Chapter 9: The Devil’s Bride
1248 Words
Alessia’s POV
I follow Matteo through the quiet halls.
Neither of us speaks.
His face is tense.
More guards rush past us.
Something is wrong.
Again.
We step outside.
A small crowd has gathered near the edge of the estate.
The guards move aside as Dante walks forward.
I try to see what they’re looking at.
Then I do.
A man lies on the ground.
His clothes are stained with blood.
His eyes stare up at the sky.
I freeze.
I’ve never seen him before.
One of Dante’s men steps closer.
“Boss, we found him near the east gate.”
Dante studies the body for a moment.
“Search the area.”
His voice is calm.
“Nobody leaves until every inch of this estate has been checked.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The guards quickly spread out.
I look at Dante.
For the first time since I met him…
He doesn’t look angry.
He looks dangerous.
I swallow hard.
“Who is he?”
Dante doesn’t answer.
Instead, he turns to Matteo.
“Take her back inside.”
I don’t move.
“Is this because of me?”
Silence.
“Dante?”
His eyes meet mine.
Cold.
Unreadable.
“Go back to your room, Alessia.”
Before I can ask anything else, he turns away.
And somehow…
His silence frightens me more than any answer could.
I don’t sleep.
Every time I close my eyes, I see the body.
By the time the sun rises, I’m already awake.
A soft knock comes at the door.
Sofia steps inside.
She gives me a small smile.
“Good morning.”
I don’t return it.
She looks at me for a moment.
“It’s time.”
The words hit harder than I expect.
Without saying anything, I follow her.
The women from yesterday are already waiting.
No one talks much.
They help me into the wedding dress.
They fix my hair.
They adjust my veil.
I stand still and let them do whatever they want.
It doesn’t feel like I’m getting married.
It feels like I’m saying goodbye to my old life.
One of the women smiles.
“You look beautiful.”
I stare at my reflection.
The woman in the mirror looks like a bride.
But she doesn’t look happy.
Sofia walks over and gently straightens my veil.
She gives my hand a light squeeze.
“It will be alright.”
I look at her.
Neither of us believes those words.
A knock sounds at the door.
One of the guards steps inside.
“It’s time.”
I take a deep breath.
Then I walk toward the door.
Toward the life I never chose.
The chapel doors open.
Every conversation stops.
Every head turns.
For one long moment…
Everyone is looking at me.
My heart pounds as I take my first step.
Then another.
The chapel is filled with people I’ve never seen before.
Men in expensive suits.
Women in elegant gowns.
None of them smile.
They watch me with quiet curiosity.
As if they’re trying to decide whether I belong here.
I tighten my grip on the bouquet.
At the end of the aisle…
Dante is waiting.
His black suit fits him perfectly.
His posture is relaxed.
His expression isn’t.
Calm.
Cold.
Unreadable.
I take another step, forcing myself toward him.
Until I’m standing beside him.
For a moment…
Neither of us speaks.
His eyes move over my face.
Then, quietly enough for only me to hear, he says,
“You look beautiful.”
I don’t look at him.
“I don’t care.”
His expression doesn’t change.
“I know.”
Before I can think of a reply, the priest clears his throat.
“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Dante De Luca and Alessia Moretti…”
The ceremony begins.
I stare straight ahead.
Trying to ignore the man standing beside me.
Trying to ignore the ring waiting to be placed on my finger.
Trying to ignore the feeling that, once this ceremony ends…
Nothing will ever be the same.
The priest turns to Dante.
“Dante De Luca, do you take Alessia Moretti to be your lawful wife?”
Dante doesn’t hesitate.
“I do.”
The words are calm.
Certain.
Like this marriage was decided long before today.
The priest turns to me.
“Alessia Moretti, do you take Dante De Luca to be your lawful husband?”
The room falls silent.
Every pair of eyes is on me.
I look at Dante.
His expression doesn’t change.
He’s waiting.
So is everyone else.
I swallow hard.
My voice barely rises above a whisper.
“I do.”
The words feel heavy.
Like chains locking around my wrists.
The priest takes the rings.
“Dante.”
Dante takes the ring.
His fingers close around mine as he slides it onto my finger.
His touch is warm.
Steady.
Then the priest turns to me.
I pick up Dante’s ring.
My hands tremble.
For a second…
I wonder what would happen if I dropped it.
If I ran.
If I refused.
Instead…
I slide it onto his finger.
The last piece falls into place.
The priest smiles.
“By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
He looks between us.
“You may kiss the bride.”
The room falls silent.
My heart pounds.
Dante steps closer.
His eyes stay on mine.
For a moment, neither of us moves.
Then his hand rises.
His fingers brush my cheek before settling against my face.
My breath catches.
He leans in.
His lips meet mine.
At first…
The kiss is gentle.
Careful.
Exactly what everyone expects.
Then something changes.
His hand tightens around my waist.
The kiss deepens.
Not because anyone is watching.
Not because the priest told him to.
But because he forgets.
For one dangerous moment…
He forgets everything except me.
A quiet gasp spreads through the room.
Then Dante freezes.
As if he has only just realized what he’s doing.
His eyes open.
He pulls back quickly.
For the first time…
I see something I’ve never seen in Dante De Luca’s eyes.
Surprise.
Not at me.
At himself.
His jaw tightens.
His face becomes unreadable again.
The Devil is back.
But for one brief moment…
He lost control.
Applause fills the chapel.
I barely hear it.
I’m still staring at him.
At the man who just kissed me like he forgot the rest of the world existed.
His face is calm again, cold and controlled, as if nothing happened.
As if I didn’t just see him lose control.
BANG!
The gunshot tears through the chapel.
For one terrifying second…
No one moves.
Then the screaming begins.
Guests dive for cover.
Chairs crash to the floor.
Another gunshot echoes through the chapel.
Dante grabs me and pulls me behind him.
“Down!”
I drop behind a wooden pew.
My bouquet slips from my hands.
White flowers scatter across the floor.
More shouting.
More screams.
Footsteps thunder in every direction.
Dante scans the chapel.
Every muscle in his body is tense.
Matteo rushes toward us.
“Boss…”
“Get her out of here!” Dante snaps.
Matteo nods.
I stare at Dante.
“What about you?”
His eyes never leave the chaos.
“They’re not here for me.”
My blood turns cold.
I turn.
A masked man stands at the end of the aisle.
The gun is already pointed straight at my chest.
BANG!
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