said looking directly into his eye “and you're not going to force me” “He loosened his grip on my arm and shot me a deadly look, walked outside and…. Click Before I knew it, he locked the door. I rushed toward it banging on the door but it was of no use. He had made his decision. I just realized the weight of what my father had said and if he wasn't bluffing then Dante Moretti will be here soon. “No….no.. no…” I whispered tears flowing from my eyes. I can't be held captive because of some stupid debt. I searched my room frantically like a desperate lioness, I needed to think fast…… act fast…. It's either now or never….. I walked towards the window, it was pretty high but my life is at stake here. I searched the room for what to use as a rope, I grabbed my blanket and another one, tying them together tightly I moved to my wardrobe, quickly changed from my night wear to a black jeans, blue top and a leather black jacket. I didn't have time to think properly. I just grabbed whatever my hands could find. I put on my boots, rushed to my bedstand, and took the photo of my mom, and other personal stuff inside my black bag, I hadn't had time to process anything. I threw the blanket down the window and climbed down carefully so as not to alert the guards. I had to jump down because the blanket wasn't long enough I landed with a sharp pain piercing through my ribs. I didn't have time to stop, to think about it, I had to run…… Far away….. from my father And most importantly……. From Dante Moretti….. the Devil I sneaked out through the back gate and fled into the woods ……………..End of flashback…………… I had been running for hours. It was already night, and the rain was falling with a great force as though stopping me from escaping. That was the least of my worries. I was already out of breath, I hadn't eaten anything before running away. My legs were on the verge of stopping, but I had to……. The highway was empty. Cars were moving at high speeds. I had reached the city far from the Ashford Residence I had to look for somewhere safe to stay before breathing a sigh of relief. I was about to cross the highway when suddenly a black SUV stopped right in front of me….. It was armored, blacker than the night, with tinted glass. It was quiet, too quiet… Then the window slid down just an inch…… I caught the glint of his eyes…….. Charcoal-black and completely void of anything resembling mercy. “No..” The words came out as barely a whisper. “Get in” His voice didn't just command, it vibrated in the pit of my stomach. It was smooth, like top-shelf bourbon, but it had that sharp, jagged edge that warned you it could draw blood if you breathed wrong. My legs were frozen on the spot, I tried to run, But my body wasn't cooperating with my mind. I could feel hot tears streaming down my eyes.. “How did he find me,” I asked myself, though not expecting any answer. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I snapped, my voice shook, but the fire in my gut was finally starting to burn through the shock. “My father's debts are not mine to pay” “I refuse to be used as a collateral” The door swung open, and the air seemed to drop ten degrees. Dante Moretti stepped out, looking like a god of war in a three-piece suit that probably cost more than my entire four-year tuition. He was a mountain of a man. Every inch of him screamed power, right down to the thin, jagged scar cutting a line from his ear to his chin. He wasn't just some billionaire…… He was a Don. I mustered everything in me and finally, I started running again. I could still feel the rain on my skin. I had barely started running when I felt his grip on my hands. His hands were rough, like they had seen years of violence. “Let me go” I shouted, my lungs were burning. "Your father didn't just owe me cash, Sloane." He stepped into my space, close enough that I was breathing in cedarwood, expensive tobacco, and something metallic …. like gunpowder. He reached out, his gloved fingers catching a wet strand of my hair. He didn't pull, but the way he held it... it was a leash. "He owed me a life. And since he’s a coward who can’t show his face..." His eyes darkened. "I’ll take the next best thing.” He turned towards the SUV, with a wave of his hands, a man appeared in black suit “Yes boss” he said looking down. He stretched out his hands and the man handed him a white clean handkerchief “Since you're not willing to cooperate, then I'll have to use force” “What are you doing…….” He placed the handkerchief on my nose and the sharp chemical scent hit me instantly. I tried to scream, but the sound barely escaped my lips. My vision was getting blurred. My mind was racing with thousands of thoughts I couldn't let this happen, before I could resist any further, I was lifted and placed on a broad shoulder, I could barely see anything. My hands were numb. I couldn't do anything……. It was over I felt hot tears rolling down my cheeks as I was taken away by the Devil………