8. Mia
8
MIA
T he car pulls up to a grand villa, its white stone walls gleaming in the moonlight. I stare up at it, my heart pounding in my chest. This is to be my new home, my prison. The home of the man who kidnapped my sister, who nearly tore my family apart.
The man I’ve agreed to marry to save Dom's life.
Luca Strambo. The name echoes in my mind, a sinister whisper that sends chills down my spine.
As we step out of the car, I take in the sprawling estate. It’s beautiful in a cold, imposing way. Manicured gardens stretch out on either side of the winding driveway, punctuated by elegant statues and softly bubbling fountains. The villa itself is massive, a blend of modern luxury and old-world charm. Large windows reflect the starry sky, and I can see warm light spilling out from within.
It’s the kind of place I might have dreamed of living in once. Now, it feels more like a gilded cage.
Luca’s hand on my lower back guides me forward, his touch light but insistent. I resist the urge to flinch away. I’ve made my choice, and now I have to live with it.
As we enter the foyer, I’m struck by the opulence of the interior. Marble floors gleam beneath our feet, and a crystal chandelier casts dancing lights across the walls. Fine art adorns every surface, a testament to Luca’s wealth and taste.
It’s breathtaking… and terrifying in its grandeur.
“Welcome home, Mia,” Luca says, his voice as smooth as silk. The same voice that had charmed me on the terrace, when I thought he was Leonardo. The memory makes me feel sick.
I remain silent, not trusting myself to speak. Luca doesn’t seem to mind, leading me up a sweeping staircase to the second floor.
“Your room is this way,” he says, guiding me down a long hallway. “I hope you’ll find it comfortable.”
He opens a door, gesturing for me to enter. I step inside, my eyes widening despite myself. The room is stunning, far more luxurious than I expected. A massive four-poster bed dominates one wall, draped in rich, cream-colored linens. Plush carpets cover the floor, and a sitting area by the window looks out over the gardens. A door to one side leads to what I assume is an ensuite bathroom.
It’s not what I imagined a prison would look like.
“This will be your room until we’re married,” Luca says, leaning against the doorframe. “I hope you’ll find everything you need. If not, just ask one of the staff.”
I turn to him, unable to keep the confusion from my face. “When… when are we to be married?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Luca’s lips curl into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Tomorrow,” he says. “I’ve waited long enough, don’t you think? But don’t worry, I won’t claim you until it’s official. I’m not a complete monster.”
His words send a chill through me. Tomorrow. In less than twenty-four hours, I’ll be Luca Strambo’s wife. The thought makes me want to scream, to run, to fight. But I stay still, remembering why I’m here.
For Sofia. For Dom. For their unborn child.
“I see,” I manage to say, proud that my voice doesn’t shake. “Thank you for… for the room.”
Luca nods, his eyes never leaving my face. “Get some rest, Mia. Tomorrow is a big day.”
With that, he’s gone, closing the door behind him. I hear the soft click of a lock engaging, and my heart sinks. So much for not being a prisoner.
Left alone, I sink onto the edge of the bed, my mind whirling. How did I end up here? Just hours ago, I was at my birthday ball, surrounded by family and friends. Now, I’m in the home of a man I barely know, a man who has caused my family so much pain.
I remember the day we found out that Sofia had been kidnapped, just after her marriage to Dom. The panic, the fear, the way our father flew into a rage unlike anything I’d ever seen before. He had berated Dom, blaming him for putting Sofia in danger.
We never knew the name of the kidnapper, only that he was an enemy of the Sicura Family and now an enemy of the Marino Family.
And now I know. Now I belong to him.
A sob rises in my throat, and I clamp my hand over my mouth to stifle it. I won’t give Luca the satisfaction of hearing me cry. Instead, I force myself to think, to try and understand the situation I’m in.
It’s clear that Luca’s rivalry with Dom is the driving force behind his actions. He said he’s wanted one of the Marino daughters since he found out Dom had claimed Sofia.
Is that all I am to him? A prize to be won in his twisted game with Dom?
My fear grows as I consider what kind of suffering I might have to endure. I think of Bianca, of the stories I’ve heard about her early days with Rork. How he had been cruel, driven by his own rivalry with our father.
But Bianca’s story had a happy ending. She and Rork fell in love, found a way to move past the anger and pain.
I don’t think I’ll be so lucky.
Rising from the bed, I begin to pace the room, my mind racing. Could I run? The window isn’t that high, and there are plenty of trees in the garden that could provide cover. But even as I consider it, I know I can’t. If I run, I’ll be putting Sofia and Dom in danger again. I agreed to this marriage to save them, and I have to stay true to my word.
Besides, where would I go? Luca clearly has resources, connections. He’d find me, and who knows what he’d do then?
No, running isn’t an option.
I move to the window, looking out at the moonlit gardens below. They’re beautiful, tranquil. A stark contrast to the turmoil in my heart. I press my forehead against the cool glass, closing my eyes.
“I can do this,” I whisper to myself. “I have to do this.”
But even as I say the words, doubt gnaws at me. Can I really do this? Can I marry a man I fear, a man who has caused my family so much pain? Can I live in this beautiful prison, knowing that my life is no longer my own?
I think of Sofia, of the baby growing inside her. I think of Dom, of the love I’ve seen between them. They deserve their happiness, their chance at a family. If my sacrifice can ensure that, then… then maybe it’s worth it.
But oh, how it hurts. How it terrifies me.
I move away from the window, my eyes scanning the room. Despite its luxury, there are subtle reminders of my status here. The lock on the door. The lack of personal items. The knowledge that beyond these walls, Luca Strambo is waiting.
I wonder what he’s doing now. Is he celebrating his victory? Planning our wedding? Or is he thinking of me, locked away in this gilded cage?
A shudder runs through me at the thought of tomorrow. Our wedding day. The day I’ll officially become Luca Strambo’s wife.
Will it be a grand affair or a quick, quiet ceremony? Will I be allowed to wear white, to pretend at being a blushing bride? Or will Luca dress me up like a doll, parading me as his hard-won prize?
I sink into one of the plush armchairs by the window, drawing my knees up to my chest. For the first time since leaving the ball, I allow myself to cry. Silent tears stream down my face as I mourn for the future I’ve lost, for the dreams I’ll never realize.
I think of the conversation I had with “Leonardo” on the terrace. How I spoke of my desire to travel, to see the great libraries of the world. How naive I was, how foolish to think that I might find understanding, maybe even love, at that ball.
Now, my world has shrunk to the confines of this room, this house. My dreams of adventure and knowledge seem like childhood fantasies, lost in the harsh light of reality.
As my tears slow, I force myself to think practically. I need to survive this. I need to find a way to live in this new reality without losing myself completely. I may be Luca’s wife, but I refuse to be his victim.
A sudden surge of anger catches me off guard. It’s not directed at Luca, or even at the situation I’m in. No, this anger is aimed at the last people I expected—my parents.
My father, who pushed his daughters into marriages the moment we were barely legal, all in the name of tradition and protection. Why was marriage always the first thing on his mind? Why couldn’t he have let us grow, experience life a little before tying us down?
And my mother, who went along with it all, never once raising her voice in protest. Did she ever think about what we wanted, about our dreams and aspirations?
If my father hadn’t forced Sofia to marry Dominico so young, maybe none of this would have happened. Luca never would have had a reason to kidnap Sofia if she hadn’t been Dom's wife. We could have been normal sisters, living normal lives, instead of pawns in this dangerous game of power and revenge.
But just as quickly as the anger comes, it disappears, leaving me feeling hollow and guilty. How can I think such terrible things about my father, especially now that he’s gone? He only wanted to protect us, to ensure we were taken care of after he passed. The fortune hunters who circled our estate like vultures were a real threat, and in his own way, Papa was trying to shield us from that.
And really, where would we be without the men our father chose for us? Dominico, Rork, and Dante have become integral parts of our family, bringing strength and protection that we desperately needed after Papa’s death.
But then a nasty voice whispers in the back of my mind. Those same men couldn’t protect you from Luca, could they? All their strength, all their power, and here you are anyway.
I shake my head, trying to dispel these conflicting thoughts. It’s not fair to blame my parents or my brothers-in-law. The only person truly at fault here is Luca Strambo.
My mind drifts to my sisters and their marriages. Despite the rocky starts, they’ve all found happiness. Sofia and Dom, their love growing stronger with each challenge they face. Bianca and Rork, who moved past their initial animosity to build a true partnership. Chiara and Dante, who risked everything to be together, consequences be damned.
I’ve always dreamed of a happily ever after, just like in the books I love so much. I thought maybe, just maybe, I might find it at my birthday ball.
How naive I was, how foolish to think life could be like a fairytale.
My sisters got their happily ever afters, against all odds. But as I sit here in the home of a man who terrorized my family, I realize that my story might not have such a happy ending. The thought brings fresh tears to my eyes, and I let them fall silently in the darkness of my new room.
Rising from the chair, I begin to explore the room more thoroughly. The closet is filled with clothes in my size, everything from casual wear to elegant gowns. The bathroom is stocked with expensive toiletries, the scents familiar and comforting. It’s clear that Luca has prepared for my arrival.
How long has he been planning this?
But then I think back to when Luca kidnapped Sofia and my blood runs cold. Sofia and I are a similar size… are these the clothes he planned for her?
Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick.
But it’s a strange juxtaposition—the care taken in preparing this room and the violence of how I came to be here. I don’t know what to make of it, of Luca’s contradictions. The charming man on the terrace, the cold-blooded killer in the ballroom, the oddly considerate captor who’s given me this beautiful room.
Who is the real Luca Strambo?
And more importantly, how do I survive him?
As the night wears on, I find myself growing exhausted. The events of the day—the ball, the attack, the journey here—have taken their toll. Despite my fear, despite my racing thoughts, my body craves rest.
I discard the horrible green ballgown and change into a soft nightgown I find in the closet, the silk cool against my skin. It feels wrong to accept anything from Luca, but I push the thought aside. I need to pick my battles, and right now, I need to rest.
Climbing into the massive bed, I’m surprised by how comfortable it is. The sheets are soft, the pillows perfectly plump. It’s a far cry from the cold, hard cell I half-expected when Luca first brought me here.
As I lie in the dark, staring up at the canopy above me, I try to prepare myself for what’s to come. Tomorrow, I'll become Luca Strambo’s wife. I’ll have to stand beside him, pledge my life to him, knowing all the while that it’s a lie. That I’m only doing this to protect my family.
I wonder if he knows that. If he cares. Does he want a willing bride, or is he satisfied with having won this twisted game he’s playing with Dom?
I think of the stories I've heard about arranged marriages in our world. Some, like Sofia and Dom, find love. Others endure loveless unions for the sake of family alliances. And some… some suffer greatly at the hands of cruel husbands.
Which will I be? The loved wife? The tolerated alliance? Or the suffering victim?
I close my eyes, trying to push away the dark thoughts. I need to sleep. I need to be strong for whatever tomorrow brings. But sleep is elusive, dancing just out of reach as my mind continues to churn.
In the quiet of the night, I find myself whispering a prayer. Not to God—I’m not sure I believe anymore, not after everything that’s happened.
No, I pray to my sisters, to the strength they’ve shown. I pray to my father, to the lessons he taught us about survival in this cruel world.
“Give me strength,” I whisper into the darkness. “Help me survive this.”
One last thought floats through my mind as exhaustion finally begins to overtake me. A quote from one of my favorite books, a line that seems painfully appropriate now.
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
Jane Eyre’s words echo in my mind as I drift off to sleep. I may be trapped in this gilded cage, may be forced to marry a man I fear and despise, but I am still Mia Marino.
I still have my will, my mind, my heart.
And no matter what Luca Strambo does, he can’t take that from me. I won’t let him.
With that small spark of defiance burning in my chest, I finally succumb to sleep. Tomorrow will bring what it brings, but for now, in the quiet of the night, I allow myself this small moment of peace.
Whatever comes, I’ll face it. Because I have to. Because I’m a Marino. Because I made a choice to protect my family, and I’ll see it through.
Even if it breaks me in the process.