Deck the Halls and Hide the Bodies #2
Just as I sigh and run a hand through my hair, someone knocks on my front door. I flinch like the scared little bitch Matteo made me to be with all those unfinished threats, but I remind myself it’s most likely my brother coming here to pick me up and head downstairs to open the door for him.
News flash: it’s not my brother.
To hell, I don’t even fully get to see who it is because the moment I swing the door open, a black bag is forced over my head and I’m grabbed by someone who’s too strong not to be Hulk himself.
“God damn it, what’s going on!” I demand and try to kick my legs with all my strength since my arms are trapped at my sides by his hold.
It’s the stupidest idea ever because once my heel collects with what I assume is a kneecap, the man holding me grunts and someone else punches me in the stomach so hard, my breath hitches.
“Stay quiet, Doc,” the man holding me growls and carries me away from my house.
I’m still trying to remember how to breathe when I hear a car door open and simply because my life is a fucking joke at this point, the man doesn’t release me. Instead, he sits in the car with ME ON HIS LAP, and tightens his hold around me like I’m a flight risk.
For your information—they’re not wrong. I am a flight risk and I will absolutely take off the moment the chance presents itself to me.
Someone starts the car, but no one speaks, so I’m left trapped with unanswered questions and the worst scenarios running through my mind. Fuck me, I’m losing my mind.
I don’t know how long the car ride ends up to be, but when it finally stops, the one who holds me steps out of the vehicle and carries me somewhere.
“This would be a great moment to tell me what’s going on,” I say bitterly, hating the bag on my head even more because I can’t see even a damn thing.
Maybe knowing where I’m being taken would put my mind at ease, if only a tiny bit.
“Zip it, Doc,” the man grumbles near my ear and tightens his hold around me so much, I let out a pained sound.
What has my life become? It’s not enough that I’m forced to work for a crime syndicate because of my parents stupid debts, and now I’m enjoying being kidnapped? This isn’t the Christmas I imagined, not even close.
Since I can’t rely on seeing something because, duh, the bag, I try to hold my breath and listen.
The man carries me through long corridors, and for a second there, I assume it might be the hospital I’m taken to because Matteo needs me to harvest some more body parts for another one of his twisted schemes. However, when someone opens the door and it creaks loudly, I realize it can’t be it.
I hear some gasps and quite a few whispers around us, but the voices mix together and I can’t really tell what any of them say while I’m still carried like a rag doll.
Once my feet hit the floor, I’m both relieved and terrified. I want the bag removed as much as I want it to stay on simply because I’m that damn scared to see where and why I’ve been taken.
Not surprisingly, the choice isn’t up to me because the moment that brute of a man releases me, he yanks the bag off my head and slaps my back far too forcefully than truly necessary. “Congrats, Doc,” he grumbles and steps aside.
For a moment, I stand frozen, blinking my eyes as I try to force my vision to focus. When it does, I let out a sound that can be mistaken for a wail of pain and surprise at the same time.
I’m standing in a chapel, right next to an altar behind which stands a priest with the widest shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen. But that’s not enough, Lord, that really isn’t enough...
The place is filled with faces I’ve seen a few times too many—nearly every man from Matteo’s organisation, their families, my own family and Matteo himself stands nearby, smirking at me like he just proved a point.
And did he prove a point... That fucking asshole.
The point in this case is Eva, wearing a princess style wedding dress, holding a bouquet of flowers and looking nothing like the mafia enforcer she is.
“What—” I choke out, but the word passes my lips as a weak whisper, even I barely hear it.
Matteo uses the chance and walks closer to stand next to me. His hand lands on my shoulder heavier than it should as the infamous Don clears his throat and speaks up. “Dearly beloved, we have gathered here to celebrate the marriage of Doctor Lucian Vale and a dear friend of mine, Eva Mercer.”
My heart does about everything but stop the moment those words leave his mouth. I must look like a fish out of the water because what the fuck?
Matteo, seeing my reaction, grips my shoulder and shakes me a little.
“Smile, Doc, you wouldn’t want the family to assume you haven’t found the love of your life, would you?
Look at them, the proud parents, mom’s already dabbing at her eyes, watching her baby boy finally settle down.
I bet your inner organs she’s already planning the timeline for grandbabies. ”
I turn my head and blink at him like an idiot because there isn’t anything I could say that could be an appropriate reaction to the shitstorm he’s handing me over.
Matteo grins at me and tightens his grip as he leans closer to whisper.
“Don’t get her pregnant off the bat, I’m sure we can agree that waiting for a year or two will be the best scenario for all of us.
After all, I need my enforcer to be able to do her job, not hide at home and change diapers. Keep it in your pants, eh?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Matteo beats me to it. “Just kidding, just kidding, Doc. You’re free to enjoy your wife for as long as you wrap it up. I’m serious, Lucian, no kids for now. Disobey me and the first kid you father will be your last one.”
My eyes widen and I’m pretty sure everyone who’s gathered to witness whatever this is can hear how loudly I swallow.
Matteo grins, removes his hand from my shoulder and winks at me before he turns around to address the guests again. “Sorry about that, Doc needed some encouragement—nerves. Let’s get started, shall we?”
The guests laugh like it’s a great joke, which it clearly isn’t, but Matteo doesn’t seem a bit bothered and neither does Eva.
She’s just standing there, looking like a real life princess, genuinely happy, grinning like this truly is the best day of her life, not one of the twisted schemes her boss is pulling off to tighten his reins of control.
I glance around nervously and all I see are happy faces, smiles, grins, and some tears. There isn’t even one person who looks a tiny bit opposed to this union. Clearly, nobody seems to grasp the fact that I’ve been kidnapped and brought here by force either.
As if on cue, Matteo slaps my back painfully and forces a grin as he whispers to me, “step closer to your bride, Doc. This might be a wedding, but we all still own guns.”
I gulp and quickly obey, stepping closer to Eva and taking her hand in my trembling one. Leaning in to pretend I’m pressing my lips to her cheek, I whisper, “are you okay with this?”
Eva lets out a quiet laugh, this is the first time I hear it, and I’m struck with how beautiful the sound is. How a being that looks as out of this world beautiful and laughs so melodically can be as brutal as Eva, is beyond me.
“Don’t worry, Lucian, the Don has our best interest at heart. He doesn’t want the repeat of the last incident and prefers that I have a doctor at my side at all times. And besides, I’m not too opposed to the idea of becoming a doctor’s wife.”
Before I can answer, Matteo is speaking again. “Okay, loved ones, settle down, the ceremony is about to begin.”
For a split second, I consider if there’s any chance of escape, but then I remember the not so subtle threat about the guns and reach out to take Eve’s free hand in mine.
The moment our skin touches, I swear I’m looking at a brand new woman. Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink and the corners of her lips lift in a soft, shy smile. God damn it, I know this woman is a monster, but fuck me, is she gorgeous.
My eyes don’t leave her while the priest starts the ceremony.
I’m only half listening, too focused on Eva to care.
There’s a moment he asks if anyone knows a reason why Eva and I shouldn’t be wed, but no one speaks up, I’m sure it’s because Matteo and his men open their suit jackets to show off the gun holsters.
Eventually, when the priest asks if we have written our vows, it’s my turn to blush and panic. I consider saying no, but Eva nods, so I decide to improvise. I don’t even know why I’m so dead set on impressing her, but oh well, I just am.
I squeeze her hand and meet Eva’s gaze before I speak. “I never thought I’d stand here, never imagined finding someone to share my life with—until you. So today, I promise to keep your heart beating, no matter what it costs. Even if I have to crawl through gunfire for you, I will.”
Eva’s eyes fill with tears as the smile on her lips stretches a little wider.
I want nothing but to reach out and soothe her, but she closes her eyes, takes a calming breath and says her vow.
“I vow to protect what’s mine. I vow to hurt anyone who touches you, to remind you who you belong to every day for the rest of your life.
” Eva opens her eyes and meets my gaze with burning intensity.
“I vow to break you and keep the pieces in a place only I have access to.”
Her vows sound like threats, not promises of love and companionship, but it’s such an Eva thing to say that I can’t be mad at all.
The guests have fallen completely silent, even the priest looks taken aback until he manages to ramble off something I don’t pay attention to and pronounces us husband and wife.
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest says loudly and I don’t hesitate for a single moment to do just that.
I drop Eva’s hand, take a step closer, cup her cheeks and lean in to press my lips to hers.
The kiss is gentle and slow at first, then she grabs the collar of my shirt roughly and deepens the kiss, her lips moving against mine with such hunger, it feels like she’s trying to ruin me for any other woman.
Cheers fill the chapel, but I pay it no mind, too focused on the taste of the lips of a wife I never asked for.
When we finally pull apart, both of us are panting and Eva grins. “I hurt people for living, Lucian, consider me highly qualified to love you,” she whispers and tugs on the collar of my shirt sharply to pull me in for another heated kiss.