The Wedding Under Fire
1250 Words
The wedding was still happening.
That was the first thing Serena learned when she woke the next morning.
The second was that Dante Moretti had doubled the security around the mansion.
The third was that nobody was allowed to leave.
Not the servants.
Not the guests.
Not even Alessia.
Serena stood by the window, staring at the armed guards surrounding the estate.
The garden where she had tried to escape the night before looked completely different.
Men in black suits stood beneath the trees.
Two guarded the main gate.
Another watched the roof.
Even the windows had security posted nearby.
She turned away from the glass.
“I'm not getting married today.”
The door opened.
Dante walked in.
He was dressed in a black tuxedo.
His dark hair was neatly styled, and his expression was as cold as ever.
“You are.”
Serena folded her arms.
“Someone tried to kill me yesterday.”
“I know.”
“And your response is to continue with the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“You're unbelievable.”
Dante walked toward her.
“The shooting changes nothing.”
“It changes everything!”
He stopped in front of her.
“No.”
His voice was low.
“It changes one thing.”
“What?”
“Now you're under my protection.”
Serena scoffed.
“I don't need your protection.”
“You do.”
“I can protect myself.”
“You couldn't even get past my garden gate.”
Her eyes flashed.
“That was because you had your entire mansion guarded like a prison.”
“And you're still alive.”
She hated how calm he was.
“Why are you so determined to marry me?”
Dante stared at her.
“Because someone wants you dead.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“It does.”
Serena shook her head.
“You're hiding something.”
“So are you.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Your family.”
Before she could respond, Dante turned toward the door.
“The ceremony begins in two hours.”
Serena's voice stopped him.
“What happens if I refuse at the altar?”
Dante looked back.
“Then I carry you to it.”
Her mouth fell open.
“You wouldn't dare.”
A faint smile appeared.
“Try me.”
Then he left.
---
Two hours later, the mansion had been transformed.
White roses lined the grand staircase.
Candles illuminated the ballroom.
A string quartet played softly in the corner.
Everything looked beautiful.
Almost romantic.
Except for the armed men stationed around the room.
Serena stood upstairs in front of the mirror.
The wedding dress fit perfectly.
Long sleeves.
A fitted waist.
A flowing skirt that brushed the floor.
Her veil covered most of her face.
She barely recognized herself.
A knock sounded.
Alessia entered.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
“You look beautiful.”
Serena didn't smile.
“Do you?”
Alessia's expression tightened.
“You're still angry with me.”
“You knew something was going to happen yesterday.”
“I suspected.”
“You could have warned me.”
“I tried.”
“You told me not to fall in love with Dante.”
Alessia looked away.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From my husband?”
“From everyone.”
Serena stepped closer.
“Did you disable the cameras?”
Alessia's face went pale.
“What?”
“Dante knows someone did.”
“I didn't.”
Serena studied her.
“Then who did?”
Alessia opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, a voice came from the doorway.
“Alessia.”
Dante.
His eyes were cold.
His sister turned toward him.
“We were talking.”
Dante nodded.
“Leave.”
Alessia hesitated.
Then she walked past him.
Dante entered.
His eyes settled on Serena.
For a moment, he said nothing.
She noticed something different about him.
His usual confidence was gone.
He looked almost nervous.
“You're staring,” Serena said.
“I've never seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Beautiful.”
Serena's heart skipped.
She immediately looked away.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?”
“Pretend this is a real wedding.”
Dante's expression hardened.
“Perhaps it will become one.”
Before Serena could respond, the music downstairs changed.
The ceremony was beginning.
Dante extended his hand.
Serena stared at it.
She didn't want to take it.
But she did.
His fingers closed around hers.
Warm.
Firm.
Possessive.
They walked down the staircase together.
Every eye in the ballroom turned toward them.
Serena saw powerful businessmen.
Mafia families.
Politicians.
Strangers who had come to witness the marriage between two families that had once been enemies.
At the end of the aisle stood the priest.
Serena's father stood nearby.
He looked older than he had yesterday.
His eyes met hers.
Guilt filled them.
Serena looked away.
Dante squeezed her hand.
She glanced at him.
“Why?”
“Because you're shaking.”
“I'm terrified.”
His voice softened.
“I won't let anyone hurt you.”
“You're the one who forced me into this.”
“I know.”
“Then why should I trust you?”
Dante looked into her eyes.
“You shouldn't.”
The priest began the ceremony.
“Dante Moretti, do you take Serena Valenti as your lawfully wedded wife?”
Dante didn't hesitate.
“I do.”
The priest turned toward Serena.
“Serena Valenti, do you take Dante Moretti as your lawfully wedded husband?”
Silence.
Everyone waited.
Serena looked at Dante.
Then at her father.
Then toward the ballroom doors.
Armed guards stood everywhere.
There was nowhere to run.
She swallowed.
“I…”
A loud crash interrupted her.
Everyone turned.
The ballroom doors had been thrown open.
A man stumbled inside.
Blood covered his shirt.
Two guards immediately raised their weapons.
The man collapsed onto the marble floor.
Serena gasped.
Dante moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
The music stopped.
The ballroom fell silent.
The injured man lifted his head.
His eyes found Serena.
Then he whispered something that only Dante heard.
Dante's face changed.
“What did he say?” Serena asked.
Dante didn't answer.
The man pointed weakly toward Serena.
“He…”
His eyes closed.
“He said the bride is the target.”
A second later—
Bang!
The chandelier above them shattered.
Glass exploded across the ballroom.
Serena screamed.
Dante grabbed her and pulled her against his chest.
His body covered hers as another gunshot rang through the mansion.
The guests scattered.
Guards rushed toward the windows.
Dante shouted commands.
“Lock every exit!”
Serena clung to his jacket.
“Dante!”
“Stay with me.”
Another shot.
Dante looked toward the balcony.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he looked down at Serena.
The wedding wasn't supposed to be romantic.
It was supposed to be a contract.
A punishment.
A revenge.
But as he held Serena against him while bullets tore through the room, one terrifying realization settled in his mind.
He no longer cared about the contract.
He cared about her.
And whoever had come to kill his bride had just made the biggest mistake of their life.
Because Dante Moretti was no longer protecting Serena because she was his wife.
He was protecting her because she had become the one person he couldn't afford to lose.
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