The Mafia King’s Bride

Chapter 5

Elena’s P.O.V

“Three years?” I repeat, the words barely leaving my lips.

The room is spinning. Three years. The number echoes in my head, louder than the music playing in the background.

I had been promised to this man for three years, and I knew nothing about it. It’s like I didn't even matter; whether I wanted the marriage or not was irrelevant.

“How? How is that even possible?” I ask, my voice catching my throat. I look up at him and notice he still has that calculated expression on his face, and it just makes my blood boil.

“Did my father plan this from the beginning? Was I just… part of a deal? I ask, pressing for answers.

“It’s not that simple,” he replies.

“Then explain it to me,” I snap.

“I can’t, not yet.”

“What do you mean you can’t? Then why did you bring me here?” I ask, already getting irritated at his partial answers.

“Your father approached my father three years ago, he needed help from… something, that he’s willing to form an alliance… of some sort. So my father decided to help him, in exchange for you becoming a Russo. He sighs, rubbing his temple.

“What?” I gasp, trying to understand what he’s saying. “What did my father need help with?”

Just then, the waiter comes in with our food and places it on our sides of the table.

“Enjoy your meal,” he says, before walking out the door and shutting it.

“Answer me!” I say.

“I can’t tell you that. Not yet.”

“Why? Why do you keep saying that? It’s not fair.”

“You’ll find out when you’re ready.” He says, his voice stern.

“So while I was living my life… you were all deciding it for me? I say, sagging against the chair and wanting to curl up in my bed.

“Look, I can understand how you feel and—”

“You understand how I feel? I ask, cutting him off. “You don't understand anything.” I spit at him. “I had just found out on the day of my father’s memorial that I have been betrothed to a man I had never even met for three years. That my life is no longer mine anymore. “So no, you don’t understand anything.”

“You think I wanted this?” He snaps, his fists hitting the table and making all the contents on it shake. “To be engaged to someone I don’t f*****g know? To be a part of this f****d up alliance?”

“Then why didn't you do anything to stop it?” I ask, my anger rising.

“Because I had no f*****g choice,” he says, yelling. “You think this marriage is the problem?” He says, his eyes darkening. “It’s the only thing keeping you alive.”

;) 🖤 ;)

Sebastian’s P.O.V

I run my fingers through my hair again, irritation building at how easily distracted I've been since the dinner with Elena. I glance at the clock on the wall.

1:42 p.m

Does she really not know anything about the alliance? She seemed confused when I told her her father asked mine for help, meaning she didn’t know anything about the trouble her father was in before he died.

That means Lorenzo kept her in the dark.

I lean back in my chair, exhaling slowly, my jaw tightening as I remember the message my father sent this morning.

“Ensure you and Elena attend the event tomorrow night. It’s time to announce your engagement and formalize the union between the Russo and Moretti families.”

I knew we would have to announce the engagement eventually, but I didn’t know it would be so soon.

My phone rings, dragging me from my thoughts. I answer it and hear Marco’s voice on the line.

“Boss, we found the traitor,” he says.

My expression hardens instantly. We've been noticing delayed shipments, sometimes missing, and I knew it had to be one reason.

A traitor.

“And?” I ask, my voice flat.

“He’s been leaking information to the DeLuca family. That’s why our shipments have been going missing, the trucks are being intercepted, and the shipments have been taken.”

The DeLucas. Of course.

I stand up slowly, walking to the window, my grip tightening around the phone. “How long?”

“About a month, boss, maybe longer. We’re still confirming,” he answers.

A month. My jaw ticks, my anger building with each word he says.

“Where is he?”

“We have him at the warehouse boss. Waiting on your orders,” he replies.

“I’m on my way. I’ll handle him myself.”

“Understood, boss.”

I end the call without another word. A traitor in my operation. A rushed engagement announcement.

Everything is moving too fast. And if the DeLucas are already making moves… then Elena isn’t just part of an alliance anymore. She’s a target.

;) 🖤 ;)

Elena’s P.O.V

“You think this marriage is the problem?” “It’s the only thing keeping you alive.”

Sebastian’s words keep replaying in my head since dinner last night.

Nothing feels real anymore. What did he mean when he said that? Is this alliance really the only thing keeping me alive?

A sharp pain hits me when I realize I’ve cut myself, trying to cut the vegetables. “Ouch,” I murmur, rushing to the sink to run water over the cut.

I’ve been so disoriented and confused since we spoke last night. I had no idea my father needed help; he always seemed so in control. So calculated. I can’t seem to come to terms with everything he said.

I put my head in my hands, sighing and leaning on the counter.

The doorbell rings, preventing me from wallowing in my sadness. I move to answer it, opening the door.

There’s a box in the doorway. I look outside, trying to find the person who dropped it. But it’s empty.

Of course, it is. I already know who it’s from.

It’s similar to the last one I received from Sebastian. I pick it up and carry it inside, placing it carefully on the counter before lifting the lid.

Black tissue paper. Just like before

I gasped, pulling out a sparkling red long-sleeved off-shoulder dress from the box. The slit runs dangerously high along the side. I look into the box and pull out a note.

“Tomorrow. 8:00 p.m”

“Wear this”

S.R

I stare at the note. My grip tightening around it. A flicker of anger rises in my chest. Who does he think he is to order me around like this? Just then my phone rings, I move to answer it.

“Hello?” I say.

“Did you get my gift?” he asks, his voice calm.

“Who do you think you are?” I fired back.

“What?” he says, his tone sharpening inside slightly.

“What makes you think you can order me around like I’m some toy or servant?” I continued, my voice rising despite myself. “You don’t get to just send things to my house and expect me to follow instructions like–like I don't have a choice!”

Silence. For a moment I thought he hung up.

Then—

“You don't,” he says quietly.

“What?” I say, my voice dropping.

“You don’t have a choice,” he repeats, calm and controlled. “Tomorrow night isn’t optional, Elena. The engagement is happening—with or without your cooperation.”

My chest tightens. “You’re unbelievable,” I whisper.

“And you’re unprepared.” he counters. “This dress will make sure you don’t look like it.”

I scoff, my anger rising again. “So this is about appearances to you? Dressing me up so I look presentable for your little announcement? Presentable enough to be your bride?”

“It’s about control,” he says bluntly. His honesty catching me off guard.

“I don’t like loose ends, and right now… you are one.”

My breath hitches. “I’m not one of your business deals.” I say, quieter–but firmer.

“No. You are not.” he agrees. “You’re much more complicated than that.”

I hate the way my heart flutters at the sound of that. “Then stop treating me like I’m not human,”I snap.

He pauses, “Wear the dress, Elena.”

There it is. A command. “And if I don’t?” I challenge.

‘Then I’ll come get you myself,” he says, his voice certain.

My breath catches. The line goes dead. I slowly lower the phone from my ear, my pulse racing.