BILLIONAIRES VENDETTA

CHAPTER 9: UNHOLY MATRIMONY

Scene: The Move to Luca’s Mansion

Natalie’s POV

The towering iron gates creaked open, their metallic groan sending a shiver down my spine. The car rolled through slowly, revealing Luca’s sprawling estate beyond. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral, even as nerves twisted my stomach into knots. The reality of my situation hit harder now than it had during the ceremony. This was no fairy-tale ending. It was a gilded cage I was about to step into, all to save my brother’s life.

The car came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, and Luca was out in a fluid motion, his tall, imposing frame moving with predatory grace. He opened my door, extending his hand toward me. For a brief moment, I hesitated. But then, I remembered Daniel—my brother, the reason for all this. I placed my hand in Luca’s, feeling the warmth of his skin, but it was like touching a block of steel. Unyielding. Controlled.

“Welcome home,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. But there was no warmth in his words. It was a statement of fact, not a sentiment.

I forced a polite smile and allowed him to lead me inside. The foyer was massive, with marble floors that reflected the glittering chandeliers above. The air smelled faintly of cedarwood and something else—something sharp that reminded me of danger. My heart raced as we walked further in, Luca’s presence beside me like a shadow I couldn’t escape.

Waiting for us just inside was Adriano. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flicked over me briefly before settling back on Luca.

“Welcome to the family, Natalie,” Adriano said. His tone was cordial, almost too polite. I could tell he didn’t fully accept this marriage, but he was loyal to Luca, and that was enough for him.

“Thank you,” I murmured, trying to find my footing in this unfamiliar world. Adriano’s approval—or at least acceptance—felt crucial, though I didn’t understand why.

But before I could dwell on it, Joan, Luca’s mother, stepped forward. She was elegance personified, her dark hair perfectly styled, and her eyes holding a thousand secrets. She pulled me into a surprisingly warm hug, and for a moment, I felt like a child again, being comforted by a mother. But I couldn’t let myself be fooled. This wasn’t a normal family.

“Natalie,” Joan said, stepping back to study me with that sharp gaze of hers, “I know this situation isn’t what you envisioned for your future, but I’ve learned that life rarely turns out the way we expect. You have strength; I can see it. And in this world, strength is everything.”

Her words were cryptic, and I couldn’t tell if they were meant to encourage me or warn me. But before I could respond, she handed me a velvet box.

I opened it, and my breath caught. Inside was a sleek black handgun with my name engraved on the side in elegant script.

“It’s... beautiful,” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

Joan’s smile was both proud and knowing. “A woman should never be defenseless. Especially not in our family,” she said, her tone cool and confident. “This world is dangerous, Natalie. Consider this a token of protection.”

The weight of the gun in my hands sent a chill down my spine. I had never even held one before. Was this what my life would be like now? Guns, secrets, and shadows lurking around every corner?

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Scene: The Departure of Her Parents

After Joan’s unsettling gift, I was ushered back outside, where my parents were waiting by the car, looking a mix of proud and worried. My mother’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and my father was trying too hard to appear stoic. I hugged them both tightly, inhaling the familiar scent of home that clung to my mother’s clothes.

“I’m so proud of you, Natalie,” my father said, his voice thick. “You’ve always been our strong girl.”

I tried to smile, but it wavered. They had no idea of the sacrifice I was making. To them, this marriage was a blessing, a match to a wealthy and powerful man. They didn’t know about Daniel’s betrayal or the deal Luca had struck to save his life.

“We’ll visit soon,” my mother whispered, kissing my cheek. “Be strong, my daughter.”

“I will,” I promised, even though I wasn’t sure if I could keep it.

Daniel, who had been standing by silently, stepped forward. “I’ll make sure they get home safely,” he told Luca. The tension between them was palpable, but Luca nodded curtly, dismissing him.

Daniel gave me a quick, desperate look as if to say he was sorry again, but there was no time for more words. The car door shut, and I watched as they drove away, feeling more alone than ever.

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Scene: Natalie’s First Night in Luca’s Mansion

The tour of the mansion felt endless. Room after room of opulence and grandeur, none of it offering the slightest comfort. Eventually, Luca led me to what would now be our shared bedroom.

The room was enormous—bigger than my entire apartment back home. The bed, with its dark mahogany frame and silk sheets, looked like something out of a royal palace. But it felt cold and impersonal, just like the man standing next to me.

“You can take the bed,” Luca said, his tone neutral. “I’ll sleep on the couch.”

I blinked in surprise. “You’re not going to...”

“No,” he cut in sharply, as if the very idea was offensive. “I don’t force myself on anyone, Natalie. This marriage may not have been your choice, but I’ll respect your boundaries.”

For a moment, I felt a flicker of relief. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as I thought. But then I remembered the look on his face when he’d read that message earlier. There was so much about Luca that I didn’t know—things that could destroy me if I wasn’t careful.

I nodded stiffly, grabbing a pillow and blanket to take to the couch, but Luca stopped me with a firm hand on my shoulder. “The couch is uncomfortable,” he said, his voice softening for the first time. “Take the bed. I’ll be fine.”

Reluctantly, I obeyed, climbing into the plush bed that felt more like sinking into a cloud. But sleep was far away. Every creak of the house, every shadow outside the windows, set my nerves on edge. Luca settled into the armchair by the window, his gaze distant as he stared out into the darkness.

Just as I was starting to drift off, a soft chime broke the silence. I cracked an eye open to see Luca reading a message on his phone. His expression hardened into something dark and unreadable.

“What is it?” I whispered, unable to stop myself.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he said, slipping the phone into his pocket. But his tense posture told a different story.

I turned away, willing sleep to take me, but the unease only grew worse. A vibration came from my phone on the side table. I grabbed it, squinting at the screen.

“Congratulations on your marriage. We look forward to meeting Mrs. De Luca. — The Russians.”

My heart lurched, and a chill ran down my spine. I turned to glance at Luca, who was still sitting in the chair, his eyes closed now, but I could tell from the rigid line of his jaw that he was far from asleep.

What had I gotten myself into?

The message from the Russians wasn’t just a congratulatory note. It was a threat, a reminder that my life had now become a pawn in their game with Luca.

The shadows of the room seemed to grow darker as the implications of the message settled in. Was this marriage truly going to protect me, or was I just a convenient shield for Luca? I turned back to the wall, clutching the blanket tighter.

Luca’s voice broke the silence. “Natalie,” he said, his tone low and dangerous, “you’ll need to learn how to protect yourself. Because now, they’ll be coming for you too.”

The weight of his words settled like a stone in my stomach. I wasn’t just married to Luca De Luca—I was married to his enemies, his secrets, and his endless web of lies.

In the darkness of our shared room, I realized that the wedding had been the easy part. The real battle was only beginning.

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