Chapter 6
The day that I have been dreading has finally arrived.
Today, I will marry Ian Di Marco. I mean don’t get me wrong, he is attractive with dark hair and green eyes, though they still make me uneasy.
Though my mind keeps drifting to the man I met at my birthday half-engagement party at the bar.
His voice was deep and sent shivers down my spine.
The way he looked at me with his deep chocolate eyes, was as if he could see into my soul and see me for me.
His smile made my heart skip a beat. The way his suit fit his muscular body made me wonder what it would feel like to have my fingers explore his body.
To explore the tattoos, I saw poking from the collar of his dress shirt and the ones I saw on his hands.
Which is crazy when I really think about it.
Lusting after a man after meeting them one time? Who does that? Me apparently.
I’m stand in front of the mirror, and stare back at myself in my wedding dress after finally getting all the alterations done.
The pearls at the top of the dress and how they are all throughout the dress weave throughout with the inter-knit design.
The front dips low, just enough to give off sexy but not overly sexual.
The cap sleeves have the same design and make me feel a little more comfortable since my arms are not on total display.
The lace lining matches the scalloped cathedral veil.
At my waist, the design stops midway as the rest of the dress flares out into a tulle ballgown.
As my mother requested, I had the hairdresser curl my dark brown hair, so it cascades over my shoulders. My makeup is natural with a hint of glam around my eyes. My enormous engagement ring weighs down my hand and sparkle just a brightly as the diamond earrings my sister gifted me.
I drag my hands over the dress in front of the mirror when I hear the door to the church’s bridal suite open.
I watch my sister enter the room behind me through the mirror.
Her black bridesmaid’s dress fits her perfectly and needed no alterations.
The neckline stops right at her collar bone with the draped sleeves similar to mine.
It cinches at her waist, falling into an A-Line frame with a slit on the right side showing off her golden-tone legs.
Her hair is in a low ponytail, curled with a few lightly curled pieces in the front.
I picked black as this wedding is like a funeral and the look on my mother’s face when I chose black, was everything.
Lucia comes up next to me in the mirror and slides her hand into mine.
We interlock our hands together and give each other a squeeze.
“You don’t have to go through with this, Bella.
Dad does not care about anyone but himself.
This is barbic what he is doing!” We both are standing there, staring off into the abyss on what is to come from today and eventually this will be my sister when our father finds it necessary for her to be married off to some other crime family.
“Please don’t do this. Stand up for yourself and tell everyone to fuck off. ”
She is not wrong in the slightest. Being married off just to make the two families benefit from it is sick. No one thinks how this will affect the people being forced. All we are to our fathers is moving chess pieces.
“Lucia, you know what will happen if I decide to not go through with it.” I tell her all while trying to keep myself from not having a panic attack.
Her eyes meet mine in the mirror and she does not have to say a word because she knows I’m right. If I say no, she would be next regardless her age.
“I love you, Isabella.” She tells me as she squeezes my hand.
I just smile and say, “I love you, too.”
We both turn as the doorknob turns alerting us that someone else is coming into the suite. They swing the door open, and I close my eyes for a minute as I see it’s my mother and father entering the room with our older brother Joesph behind them.
My father is to speak first making Lucia and I squeeze our hands tighter. Our little sign that we are each other anchors.
“It’s time to get this show on the road, Isabella.
We can’t have you hiding in here forever pouting like the spoiled brat that you are.
I have no idea what Ian Di Marco will make of you and how you carry your damn self.
After today you’re his problem.” My father rambles off adjusting his tie before he leaves the room.
My mother of course wastes no time picking apart my appearance.
“Isabella, sweetheart, I think you could have lost ten more pounds, and that dress would have looked a tiny bit better on your body. Hopefully, Ian can look past that. That boy is striking. I’m sure he has women just throwing themselves at his feet.
” She turns to leave but before she does, she calls out to my sister.
“Lucia, darling, that dress was made for you. Your father will have his hands full tonight trying to find you a husband.”
Once they both have left, I let out a breath that I did not realize I was holding for less than a minute that they were in here.
Lucia is about to speak but Joseph beats her to it.
“Izzy don’t let our sad excuse of parents get to you.
There is still time for this wedding to not happen.
” He leans in and kisses me on the cheek.
“Just say the word and I will kill this asshole and get you out of here.” His face hardens at the last part.
I know that my brother would do anything for me and I for him.
I smile holding back the tears that beg to escape. I love my siblings more than anything in this world.
They leave the suite, and I take one last look in the mirror before I go to walk down the aisle to my new prison.
The music starts to play as my sister is first to walk down the aisle.
I get a glimpse of all the guests that are attending this wedding.
Nearly everyone is a damn stranger to me.
They all are either other mafia families, politicians, associates or whatever.
Yes, some of our family is here but not many.
My father grabs my arm, loops it with his and he mumbles, “Time to get this over with, Isabella. Now, smile and look happy. Don’t embarrass this family.” He reaches for the veil before we make our way.
I close my eyes and count to five before I open them back up.
The veil now over my face, which I rather enjoy.
It helps me keep distance from what’s about to happen since I can’t see much.
The doors open again the music changes to “Ave Maria” for me to walk down the aisle.
Everyone, facing the door from the pews.
Every pair of eyes are on me. I plaster on the fakest smile.
The high ceilings with stone columns and the stained-glass artwork are illuminated by the sun shining through.
The intricate designs on the columns explain the history of God.
The candles line the aisle, giving off a glow with the lights dimmed and covered with white dahila’s.
There was no expense lost. My mother had full control of this wedding.
I always dreamed of a small, intimate wedding with my husband and few friends and family.
But she, of course, would not have that.
It had to be over the top and expensive.
Ian stood on the altar next to the priest with a sly smile on his handsome face.
His black tux fits him well with his dark hair slicked back, face perfectly shaven and his green eyes are watching my every move.
I keep thinking of how this man is going to be my first real kiss, my first man I will be alone with let alone the first man who will see my body naked.
He is going to see the rolls on my stomach with the stretch marks, the cellulite on my thighs and ass.
I hate looking at my own body, and I know he will be disgusted.
I’m nowhere ready to have sex with him and I know he is going to expect it.
Lucia locks eyes with me, pleading for me to stop but I can’t. My father and I reach Ian as he steps down to greet us.
The priest smiles and speaks loudly with his voice bouncing off the walls. “Who presents this woman to be married to this man?”
My father puffs out his chest and says, “I do.” He leans in, lifts my veil and kisses my cheek to show what an adoring father he is.
He then takes my hand and places it into Ian’s.
Ian bends down to make it seem he is saying sweet nothings. “Hope you’re ready for tonight to perform your wifely duties.” His words send a shiver down my back making me feel uneasy.
I can’t shake this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know there is no way for me to stop this whole charade of a marriage because my father would kill me without a second glance. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I close my eyes, pushing down the rising bile.
My legs feel like they weigh five million pounds and Ian has to practically pull me up the steps to that altar.
I pass my bouquet mix of white hydrangeas and greenery before Ian takes both of my hands in his.
He rubs each of his thumbs over the back of my hand.
His hands are rough and dry, making mine feel itchy.
The priest speaks to the congregation. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirt, Amen.”
We all respond. “Amen.”
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We all echo, “Amen.”
He continues to a prayer. “O God, who created man and woman in your image, and joined them in the bond of marriage, we humbly ask your blessing upon your servants, Isabella Rose Costa and Ian Alberto Di Marco who now come before you to be united in the sacrament of matrimony.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see a figure standing at the back of the church hidden in the shadows.
They start to move and walk down the aisle as the priest reads from his Bible.
Everyone has their head bowed listening to the prayer.
“Grant them your grace to love and cherish one another faithfully throughout their lives, and may their union be a reflection of the love between Christ and his Church. We pray this through Christ and our Lord. Amen.”
I turn my head slightly before everyone lifts their heads to the rushing at the back of the church.
My eyes lock onto the most chocolate eyes I have ever seen.
Don Ricci. I could not forget his eyes. They have been appearing in my dreams. Now, they are here making me feel like I’m on fire from the inside.
Ian raises his head along with the priest and the congregation. He turns his head to see who has my attention, and when he sees its Don Enzo Ricci, the hold of my hands in his tightens. Ian growls with everyone turning in their seats as well.
“Son, what brings you––––”
“My deepest apologies, Father, for speaking before you ask for any objections.” He stops just a little over midway of the aisle. He has one hand in his pocket with the other across his black suit jacket. “This matter could not wait a second longer.”
My body starts to come alive at the alter staring at the man who has been taking up space in my head.
In my dreams. Don Enzo Ricci. He appears like the dark prince I remember from the party a few months ago.
The sharpness of his jaw beneath his light stubble is more pronounce under the lights of the church.
My fingers itch to run along it to feel its coarseness against their tips.
He’s dressed in all black, like the night I met him a few months ago.
Crisp black button up shit, the top few are undone with his tanned and tattoos on display.
I can’t move or look away as I’m frozen in place from his stare.
In a blink of an eye, he reaches around his back, pulls out his gun and aims it at Ian. My dream turns into a nightmare. The rumors of Don Enzo Ricci are real. He is dangerous. This cannot be happening. I need to move but my feet are stuck.
My eyes widen and I gasp, drawing my hand away from his to distance myself.
Ian drops my hands and tries to reach for his and never moves in front of me to protect me.
Screams bounce off the walls, people duck down, the Di Marco’s stand.
Lucia darts behind the podium. The priest is frozen in place.
And my father sits calmly and checks his watch.
In slow motion, I feel like I am watching a movie as the gun goes off making a loud banging sound. The next sound that I hear is my own piercing scream and covered in blood.