The Mafia King’s Bride

Chapter 3

Elena’s P.O.V

Four words. Nineteen Letters. An Initial

Enough to turn my entire world upside down.

He knows where I live. How does he know where I live?

That unusual but slowly familiar dread crawls up my spine.

My hands tremble as I pick the dress up. I check the tag—and it’s my exact size.

How does he know my dress size? My heart feels like it's about to beat out of my chest. I scramble, my hands shaking as I grab my phone from my bag and call the building’s front desk.

“Hi, this is Elena Moretti from apartment 16B. I'm calling to ask if anyone signed in to deliver a package to my apartment today?” I ask, my voice shaking.

Silence.

“Hello! Can you hear me?” I ask, my voice getting louder.

“Miss Elena…I was told not to interfere.” The voice on the line says

My heart stills. “By who? Who came here? Who told you not to interfere?” I ask him frantically, hoping it’s not who I think it is.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” He says, then the call ends.

I slowly lower the phone from my ear. He didn't sneak past security. He didn't break in. He simply gave an order…and they listened.

I didn't realize the power Sebastian Russo had until now. I’m now just understanding how deep of a mess I’m in right now. I put my head in my hands, feeling defeated, wanting to lie in my bed and cry myself to sleep.

Maybe if I go to sleep and wake up tomorrow, everything will be fine. Someone will tell me that all this is a sick joke, and I’ll be fine.

I pick up the dress from the floor, put it on my table, and head into the shower.

Coming out of the shower, I hear my phone ring. Checking the caller ID, I see Valentina’s name. I didn't know how tired I was until I got out of the shower. I decided I’ll call her tomorrow.

I climb into my bed and can’t help but wonder how the dinner date with Sebastian will go. He definitely knows about the arranged marriage, seeing as he sent me his “gift”. Does he know why my father decided to get married to him in particular? I need answers.

I pick up my phone from my bedside table and Google Sebastian Russo. I realize I really don’t know how this man looks. I click on an article:

“Sebastian Russo opens another restaurant in Miami, florida”

My breathing slows. The room suddenly feels smaller. I feel my fingers freeze on the screen. This man. He looks familiar but I can't place my fingers on where I’ve seen him. He stands tall in front of a tall building, his presence taking up all the space and leaving little for the other people standing around, his suit is crisp as expected, his hair gelled, face sharp and rough, he looks every bit the ruthless businessman the stories make him out to be.

I lower the phone from my hand onto the bed. My apartment suddenly feels too silent. Too empty. I suddenly get the feeling I’m being watched, I get up to go check the lock on the door but I don’t know why I feel paranoid. I move on to the windows, and as I’m closing them, I notice a black car parked outside on the other side of the street…

…It’s probably nothing. Still…I close the curtains a little too quickly.

I climb back into bed and close my eyes, letting sleep wash over me, but I can’t help but think I have no idea what my father has gotten me into

But I know it's not just a marriage.

It’s something else.

;) 🖤 ;)

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I wake up to someone knocking and banging on my door. I check the time on my alarm clock.

9:52 a.m

Who the hell wakes up so early in the morning?

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Okay, fine I’m coming,” I murmur to myself.

I climb out of my bed and hurry to check the peephole to see who decided to wake me from my slumber. I open the door.

“Lena! What the hell? I have been knocking for hours now!!” Valentina exclaims as she sidesteps me to enter my apartment.

If there is one thing about Valentina is how dramatic she is. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t been knocking for hours.

“You definitely haven’t been knocking for hours Val,” I reply, chuckling and clearing my eyes.

“Where the hell is your phone? I’ve been calling Lena, I was really worried,” she says, her voice breaking at the end. “I was so bummed we couldn’t do anything for your birthday yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, I switched my phone off before I slept,” I tell her, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s okay, don't worry about it. It wasn’t exactly a happy day” I say quietly.

“Are you okay? She asks, taking my face in her hands.

“No, not really,” I replied sadly, and for the first time since I heard the news of my arranged marriage yesterday, I cried, I cried in Valentina’s arms.

;) 🖤 ;)

After much persuasion, Valentina successfully dragged me out of the house. I originally planned to lock myself in and sulk until 8 p.m…

….8 p.m–my dinner date with my “fiancé”

We’re currently at a cafe in Brooklyn—not too far from my apartment- and Val loves getting away from the bustling streets of Manhattan. I really don’t know how she can live there.

…I guess that will be my life soon, since Sebastian lives there. I sigh. Ninety days…

“Can I take your order?” The waiter asks, smiling from ear to ear at us. We give him our order, and he rushes inside to get it.

“So I need to tell you something,” I tell Val, hoping she doesn’t cause a scene. “I received a gift box last night…from Sebastian.” I continue.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me this before?” she asks, concerned.

“You mean, when you scolded me about my phone, or when I was crying in your arms on my couch, or maybe when you forced me to get in the shower before—” I reply sarcastically.

“Okay, I get it,” she replies, rolling her eyes. “What was inside the box?” she asks curiously.

.

“A black dress…and a note saying: Tomorrow. 8 p.m” I sigh, remembering the note.

“Damn. How do you know it was from him, though?” She asks.

“Because his initials - S.R. were written at the back!” I exclaim, putting my head in my hands. “I just don’t understand. Why would my dad do this to me? He never once mentioned anything to me about Sebastian Russo, then I hear he put it in his will for me to get married to him? The most dangerous guy in the city? I say, angrily.

Valentina keeps quiet.

“I don’t know val, all this is making me think my father had some deep secrets, or things he was hiding from me.” I tell her, already feeling defeated.

Valentina remains silent, looking around. That’s suspicious.

“You’re awfully silent” I say, noticing her behaviour.

“No, I’m just thinking how insane all of this is. You shouldn’t have to get married to him. There must be something else we can do?” she says, grabbing my hand from across the table.

“I don’t know, Val, I don't think so. I don’t really think I have a choice in all this, especially when it has to do with the company.” I sigh, my heart heavy.

“So are you going to meet him tonight?” She asks.

“I don’t really want to, but I have to…I need some answers, Val. I need to know why me? Where do I fit into all this? and since my dad isn’t here to give me them, I need to ask the next best person,” I say sarcastically.

“I can come with you,” She suggests.

“No, it's something I need to do myself. And can you imagine me showing up with my cousin to a dinner date with my fiancé? Who is supposedly ruthless and dangerous?” I say, chuckling, trying to lighten up our mood.

“Disaster!” She laughs.

“Full on disaster,” I say, laughing along.

Our orders come just in time. Then Val tells me about her mum’s new boytoy, and we laugh and drink coffee…

…and I pretend not to notice the black SUV parked across the street.

My mind abandoned any thought about my arranged marriage for just a few moments.

;) 🖤 ;)

After Val and I finished our coffee, she dropped me home after much advice and consoling and left in a hurry—Her mum needed her back at her office.

I wonder if Sebastian has been thinking about our date, the way I’ve been. Probably not. He has way too many important things to think about. Either way, I do know one thing. I have to get to the bottom of this arranged marriage.

I need to understand. My father wouldn’t just sell me out like that and feed me to the wolves in the process. He had to have a reason… he loved me…

I step out of the shower and take a look at the alarm clock on my bedside table.

6:52 p.m

Not long left now.

I move over to my dressing table to do my hair and my makeup. Then pull out the dress from the box. It’s so soft and silky.

It’s a short, long-sleeve, backless dress with a plunging neckline. It’s beautiful. I put the dress on and look in the mirror. My breath catches. The neckline is really low, going as far down as my abdomen, the dress is short and tight, it accentuates my hips.

I look beautiful.

I put on my Rene Caovilla crystal snake ankle wrap heels, which Valentina got for my last birthday. Putting on my jewelry, I take a glance at the alarm clock .

7:52 p.m

I grab my silver purse, and take one last look at myself in the mirror. Satisfied with how I look, I head to the living room.

Just then, the doorbell rings. I take one last look at the clock on the wall,

8:00 p.m

Punctual. Of course. He wouldn’t be anything but punctual.

I head towards the door and take a deep breath.

…Time to go meet my “future husband”.

I open the door.