Alessia
We’ve been gathered in the small chapel that’s housed in the estate for what feels like an eternity, and Valentino still hasn’t shown up. Giovanni sent a message to him almost half an hour ago, but there’s been no sign of him. I’ve been standing at the end of the aisle, watching the doors with growing frustration, hoping that with each passing minute, he won’t come at all. Praying he changed his mind and called off this charade.
My father sits in the front pew, his foot tapping in annoyance. “I don’t see why we need to be here,” he mutters under his breath, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. “There are other matters that need my attention.” He’s been complaining all day, frustrated that the priest insisted the rehearsal was necessary.
Our mothers sit in the last row, their voices low as they go over last-minute details for tomorrow. I hear the occasional murmur of flowers and seating arrangements, but I can’t focus on any of it.
The heavy walnut doors creak, and I hold my breath, expecting to see Valentino saunter in with that smug grin of his. But when the doors swing open, it's not him. It’s Antonio.
For a moment, I’m frozen, memories of our past rushing back—the stolen glances, the fleeting touches, the quiet moments only we shared. He steps in, his eyes scanning the room for a brief second. Our eyes meet, and it’s as if the years fall away.
“Where is he?” Giovanni’s voice slices through the moment as he walks over to his nephew, pulling Antonio’s attention away.
Antonio hesitates, his gaze briefly looking over his uncle’s shoulder to the priest, who seems to understand the silent message and leaves the room without a word. Leaning in close to Giovanni, Antonio whispers something I’m unable to hear.
“On the night before his wedding?” he asked, a mix of shock and disappointment on his face.
“Yes, sir.”
Giovanni exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I have half a mind to call this whole thing off,” he mutters.
My head snaps up at his words, a spark of hope igniting in my chest.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” my father interjects, rising to his feet with an air of finality. “ knows her place,” he says coldly. He walks toward the door, his voice dismissive as he calls, “Let’s go. I have more important things to do as well.”
“Where are you going?” My mother asks, her voice soft as both she and Domenica look at my father expectantly.
“Valentino isn’t coming,” he replies, not bothering to hide his irritation.
“Is he okay?” Domenica asks concerned.
My father chuckles. “He’s more than fine—he’s buried in some pussy right now.”
Domenica gasps at my father’s crude language, her eyes darting to her husband, who stands frozen in the middle of the chapel. My mother remains silent, lips pressed into a thin line, her stance tense.
“Come along, ,” my father orders. “We’re going to dinner.”
“I’m not hungry,” I say quietly, having lost my appetite.
“Suit yourself,” he says with a shrug and turns to my mother. “Let’s go, Sophia. I’ve wasted enough time here.”
Giovanni lingers for a moment, turning back to me with a weary, almost apologetic look. Refusing to let Val’s disgusting behavior affect me in front of everyone, I offer him a reassuring smile. With his wife’s hand in his, they walk out together, leaving me alone with Antonio.
His gaze meets mine. “I’ll walk you to the dining room.”
“I’m not going to my wedding rehearsal dinner while my fiancé is screwing another woman,” I laugh bitterly. It’s not a secret we don’t love each other. Most men would’ve at least pretended the night before their wedding, but not Valentino.
Antonio sighs. “I’ll escort you back to your room.”
I shake my head slightly and step toward the door. "I didn’t say I was hiding in my room. I’m going for a walk." Without waiting for a response, I push the door open and step outside.
“, wait,” Antonio calls as he hurries to catch up to me, his footsteps heavy on the tiled floor. “What the hell are you up to?”
I stop abruptly, spinning around to face him. “Take me to Val,” I demand.
He blinks in surprise. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious,” I reply crossing my arms defiantly. “If you won’t bring me to him, then tell me where he is, and I’ll go myself.”
Antonio sighs, rubbing the back of his neck—a gesture so familiar it stirs something inside me. He always did that when he was trying to stay calm but couldn’t. "You can’t wander the grounds alone," he says, even though I already know that.
I smirk, tilting my head. "Then I guess you’ll have to escort me, won’t you?"
He shakes his head, muttering, "This is a terrible idea."
"I think it’s a brilliant idea," I shoot back.
Antonio holds my gaze for a moment, then lets out another sigh, clearly giving in. "Fine," he grumbles. "Let’s go."
* * *
Antonio leads me down so many hallways that I’m completely disoriented. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” I ask as we move deeper into the castle.
He gives me a confident nod as we stop in front of an old wooden door. “I’m positive,” he says, pushing it open and revealing a staircase descending into a lower floor. “Do you trust me?”
I hesitate, my gaze shifting between Antonio and the shadowy stairwell. If it were anyone else, my answer would be a hard no. But this is Antonio, the boy I once loved. My heart and mind battle each other for control as I weigh the risks. Finally, I whisper, “Yes, I trust you,” my voice barely steady, my eyes lingering on his deep blue ones longer than I should.
For a moment, his confident demeanor falters. I see it—the way his body relaxes, as if he’s just become painfully aware of how close we are. But then he catches himself, and his body tenses. “They’re a bit steep,” he says, his voice a little rougher than before as he holds out his hand.
I take his outstretched hand, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the spark we once had would reignite. But there’s nothing. His hand is warm, steady, but distant. And in that moment, I realize the truth I’ve avoided for so long—Antonio left me of his own free will. All the excuses I made for him, all the reasons I convinced myself must have forced him away... none of them mattered. He never cared enough to stay.
The wood creaks beneath our feet. “What’s all this down here?” I ask as I look down the narrow passage.
“Mainly rooms for staff. Break rooms and storage,” he explains. “But there’s also a few party rooms.”
“Why would anyone want to party down here? It’s creepy.”
Antonio chuckles, but his face turns serious as we come to a stop outside a door that’s flanked by two guards I don’t recognize. The muffled sounds of music come from the other side.
“You don’t have to do this,” Antonio says, turning to face me, a look of concern on his face.
“I want to,” I reply, standing my ground.
“What good’s it going to do?” Antonio pleads, lowering his voice. “It won’t change who he is, and you have nothing to prove.”
“I have everything to prove,” I snap. “I’m the one being forced to marry him. It’s me who’s going to be expected to wait in his bed until he’s ready to take his turn with me.” My voice trembles, but I stand my ground. “You’ll either open the door, or I’ll call my father’s men and have them do it for me.”
Antonio’s jaw tightens as he considers my words. Finally, he turns to the guards. “Let her in.”
They pull the door open, and I’m hit with the full force of the music. As I step inside, the dim lighting reveals a scene worse than I thought. A naked woman dances on a pole, her legs spread as she holds herself upside down. Several men are pleasuring themselves while they watch her performance.
My stomach churns as I look around. Women in various stages of undress are draped over men. Some are on their knees, their heads between spread legs. Others straddling laps, their breasts bounce as they ride the man under them. Off to my left, a woman is bent over the pool table, a man’s cock shoved in her ass as he thrusts from behind. Moans of pleasure and the smell of sex fill the air.
I lean closer to Antonio so he can hear me above the music and ask, “Where is he?”
Antonio motions toward the far corner of the room. My eyes follow until I spot him. My fiancé has his dick buried in the ass of a brunette, his hand fisted in her hair. She’s straddling another man who’s thrusting between her legs, her underwear shoved into her mouth like a gag.
For a moment, I’m stunned. I expected to find him with a woman, but not like this.
Antonio’s hand rests on my arm, his voice gentle but urgent. “, let me get you out of here. This isn’t worth it.”
I shrug off his touch, quickly forming a plan in my head. Looking around, I catch the eye of a handsome stranger sitting at the bar. His gaze locks on mine as I straighten my shoulder. “Game on,” I whisper as I walk toward him, swaying my hips.
“,” Antonio calls, but I ignore him as I stride past Valentino toward the handsome stranger.
Without breaking eye contact, he sets his drink down.
“What’s the sexiest man in the room doing by himself?” I ask, leaning into him.
Placing his hands on my hips, he pulls me between his spread thighs. “I was waiting for you.”
“Well, I’m here now.” I purr, biting my bottom lip. “What are you going to do with me?”
Before he can answer, a sharp voice cuts through the air. “What the fuck is going on here?” Valentino’s grip on my arm is tight as he yanks me away from the man.
“I’m just taking advantage of the entertainment,” he replies with a smug grin.
“She isn’t part of the entertainment,” Valentino snarls, his grip tightening painfully. “This is my fiancé.”
The man’s face pales. “Oh fuck,” He raises his hands, backing off quickly. “I had no idea.”
Valentino motions to someone, and the music suddenly cuts off. The whole room falls silent as he sneers, “Dante, take this piece of shit and get rid of him.”
“No,” I protest, pulling against his hold. “It’s not his fault. I approached him. He had no idea who I was.”
Valentino’s eyes darken. “Then, let this be a lesson for you. Don’t fuck around or people get hurt.”
“I heard you were having a party,” I snap, finally breaking free of his hold. “I figured I’d come and have some fun, too.”
“It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart,” he says coldly, gesturing toward Dante. “Get him out of my sight.”
“Antonio,” I plead, my voice desperate. “Do something to stop this, please.”
Valentino laughs. “Antonio’s a lowly soldier. He takes orders from me. ” He watches as Dante drags him away. “Make sure his death is slow and painful.”
The man’s terrified eyes stay locked on mine as tears spill down my face. My stomach drops, knowing it’s my fault he’s about to die.
“Val, please don’t do this,” I beg, but he shrugs utterly indifferently.
“He touched what didn’t belong to him,” Val says flatly as he takes a long, slow drink of the whiskey the bartender just handed him.
I stand there trembling with fear and fury. “What do I have to do to stop this?” I ask desperation in my voice.
The corner of Val’s mouth turns up in a sneer. “That’s not the way this life works, . You should know better than that.” He motions to Antonio. “Get her out of here so I can get back to enjoying my party.”
“I hate you,” I whisper, but he just laughs.
Antonio leads me to the door. Before we’re even out of the room, the music turns on, and the party resumes as though nothing happened. I glance back to see Valentino already inside a woman while he fondles another.
“,” Antonio says, drawing my attention.
“He’s a monster,” I murmur as I let him lead me out of the room.
We walk in silence, the tension heavy between us, until we round a corner. Without a word, Antonio suddenly steers me into one of the side rooms, closing the door quickly behind us.
“What are you doing?” I ask, panicked.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he pulls his cell from his pocket and taps the screen, putting it on speaker.
“Where are you?” a male voice answers.
“I’m with . I need a favor,” he replies, his eyes locked with mine.
“What’s wrong?”
“Val ordered a hit on Vincent Romano.”
“He did what?” the man asks, raising his voice.
“I need it stopped,” he says, his tone calm and steady. “I’ll explain later.”
There’s a long pause before he responds. “I’ll talk to Giovanni. Give me a minute.”
We wait in tense silence, my heart in my throat. After a few agonizing minutes, the man comes back on the line. “It’s done. Your uncle took care of it. Vince has been let go with our apologies.”
Relief washes over me, and I let out a breath.
“Your mother’s asking if you’re bringing over to the rehearsal dinner?”
I shake my head.
“She’s not feeling well,” Antonio replies without missing a beat. “I’m taking her back to her room.”
“Okay. Goodnight, son.”
Antonio disconnects the call and pockets his phone.
“Thank you,” I say, feeling the tightness in my shoulders ease.
“You can thank me by not being so reckless next time,” he replies.
Antonio walks me to my room in silence, his posture rigid, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He doesn’t look at me, his eyes fixed ahead. As we approach the door, my personal guards step forward, taking their positions.
“Thank you again,” I say.
Antonio gives a slight nod before turning and walking away.
The moment the door to my room closes, I lock it and lean against the wood. Reality crashes over me and my legs give way. Sinking to the floor, I pull my knees to my chest. The man I’m supposed to marry, the man who owns my future, is a monster. Tears sting my eyes, but I force them back.
Crying won’t save me from this nightmare. Nothing will.