Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride

Chapter 6: The Secret in His Study

[Sloane's POV]

The door clicked shut behind me. I stood in the center of the room, my hands were still shaking. I could still feel the weight of the pen I had used to sign my life away lingering in my fingers.

The image of Mrs. Hathaway’s fragile frame bound to the chair flashed in my mind.

I was still in my thoughts when I heard the roars of engines tearing through the night. I rushed to the window.

Antonio was leaving.

My heart lurched. Where was he going? Was he going to hurt someone else? Was he…?

Wait..

I pressed my palms flat against the glass, my breath fogging the surface. He was leaving. They were all leaving. The cars disappeared through the gates.

This was my chance. I needed to find Mrs. Hathaway and get the hell out of here and maybe hide somewhere he wouldn't bother looking.

I smiled at the thought but my heart still raced.

I was halfway to the door when it opened without a knock.

Cold shivers settled along my spine.

A short, silver-haired woman stepped in balancing a measuring tape around her neck like a scarf and a leather case in one hand. "Ms. Ashford, I'm Mrs. Rosa. Mr. Delvecchio asked me to take your measurements.”

I blinked at her. "My... measurements?"

“For the wedding gown.” She stepped past me into the room, already opening her satchel. "Mr. Delvecchio has given instructions that the dress must be ready by tomorrow evening. We don't have much time."

"I don't have time for that right now." The words came out sharper than I intended. "I need to know where Mrs. Hathaway is. Please, she's like a mother to me, she's old and she's scared and I need to know she's safe. Do you know where they're keeping her? Please, I'm begging you…”

“I don't know of any Mrs. Hathaway.” Mrs. Rosa didn't look up from her satchel. “Arm out, please.”

“I’m not… I can't do this right now. I need to find her. Please, if you'll just tell me where she's been kept…” I hated how desperate I felt.

“Arms out,” She commanded, her voice was flat and utterly devoid of warmth that my arms lifted before I'd consciously decided to move them. Mrs. Rosa worked quickly, wrapping the measuring tape around my shoulders, my waist, and my hips. She noted each number in her small book with mechanical precision, never once meeting my eyes.

“Please.” My voice cracked. “I just need to know she's okay. That's all. If you could…”

“Hold still.”

I held still. What else could I do?

"When do I get to see her?" I asked quietly. "Mrs. Hathaway. When can I see her?"

"Mr. Delvecchio will decide that."

"Mr. Delvecchio isn't here right now."

She paused, just for a fraction of a second, then continued as if I hadn't spoken.

"Your posture is excellent," she murmured. "The dress will fit beautifully."

"I don't care about the dress. I need to see…"

"Your measurements are complete." She snapped her book shut and returned the tape to her bag with practiced efficiency. "I'll have the first fitting ready by morning. Someone will come for you."

"Please…" I reached for her arm, but she stepped back smoothly, out of reach.

"Get some rest, Ms. Ashford. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

And then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving me alone with my desperation.

She wouldn't tell me anything. No one here will tell me anything.

But Antonio was gone. The house was quieter now, the weight of his presence lifted. If I was ever going to find Mrs. Hathaway, it had to be now.

I counted to thirty before opening the door, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The hallway was empty. Thank goodness.

I moved quickly, my bare feet silent on the floor, my eyes scanning every doorway, every shadow every corner where someone might be hiding. The portraits of dead Delvecchios watched me pass, their painted eyes following my every move like they knew how this would end. I moved fast, one hand trailing the wall, and turned a corner too quickly….

Then I collided with something solid. Hands caught my waist, steadying me with surprising gentleness before I could fall.

“Whoa, careful.”

I stumbled back, gasping. The man was probably Antonio's age, with a lean build and dark hair falling across his forehead. His eyes were warm, almost amused. "You're the one who didn't want to get in the car.”

His grin was easy, disarming, like we were meeting at a party instead of in the hallway of a man who'd just blackmailed me into marriage.

"I'm sorry," I managed, trying to steady my breathing. "I…"

"Looking for something?" He tilted his head, studying me with sharp eyes that belied his casual demeanor. "Or someone?"

My throat went dry. "I was just… I got turned around. I was looking for the kitchen. I'm thirsty and I got lost, this house is a maze, you don't happen to have a map with you, do you?” I asked with a nervous laugh.

"Ah." His smile widened. "I know exactly where the kitchen is. Come on."

He started walking before I could protest. I followed because I had no choice. My legs felt like jelly.

The kitchen was enormous.

He poured me a glass of water and slid it across the counter. "Here. Drink."

I wrapped my hands around the glass, cold seeping into my fingers. I didn't drink. I just held it, trying to steady my breathing. "The woman," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mrs. Hathaway. Do you know where she is?"

His expression didn't change, but something shifted in his eyes. "Do you really think Antonio would keep her locked up in this house for you to find? She's not here, Sloane."

"Then where is she?" My voice cracked.

He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "She's safe. That's all I can tell you. She won't be harmed as long as you cooperate."

"That's not an answer," I snapped

"It's the only one you're getting,” He shot back.

“Look, I know you are worried about Mrs. Hathaway.” His voice was low now “But trust Antonio, he wouldn't hurt her. He already promised she'll be fine. He doesn't break a promise.”

“As if,” I scoffed. I took a sip of water, letting it slide down my dry throat, trying to ground myself. "Where did Antonio go? I heard cars leaving."

He studied me with those sharp eyes. "Curious about your fiancé's whereabouts already?"

"I'm curious why he'd leave right after dragging me here." My grip tightened on the glass. "Almost like he's running from something."

"Antonio doesn't run from anything." There was something hard in his voice. "He had business to deal with in Calabria.

Calabria.

The word hit me like a physical blow. I felt the blood drain from my face, felt my grip on the glass tighten until my knuckles went white.

"You have twenty-four hours to deliver the key, Diavolo. Or the others are gonna find out what really happened in Calabria.”

My mind raced trying to make sense of everything.

"Ms. Ashford, are you okay?"

"Mmm? Were you saying something?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.

"You seemed lost in your thoughts." His easy charm was gone now and replaced by something sharper.

I'm always lost in my thoughts now. There's nowhere else safe to be.

"I'm fine. I just…"

His phone buzzed against the counter. He glanced at the screen, and I watched his jaw tighten, watched whatever warmth had been in his face harden into something colder.

"Hold on." He pressed the phone to his ear and turned away, voice dropping low, clipped. Then, over his shoulder, sharper: "Don't wander around."

He disappeared down the hallway, phone still pressed to his ear.

Without thinking, I slipped past the kitchen door. I wasn't about to give up looking for Mrs. Hathaway. She has to be here somewhere.

After checking doors after doors without any sign of her. I was about to give up when my eyes caught something. The heavy oak door was slightly ajar.

It was Antonio's study.

I stepped in cautiously, my heart hammering. Mrs. Hathaway wasn't here. I was just about to leave when my hand knocked down a stack of documents.

Damn it.

I dropped to my knees trying to arrange them back in order. I'd barely started when something different caught my eye.

I picked it up and for a moment, my breath caught.

Victoria.

I stared at the word trying to steady my breathing.

My fingers desperately reached for the edge to unfold it when…

"You do have a habit of snooping around, don't you Ms. Ashford?"

The voice came from behind me, sharp as a blade.

I spun around. Enzo stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on the letter in my trembling hands.

He crossed the room before I could react, reached for the paper, and pulled it gently out of my trembling hands. He slipped it into his jacket pocket without looking at it.

“What did you see?” His voice was low, but beneath it I could hear the silent warning.

"That's my mother's name." My voice cracked midway through the sentence. "Why does Antonio have a letter with my mother's name on it?”