THE MAFI’S ALLURE

Episode.4

Amilia's POV

I can't believe I'm getting married today.

I have always thought that I would marry for love, but that's far from it right now.

My beautiful makeup, bridal hair, diamond necklace, shoes… Everything is all so beautiful.

I'm dressed in a beautiful black wedding gown. Apparently, Marcello had decided that black should be the colour of the day.

The haunting melody of music echoes in my ears as my father walks me down the aisle. I held my head up high, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Their collective gazes were fixed on me. Their expressions were strangely inscrutable. It's creepy as hell. So I shift my gaze to the intricate diamonds encrusting my heels.

This has always been my dream wedding.

Apart from the black color, of course. I have always imagined this with Rocco.

Talking about Rocco, I haven't set my eyes on him since my father released him.

Rocco had driven down to my house. Immediately, I informed him about the arranged marriage and the dinner with the Santiagos.

I ran downstairs immediately. I heard his voice but my dad didn't let me talk to him.

He had his boys beat him to a pump and threatened to kill him if I still didn't want to get married.

I had no choice but to accept the whole arrangement just so Rocco could live.

The pain in his eyes when I told my father that I would marry Marcello broke me into pieces.

“I can do this.” I tried to convince myself.

I tried to imagine that the man waiting for me at the altar is Rocco and not Marcello, but Rocco could never be anything close to Marcello.

Marcello's tuxedo is adjusted to perfection, the fabric of his tux flows elegantly, and his dark hair drops like a waterfall on his shoulders. This man is simply handsome. He stands there, like a demigod, his figure defying the surrounding luminosity.

Marcello's gaze held mine as I walked closer to him. My breath catches my throat as he takes my hand from my father and plants a kiss on my cheek, whispering a few words to my ears which make me shiver.

I forced a smile on my face, a delicate facade masking the turmoil in me as I battled back the tears threatening to fall.

“I must not allow him or anyone here to see my weakness”. I thought to myself.

As the ceremony begins, the rhythm of the spoken words in Spanish surrounds me. I could barely understand what they were saying which mirrors how I feel being forced into this dark world where I don't belong.

“Sí, accepto” Marcello declared, his eyes still fixed on mine.

“I accept”. I mustered the strength to say mine.

A little boy with blond hair skips down the aisle, his small hands carefully holding a black-colored pillow adorned with beautiful diamond rings.

Marcello slid the ring on my finger, and I followed his actions. With my experience in the jewelry world, I could immediately tell that these were limited editions.

Marcello fingers slowly lifted the veil, revealing my face to him as he leans closer to me.

I closed my eyes in anticipation of his kiss, but it never came.

I felt his thumb on my lips.

“Not so fast mama” he whispered in my ears.

A smirk was clearly visible in his face when I opened my eyes.

“I declare you husband and wife”, the priest says with a nod.

The priest concludes with one last line before we turn to face the assembly of strangers.

“Welcome to hell wife” Marcello whispers to my ears as he wraps his hand around my waist…

The rest of the ceremony went on smoothly with Marcello's fingers intertwined with mine like I was going to escape or something.

“If it isn't the latest couple in town”. Someone suddenly said behind us and Marcello tightened his grip on my hand as his whole body tensed up.

I could tell that he was trying to control his emotions as we both turned around to see who it was.

“Hello brother, I didn't think you would come” Marcello said to the stranger whom I just concluded to be his brother from his looks and the way Marcello addressed him. I wonder why he wasn't present at the dinner and why his presence seemed to make Marcello uncomfortable.

“Of course you didn't think I would come. Considering the fact that you had me locked up. I just couldn't miss my brother's wedding for anything in the world..not even that tiny cell.” he said with a lazy look on his face as his eyes roamed around my entire frame.

He suddenly took my hand and planted a kiss on my fingers.

“Hello Amilia, my name is Mario.I’m Marcello's twin brother. It's nice to finally meet you in person. The pictures didn't do justice to your looks. You look more beautiful in person.” he said while still holding my hand and a creepy smile, displaying on his face. His face looks familiar. I just can't remember where I have seen it before.

“It's nice to meet you too, Mario”, I said as I withdrew my hand from his.

I stepped closer to Marcello and rested my head on his shoulders. I felt safe with him for some weird reasons.

One of Marcello's boys came and whispered a few words to him, and I was led to a private jet. Marcello helped me get in and we both sat opposite each other.

“Where are we going”? I managed to ask after contemplating on it for a few minutes.

“Venice”. He replied without looking up from his phone. I wanted to ask what we were going to do there, but I decided against it after seeing the cold look on Marcello's face.

……………………………..

After hours of flying and driving, we finally arrived at our destination after what seemed like an eternity.

“Venice” I said as I took in a breath of fresh air.

“Yes, Venice, we'll be here a week or more. I have important business to do here”. Marcello said without sparing me a glance and I simply nodded.

After we got to the Salvatore's estate in Venice, we were greeted and shown to our different rooms by the housekeeper and now I can finally take off the uncomfortable reception dress and have a proper rest.

I took a quick shower and put on a clean set of pyjamas. I'm still wondering how they managed to fill the room with everything that I needed in such a short period of time.

I settled into bed and quickly went to sleep. I experienced multiple nightmares that night. I jolt out of sleep, trembling all over my body. My chest is so tight that I can't breathe normally, causing my breath to be irregular. I let out a cry of frustration and cried uncontrollably, letting tears fall down my cheeks. Gradually, I started to lose myself in that dark area once more; it was as if the room is suddenly closing in on me. In every sense of the word, I feel suffocated. I whimper and pound my fist into my chest in an attempt to get more air, but it's all in vain. I fall off the bed, but I don't care about the pain.

After a while, I'm able to put myself under control and I drifted back to sleep.

I woke up feeling thirsty in the morning, so I got up from bed and headed downstairs to the kitchen to get water. I found Marcello already sitting at the dining table and a maid was serving him breakfast. I tried to ignore his presence and acted like I didn't see him, but I failed woefully at it.

“Come have breakfast” he ordered.

“I'm not hungry,” I retorted.

“Do not let me repeat myself, Amilia” . He growled underneath his breath and I flinched. I know I just poked a bear.

When I didn't bulge, he gently stood up from his seat and took slow and calculated steps towards me, his icy glare cutting through me. I started taking a few steps back till I had my back against the wall. He walked closer to me till we were a few inches apart, his masculine cologne filling my nose. He lifted me up by the neck and I started struggling to free myself from his tight grip on my neck, but there wasn't much I could do as he is way stronger than me.

Tears sting my eyes as I stop resisting, but my body remains rigid. I closed my eyes in anticipation of the worst but he gently loosened his grip on my neck and I fell on the floor with a loud thud and started coughing violently.

I lifted myself from the floor while trying hard to fight back the tears that had been threatening to fall. “I mustn't let him see me cry”, I thought to myself as we both sat at the dining table. I didn't wait for him to tell me to eat this time around.

“Let this be the last time you will ever disobey me, Amilia, else you wouldn't like what I will do to you. Am I clear?”

“Yes sir”. I answered.

“Good girl”

These two simple words ignite something in me. My body ignites with need, an intense aching between my legs.