Chapter 11
Yuki
I haven’t slept much the past week, and the trip from Tokyo to New York was very exhausting.
As I’m standing in the hotel room, wearing a simple white wedding dress, my nerves are frayed, and I’m out of tears to cry.
My heart is beating a mile a minute, and my mouth is dry, but I know if I drink something, I’ll vomit.
“Let’s get this over with,” Yutaro grumbles as he opens the door.
My feet remain rooted to the spot, and I shake my head. My voice is nothing more than a croak. “I can’t.”
Drawing his gun, Yutaro aims the weapon at me as he comes closer. He presses the barrel to my forehead and snaps, “If you don’t marry Vitale, you are of no use to the Yakuza!”
My eyes squeeze shut as I suck in a quivering breath.
“Are you dying today or getting married?”
Knowing I have no choice, I whisper, “I’m getting married.”
He grabs hold of my arm, and I’m roughly hauled out of the room and toward the elevators. He doesn’t let go of me as we travel to the first floor, and not caring what other people might think, I’m dragged to a hall where Yakuza soldiers are waiting with the Cosa Nostra.
There’s no music. No flowers. No other women.
Just me in a room full of dangerous men.
Yutaro only eases his biting hold on my arm when we reach Mr. Vitale, then he orders in Japanese, “Do not bring shame to the Yakuza! If you do not go through with this marriage, I will kill you right here.”
I nod and swallow hard on the dry lump in my throat.
The man who’s officiating the ceremony has us repeating words that feel like nails being hammered into my coffin.
I keep staring at the dark green tie Mr. Vitale is wearing. It brings out the color of his eyes, which I only looked at once.
I can feel anger and danger coming off him in waves, and with every passing second, I grow tenser.
I begin to feel faint, but luckily, I manage to say ‘I do’ when it’s expected of me. Mr. Vitale takes hold of my hand and pushes a beautiful diamond ring onto my finger.
I tremble so much when it’s my turn, and I almost drop the plain wedding band. When I push it onto Mr. Vitale’s finger, it feels like another piece of me dies.
How many pieces do I have left before all of me is dead?
“You’re husband and wife,” the man officiating the ceremony says. I think he’s Mr. Vitale’s lawyer, but I can’t be sure because too much is happening for me to focus on such a trivial thing.
Mr. Vitale steps closer, and when he leans down, I stop breathing. For a second, our eyes meet before he presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
Maybe he wants to wait until we’re alone before he kisses me on the mouth?
The thought has revulsion rippling through me.
“Yuki!” Yutaro snaps, ripping me out of the harrowing thoughts. “Sign the register.”
I follow the men to a small table and sign my life away on the dotted line.
Once Yutaro has signed as my witness, he says, “I’m leaving. Be a good wife.”
With bitterness and hatred in my heart, I watch as my father’s guard dog walks away.
“Ready?” Mr. Vitale asks.
I keep my head turned away from him as I answer, “Yes, Mr. Vitale.”
“Call me Augusto.”
Right. He’s my husband.
He can do whatever he wants to me.
I’m his property.
The stark reality that I’m married to Augusto Vitale hits hard, and I sway on my feet from the crippling blow.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
Still not looking at him, I nod.
When he places his hand on my back, my body jerks and I clench my hands into fists. The wedding ring feels uncomfortable between my fingers.
As we walk out of the hall with the rest of the Cosa Nostra, a man I haven’t seen before comes toward us.
“I’ve loaded Yuki’s luggage into the SUV.”
“Thanks, Lorenzo,” Augusto replies.
I traveled with three bags. Most of my clothes are new to impress Augusto. I managed to hide my box containing my sentimental items from Yutaro and was able to bring it with me to New York.
When we leave the hotel, I’m hit with a blast of chilly autumn air before I climb into the backseat of one of the SUVs.
Augusto gets in beside me, and once the vehicle begins to move, he lets out a sigh. “We’re going to my parents' house for the reception. My family is looking forward to meeting you.”
Caught by surprise, my gaze darts to his face, but the second I see the anger and danger swirling in his green eyes, I look down at my hands on my lap.
At least it gives me more time before I’m forced to have sex with him.
Staring out the window, I don’t take in any of the foreign city.
Suddenly, Augusto’s hand comes up, and I squash my body into the seat while turning my face farther away.
“Sorry, I just wanted to point out that our house is down that street.”
The ringing returns to my ears, and my vision goes spotty for a moment.
Augusto takes hold of my chin, and I don’t even have it in me to flinch as my head swims with a dizzying feeling.
“Yuki?”
When I blink, my sight comes into focus, and I see a concerned but upset expression on Augusto’s face. “You don’t look well. Would you rather go home?”
No! I’m not having sex with this man a second sooner than is absolutely necessary. I want to go to the reception.
I shake my head and sweep my tongue over my dry lips. “I’m fine. Sorry.”
Not looking too sure about my decision, he settles back into his seat. He stares at me for a moment, then he says, “I didn’t get to say it earlier, but you look beautiful.”
Knowing it’s expected of me, I reply, “Thank you.”
I’m unable to tell him he looks attractive in the tuxedo because I don’t have it in me to give him a compliment.
As a tense silence fills the SUV, I think about everything that’s happened…
Everyone who died. Augusto and his friends beating me for days.
The excruciating pain. The dental work I had to get done.
The injections to dissolve the filler. The gnawing hunger.
All the slaps and threats. Being degraded over and over again.
It all makes what I had to endure before the night at the club look like a walk in the park.
You’re holding on to this awful life for Ryo.
What if it’s all for nothing? What if Ryo never finds me?
“We’re here,” Augusto says, his voice breaking through my thoughts.
The SUV is steered through heavy iron gates, and I see cottages to my left before I look at the mansion that’s my in-laws’ home.
A mixture of intense isolation and disorientation wraps around me like a dark cloud as I’m forced to step into this foreign world. Nothing is familiar. Not the air. Not the buildings. Not the people.
The men get out of the SUV, and when the door beside me opens, my tense muscles protest as I climb out. My gaze sweeps over the flowers, tables, and people, and I hear music playing softly in the background.
Everyone stares at me, and it makes me want to cringe into myself.
A middle-aged couple approaches us, and when the woman smiles at me, nerves spin in my stomach.
“Hi, Yuki. Welcome to the Vitale family,” the man, who looks as dangerous as my new husband, says. “I’m Franco, Augusto’s father.”
I bow my head to show him respect. “Thank you.”
The woman’s features are much softer. “I’m Samantha. Augusto’s mom.”
She moves closer to me, a sad expression tightening her beautiful features. Taking hold of my hand, she says, “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. I’m going to do my best to make you feel at home.”
As I look into her eyes that are the same green as Augusto’s, I don’t see any malice, but I don’t let my guard down.
Again, I bow my head. “Thank you.”
“Come, let’s get the celebration started,” Franco says.
We follow Augusto’s parents to where a large group of guests is waiting, and I’m introduced to so many people that it’s impossible to remember everyone’s names.
Everything is very overwhelming.
“Would you like something to drink?” Augusto asks, his tone almost gentle.
Surprised, I glance up at him before I nod. “Please.”
“What would you like?”
My throat is so dry it feels scratchy, and I fear that if I drink soda or alcohol, I might get sick. “Water.”
I watch as he gives an order to a server before he looks at me again. Not seeing anger in his eyes, I assume it’s because we’re surrounded by his family.
“How are you holding up?” he asks.
Samantha keeps looking at us, and I think it’s the only reason Augusto is being nice to me.
“I’m fine,” I reply.
The server gets my attention, and my eyes lock on the glass of water. When Augusto hands it to me, I try to remember my manners and drink slowly.
The cool liquid eases my dry throat, but then my eyes lock on a familiar face.
I lower the glass, staring at Gianna and Riccardo as they come toward us.
Kuso!
My heart rate speeds up dangerously fast, and by the time they reach us, panic and fear coil tightly around the pounding organ in my chest.
Knowing it’s expected of me, I place the glass down on the nearest table before I lower myself to my knees. Keeping my head bowed, I say, “I apologize for staring at you in the club and causing so much trouble.” Augusto takes hold of my arm, and as he pulls me to my feet, I whimper, “I’m so sorry!”
I was told to apologize to Riccardo. I don’t understand!
“Jesus,” Samantha snaps, and the next instant she wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“I didn’t mean to cause more trouble,” the words rush from me. “I just want to apologize.”
“It’s okay, Yuki,” Samantha says, then I’m in for the shock of my life as she draws me into a warm embrace. “It’s okay. You don’t have anything to apologize for. You’re not in trouble.”
I stand frozen as Augusto’s mother gives me a hug, and when tears sting the backs of my eyes, I remember to blink.
The last time I was held like this was when Ryo and I were playing in the bamboo forest.
My chin quivers, and I fight for all that’s dear not to cry in front of all these people.
When Samantha pulls back, Gianna smiles at me and says, “Everything is in the past. Today we’re celebrating a new beginning.”
Wanting her to understand, I explain, “I stared at you because you’re so beautiful and I liked the dress you were wearing. You made such a stunning couple, and I could see how much you loved each other. It mesmerized me.”
“It’s really okay, Yuki,” Riccardo says.
The urge to cry almost overwhelms me as I look at the man who’s now my brother-in-law. “I’m sorry Kentaro looked for trouble with you, and that Sho shot you.” This time, I mean it when I bow my head to him. “Please accept this apology from me and not the Yakuza.”
“I accept it,” Riccardo replies. “Let’s not talk about it again.”
“Bring out the champagne,” I hear Franco say. “We can all use a drink right now.”
Gianna hooks her arm through mine and gives me another pretty smile. “You look so tense. Try to enjoy the rest of your wedding day.” Her eyes keep darting over my face, then she chuckles, “You look completely different and so beautiful in the dress.”
Some warmth creeps into my heart, and the corner of my mouth lifts for the first time in months. “Thank you.”