The Mafia King's captive Bride

Chapter3

The Price of Betrayal

The Moretti estate loomed in the night, its grandeur casting long, ominous shadows beneath the moonlight. Inside, the wedding reception continued in full force—laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the murmured conversations of powerful men filled the air. But for Valeria, the night had only just begun.

She barely touched the champagne in her glass, her fingers wrapped tightly around the stem as she watched Alessandro from the corner of her eye. He was speaking with a group of men, his tone calm but commanding. Every person in the room knew who held the real power here.

And now, she was tethered to that power.

A soft sigh left her lips as she turned toward the nearest balcony. The air inside felt too thick, suffocating with the weight of expectation. She needed a moment to breathe, away from the watchful eyes of those who waited to see how the new Mrs. Moretti would play her role.

As she stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air wrapped around her like a stolen freedom. She leaned against the railing, staring out at the sprawling gardens below. It was beautiful—too beautiful for a place built on blood and violence.

"You shouldn’t be out here alone," a voice murmured behind her.

She stiffened.

Luca.

His presence was familiar by now—the only one that didn’t fill her with immediate dread. She turned slightly, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes held a flicker of concern, though his usual smirk softened it.

"I needed some air," she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended.

Luca studied her for a moment before stepping closer, resting his hands on the railing beside her. "I get it. The whole ‘marrying into the mafia royalty’ thing isn’t exactly easy, is it?"

She let out a breathless laugh. "That’s an understatement."

Luca's smirk widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You don’t trust him, do you?"

She didn’t answer.

The silence was answer enough.

"You shouldn’t," he added after a beat. "Alessandro… he doesn’t do things without a reason. Whatever brought you into his world, Valeria, it wasn’t just about ending a feud."

Her heart pounded.

She had suspected as much. The Morettis could have formed a business alliance, struck a deal that didn’t involve selling her off like a piece of property. But Alessandro had insisted on marriage.

Why?

Before she could voice her thoughts, a chilling voice sliced through the night.

"Enjoying my wife’s company, Luca?"

Valeria turned sharply, her stomach twisting as she saw Alessandro standing in the doorway. His silver-gray eyes flickered between them, his expression unreadable—but there was something dark lurking beneath it.

Luca, to his credit, didn’t look shaken. He pushed off the railing, slipping his hands into his pockets with a casual ease that didn’t match the tension in the air.

"Just making sure she’s settling in, boss," Luca said smoothly.

Alessandro didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he held Valeria’s gaze, the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on her. Then, without breaking eye contact, he spoke.

"Leave us."

The command wasn’t loud, but it held enough authority that Luca sighed before giving Valeria one last glance. "Good luck," he murmured under his breath before slipping back inside.

Now, she was alone with Alessandro.

He stepped closer, his presence swallowing the space between them. The night air was cold, but his proximity burned.

"You’re already making friends," he mused, tilting his head slightly.

Valeria squared her shoulders. "Is that a problem?"

His smirk was slow, dangerous. "Only if you think Luca can protect you from me."

Her heart stammered. "I don’t need protection from you."

A chuckle left his lips—low, deep, almost amused. Then, in one swift motion, he reached out, fingers curling under her chin.

"Is that what you tell yourself?" His voice was barely a whisper, yet it sent a shiver down her spine.

She refused to look away. "I’m not afraid of you."

He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "You should be."

Valeria swallowed hard, her pulse betraying the lie in her words.

Because the truth was, she wasn’t sure what terrified her more—the man she had just married… or the fact that, deep down, some part of her was drawn to the darkness in him.

A Night of Reckoning

By the time they left the reception, Valeria’s exhaustion had settled deep in her bones. The car ride back to the Moretti estate was silent, tense. Alessandro sat beside her in the backseat, one arm draped lazily along the seat. Every so often, she could feel his gaze on her, but she refused to look at him.

When they arrived, the staff greeted them with polite bows before disappearing into the shadows. The house was quiet, almost eerily so, as Alessandro led her up the grand staircase.

She knew what was expected of her tonight.

It was their wedding night.

Her pulse roared in her ears as he pushed open the door to the master bedroom. The space was vast, draped in black and gold, with a fireplace casting flickering light across the room. The bed—a massive, imposing thing—sat in the center like a throne.

He shut the door behind them, locking them in.

Valeria turned to face him, her fingers curling at her sides. "Are you going to tell me why you married me?" she asked, her voice sharper than before.

Alessandro arched a brow. "I already did. To unite our families."

"Liar," she whispered. "You didn’t have to marry me for that. So tell me the real reason."

For a moment, he was silent. Then, with slow, deliberate steps, he closed the distance between them.

"Because you’re useful to me," he murmured, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Because having you as my wife serves a purpose."

Her stomach twisted. "What purpose?"

His thumb traced her jaw, deceptively gentle. "You'll find out soon enough, cara mia."

Her breath hitched. She wanted to push him away, to demand answers, but he was already turning, walking toward the bathroom as if this conversation meant nothing to him.

"You should get some sleep," he said over his shoulder. "Tomorrow, your new life truly begins."

Then he disappeared behind the door, leaving her standing there in the middle of the room.

Alone.

With nothing but the suffocating weight of her own fate.

Because Valeria k

new now—this was never about peace.

This was about control.

And Alessandro Moretti was never going to let her go.