Chapter 5: A Deal with the Devil
1198 Words
Ricci Estate – The Morning After
Alessia awoke to the soft glow of morning filtering through the massive windows of Matteo’s estate. For a few blissful seconds, she forgot where she was. The warmth of the luxurious sheets, the distant sound of birds outside—it felt almost peaceful. Almost.
Then reality came crashing back.
Luca’s threat.
Matteo’s intervention.
The blood on Luca’s face.
Her stomach clenched, and she sat up with a groan, rubbing her temples. She hadn’t signed up for any of this. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Yet, here she was, in the enemy’s den, wrapped in a world of violence and power struggles that had shaped her life since birth.
A knock at the door made her stiffen.
“Come in.”
The door swung open, and Matteo stepped inside, exuding the same effortless power as always. Dark slacks, a crisp shirt with the top buttons undone, sleeves rolled up, exposing the veins in his forearms. He looked infuriatingly at ease.
“Sleep well, princess?” His voice was smooth, teasing, but there was something guarded in his gaze.
Alessia scowled. “Like a hostage.”
Matteo chuckled. “A hostage wouldn’t get Egyptian cotton sheets and a personal chef.”
She swung her legs over the bed and stood, crossing her arms. “You think this is a joke?”
His smirk faded. “No, I think this is a game, and Luca doesn’t play fair.”
She scoffed. “And you do?”
Matteo took a slow step forward, voice low. “I don’t lose.”
A shiver ran down her spine, but she forced herself to stay steady. She had learned long ago that men like Matteo Ricci were dangerous not just because of their power, but because of their ability to make you forget why you should fear them.
Alessia exhaled. “What now?”
Matteo studied her for a long moment before saying, “Now, we make sure Luca doesn’t touch you. Ever again.”
Her brows furrowed. “And how do you plan to do that?”
Matteo’s jaw tightened. “We give him no choice but to back off.”
Something about his tone sent warning bells ringing in her head.
“What does that mean, Matteo?”
He tilted his head slightly. “It means we make it impossible for Luca to claim you.”
Her stomach twisted. “You mean—”
Matteo nodded, stepping closer, his voice barely above a whisper.
“We get married.”
Alessia’s Reaction
The words slammed into Alessia like a punch to the gut.
“Married?” she echoed, voice sharp.
Matteo nodded.
“It’s the only way to break the agreement. If you’re already mine, Luca loses his leverage.”
A hollow laugh escaped her. “Oh, so that’s your solution? You just… marry me?”
Matteo’s expression didn’t change. “It’s a move on the chessboard, and it’s the only one that keeps you from becoming Luca's possession.”
Possession. The word made her skin crawl.
She turned away, pacing. “You don’t even know me.”
Matteo exhaled slowly. “I know enough.”
She spun to face him. “And what do you think you know, Matteo?”
He took a step forward, voice low and even. “I know you don’t want to be a pawn in this war. I know you’d rather set the board on fire than let Luca control you. And I know that, right now, I’m the only one standing between you and the life you’ve been running from.”
Her fists clenched. “And what do you get out of this?”
Matteo smirked, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. “The satisfaction of ruining Luca DeLuca’s plans.”
Alessia exhaled sharply. “And what happens when you get bored? When you decide I’m not worth the trouble?”
Matteo’s expression darkened. “I don’t start fights I can’t finish, Alessia.”
The weight of his words pressed against her ribs.
This was a deal with the devil. A gamble she might not be able to win.
But was it better than the alternative?
Her pulse pounded.
“You want me to marry you?” she asked quietly. “Fine.”
Matteo’s eyes flickered with something unreadable.
“But if we do this,” she continued, “I don’t belong to you, Matteo. I belong to myself.”
Matteo’s lips curled into something dark and knowing.
“Then let’s get started, wife.”
The Engagement Announcement
The news spread like wildfire. Within hours, every major crime family knew that Alessia Moretti was no longer in play. She was now engaged—to Matteo Ricci.
Luca’s reaction was as expected.
The DeLuca estate had never been so silent.
Luca sat in his father’s old office, fingers curled around a crystal glass of whiskey. The headlines were on his screen, the words burning into his vision.
Matteo Ricci & Alessia Moretti – A Union That Changes the Game
Luca’s grip tightened, the glass cracking under the pressure.
“That bastard.”
A slow breath. A forced calm.
This wasn’t over.
Not by a long shot.
The Wedding Preparations
Alessia expected a simple courthouse wedding—quick, efficient, forgettable. But Matteo had other plans.
“You’re throwing a wedding?” Alessia gaped at him as they stood in the main hall of his estate.
Matteo shrugged. “People expect a show. Let’s give them one.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You enjoy this, don’t you?”
Matteo smirked. “I enjoy winning.”
Alessia exhaled. “Fine. But let’s be clear—this doesn’t change anything between us.”
Matteo stepped closer, lowering his voice. “We’ll see, princess.”
Her heart skipped.
And for the first time, she wondered who she was really protecting herself from—Luca…
Or Matteo?
The Wedding Night – A New War Begins
The wedding was a spectacle. Lavish, extravagant, with every crime family in attendance.
But for Alessia, it was a blur of vows, signatures, and champagne she barely tasted.
It wasn’t real.
It couldn’t be.
But as the night wound down, she found herself alone in the massive master bedroom of Matteo’s estate, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
The dress was gone. She was in silk now, her hair down, her body still humming with adrenaline.
A knock.
She turned just as Matteo stepped in, loose tie around his neck, jacket discarded. His gaze flickered over her, something unreadable in his eyes.
“Alone on your wedding night?” he mused.
She folded her arms. “This isn’t real.”
Matteo took a slow step forward. “No, but it is permanent.”
Alessia swallowed. “What now?”
Matteo’s gaze didn’t waver. “Now, we make sure no one dares question this marriage.”
Her breath hitched as he reached for her hand, his grip warm, steady.
For the first time since this started, she realized—she might not be the only one in danger.
Because Matteo Ricci didn’t just claim things for power.
He kept them.
And she had just become his most dangerous possession.
- Writer
