Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Will
The first thought I have when I first lay eyes on Gianna is that she is extremely beautiful.
It’s a soft beauty. Old Hollywood style.
My mom used to love watching Audrey Hepburn films and she would make me sit down and watch them with her.
After she passed, I found myself watching those films of my own free will.
Gianna reminds me of those films. She’s a black and white actress. A silent one at that.
She stares at Marco in shock when he proposes marriage to her.
I can’t blame her. When Marco told me of his idea – to kidnap Gianna for him to marry her – I thought it was fucking nuts.
But he paid me well and I’ll do most things for money.
I try not to have a conscience that’s going to make me upset with what I do for said money.
“Are you a simpleton?” Marco asks. “Did you hear what I said?”
“You… want to marry me?” she whispers. Her wedding dress clings to her body perfectly. I shouldn’t notice things like that but I am a man after all. It’s hard not to notice a beautiful woman even in a situation like this. “Why?”
“To hurt your brother. He thought he could team up with the Bratva with no consequences but that’s bullshit.
There are consequences. We never should have worked with those filthy Russians.
We’re proud Italians. The true Mafia. Debasing ourselves is not something I agreed with.
Your brother needs to learn this lesson.
So that’s why I’m taking you from him. So he’ll know he can’t just play fast and loose with all of us. ”
“But… why marry me?”
“Because then you’ll be bound to me forever.
I will carve out my own leadership within the mafia.
Your brother won’t be able to take me down.
But I need a powerful name like yours at my side.
So, Gianna, you will marry me. And it’s perfect that you’re already in the dress.
This afternoon, we’ll get married. Until then, you’re going to stay here.
Will, put her in one of the guest rooms. I don’t need my wife getting hurt in the process. ”
She startles when I take her arm and nudge ger down the hallway. “Who are you?” she asks me. I still haven’t taken my ski mask off. It’s for my own protection in this job. The less people who know my face, the better.
“I am a man who’s doing his job. That’s all.”
“Your name is Will. You can help me. You don’t have to do this.”
I open the door to the guest bedroom and nudge her inside. “I do have to do this. It’s my job. Now, get in.”
She doesn’t put up as much of a fight as I’m expecting. Almost like she’s used to being told what to do. I shut the door behind her and lock it. Gianna doesn’t scream or fight to be let out. She’s as quiet as a mouse. Interesting.
I finally take my ski mask off as I head back to Marco. “It’s done. She’s all yours. You don’t need me anymore.”
“But I do need you, Will. You’re going with us to the church. You’ll act as my bodyguard just in case Enzo decides to join us. Here.” He pulls out another wad of dollar bills in an envelope.
I take the money. It’s nothing to me.
Gianna
After a few hours of pacing around the room and searching for a way out – there isn’t any – the door to my room is finally opened and the man in the ski mask returns.
Will, he said his name was. He still has his face hidden from me.
It makes him even more terrifying. The man who kidnapped me.
Well, under the orders of Marco Amato, but that doesn’t make this man any better.
Without a word, he takes my arm and guides me out of the room. I should be fighting harder but I’ve never had to fight in my entire life before. I don’t know how to do it.
I’ve been beaten into submission by Francesca. I’ll be beaten into submission by Marco I’m sure unless Enzo can find me in time. Unless he can save me in time.
But then I’ll just be given to Nico and is that what I want either? No. What I truly crave is pure and utter freedom to make my own choices in life. Something I’ve never had.
Will walks me to the black car out front and makes me get in the back seat where Marco is. Still remaining silent, Will gets behind the wheel and drives us away from the house.
Towards the church where I’ll be married to Marco.
I don’t say a word to Marco as he gazes at me with an expression I don’t like. One of curiosity and desire. He’s a handsome man, I’ll give him that. He could have any woman he chose but he chose me because of revenge.
Enzo tried so hard to protect me and all of his efforts were in vain.
We arrive at a church in an area of New York I’m not familiar with, meaning I don’t know where to go if I can’t get the chance to escape.
But that’s laughable. I’m not going to escape from this. Not when I don’t have a weapon and have no fighting skills and I’m surrounded by men much stronger and more skilled than I am.
Marco takes my arm – sending shivers down my spine – as we walk into the church. Will, still in his ski mask, follows behind. The glint of his gun is noticeable in his jacket pocket as he walks. I swallow hard.
A priest waits at the end of the aisle. His eyes shift back and forth, like he’s afraid, but he doesn’t say a word. Marco must have threatened the priest to marry us. There’s no other way this could be happening.
“Begin, Father,” Marco says, as we stand at the altar, side by side as if we’re an actual couple in love who want to get married.
The priest gulps and then nods. “We are gathered here today –,” he’s cut off when the doors of the church are burst open.
And in walks my brother with Nico at his side.
Marco’s eyes widen. I guess he didn’t expect my brother to be able to find me so fast. I have no idea how he did it but I’m not complaining. I’m going to be saved.
I take a step in my brother’s direction when Marco grabs my arm.
“You are not taking her back, Enzo.”
My brother lifts his gun. “I will shoot you in the head if you don’t let her go.”
Marco shoves me towards Will. “Take her back. I got this.” He withdraws his own gun and begins firing at my brother. Both Enzo and Nico dive behind pews to avoid getting shot. I let out a cry.
Will picks me up bridal style and carries me out of the church through a side door while Marco continues to rain bullets down on my brother.
“Let me go!” I cry. “Let me go!”
“Sorry,” Will says in his deep voice. “I can’t do that.”
“How can you be so heartless? That’s my brother in there.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
His answer makes my heart go numb.
He drives me back to Marco’s mansion and carries me to the guest bedroom. “You’ll remain in here until Marco returns.”
“Please,” I beg. “Please just let me go. My family has money. A lot of it. I can pay you even more than what Marco is paying you.”
He hesitates. “How much?”
“I…” I have no idea how much money Enzo actually has as he’s never spoken with me about it. But surely it’s a lot.
Will huffs. “Your brother will never pay me. Not after I kidnapped you. So, I’m afraid, Gianna, that you’re going to have to remain in here.” He shuts the door behind him and locks it once more.
The only thing I can do is let out the loudest scream I have ever made in my entire life.
Will
I remove my ski mask, able to breathe again.
This has all gone to shit. Marco was supposed to marry Gianna and then I’d be free to move on to my next mission.
But instead, I have to babysit Gianna until Marco returns.
If he’ll even survive the shootout. If he doesn’t, then I guess I’ll let Gianna go and move on to another job.
No point in keeping her in a room to die.
If I’m not being paid to kill someone, then I’m not going to kill them.
Marco bursts through the front door an hour later. For some reason, I feel a small pang of annoyance at the sight of him, though I’m not sure why.
“That fucker,” Marco growls, running his hand down his face. He’s covered in sweat but no blood. “I managed to get away but he’ll be coming here soon. I didn’t expect Enzo to find me that fast. He’s good. Too fucking good.” With a snarl, he kicks the coffee table, knocking it on its side.
“What do you want me to do? It will cost you more.”
“That’s fine. If I marry Gianna, then Enzo is just going to find me again today. He’s going to kill me.”
“Wasn’t he always?”
“He wasn’t supposed to find me that fast. I was supposed to marry Gianna, gain more strength from that, before he came after me. Fuck. This changes things.” He’s quiet for a beat before he nods. “Kill the girl.”
For some reason, I startle and I’m not one to startle easily. “Kill her? Why?”
“I pay you to do your job and not ask questions.”
“Of course.”
Marco sighs, falling onto the couch. “It’s because she’s too much of a hassle. Killing her will send a message to Enzo that I’m stronger than him.”
“But won’t it piss him off enough to come kill you?”
“Yes but then I’ll get out of town. I’ll go build my strength somewhere else. And then come back and take him down.”
I look down the hallway towards Gianna’s door. And for some strange reason, I don’t want to kill her. Maybe it’s her pretty face. Maybe it’s the way she seemed to accept her fate. Maybe it’s the way I felt awe-struck when I first laid eyes on her.
But I don’t want to kill her.
“You can still marry Gianna,” I say. “Take her with you. Get out of town. Make your mark on the world that way.”
Marco considers my words until he nods. “I could do that. Killing Gianna would be a waste. I can still use her. You’re right, Will. For a hitman, you provide good advice.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Take the girl to one of my other houses. It’s in Massachusetts. I’ll join you eventually but I’m going to another one of my properties in case Enzo catches wind of where I am. If he does, then he won’t find Gianna right away. I’ll text you the address.”
“It’s going to cost you more.”
With a sigh, he nods. “That’s fine. Just do as I say.”
After finishing our talk, I go to Gianna’s room. The sight of her scared, pretty face when I open the door makes me feel relief that I didn’t have to kill her.
And that’s a dangerous feeling to have.