The Mafia King's Bride

The small bulbs lining the vanity mirror cast a warm glow on Pearl as her attendant attached a long, flowing white veil to her styled hair. Her large brown eyes, which were usually expressive and swimming with joy and curiosity, stared back at her, dully, all hope she had possessed, gone. Pearl felt emotionally and physically numb, her eyes heavy from the crying she had done last night and most of the morning when she had woken up in the room her husband-to-be had his people trap her in. "You look beautiful, Miss Pearl," complimented the brunette whose name she had not bothered to learn. "Like a blushing bride truly fit to be by Mr MCcarthy's side." She added with a small, delighted giggle and stepped back to examine her work. She did look beautiful, Pearl could not deny it, and if she were marrying anyone else but Leonard, she would have appreciated how wonderful she looked in her wedding dress -if you could even call it that. Her dark red hair was done up in an intricate bun with two strands of hair framing her oval face, delicately. Her dress, which was more expensive and beautiful than anything she could have ever hoped to afford was perfect for a night out at the club but tasteless and far too revealing for the ceremony that was about to take place. When Pearl was a young girl she had always dreamed of the day she would marry the man she loved in a simple but classy ceremony, surrounded by the people she loved, who loved her just as much. She had never imagined she would be dressed in a white, skin-tight dress that had more openings and dips than fabric, about to be married off to one of the most dangerous men in the world, and surrounded by crooks and criminals. Loud banging on her bedroom door caused her to startle and turn, in time to watch as her angry-looking guard stormed into the room. "What the hell is taking you two so f*cking long?!" Thundered the man with a sneer that put his blackened teeth on display. "Beauty takes time..." Her attendant tried to argue but was stopped by a fierce glare from him. "Mr McCarthy's been kept waiting long enough so get your *ss up and out that door before I have to put my hands on you," he ended with a lascivious smirk that she had gotten used to receiving since Leonard's men had captured her. Pearl sighed through her nose as she rose to her feet, using her free hand that was not holding her bouquet to tug her dress down when it rode up and his eyes strayed to the area. "Is my dad out there?" She questioned in a blank voice as she took small, careful steps so to avoid tripping in the high heels she had been forced to wear. He grinned, maliciously before responding in a mock gentle voice, "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but daddy's a little busy and couldn't make it." Pearl frowned, her fist clenching at her side but refused to respond when she saw how happy her anger made him. She really should not be surprised that her dad did not bother showing up after years of disappointing her but the little girl in her had hoped to have him by her side in such an emotional moment. After all, it was his fault she was here in the first place. "Let's not keep the boss waiting any longer," urged the woman with a small, nervous laugh as she placed her hand on Pearl's back and gently steered her towards the door. The long hallway was brightly lit and decorated with pink and cream flowers to commemorate the day. Maids dressed in similar outfits as her attendant parted like the red sea as they made their way past them, pity and unspoken apologies swimming in their eyes. She would not cry, beg or scream as she had done in her first few hours of captivity. She had learned that there was no hope. No help. No dramatic rescue or hero to save her from the devil in human form that was Leonard. She was trapped in a life she had never wanted and all because of her dad's greed and addiction to get-rich quick schemes. Their group of three came to a stop in front of a set of large wooden doors and Pearl's heart dropped to her stomach. "This is where I leave you," her attendant informed with a sad smile and Pearl wished now more than ever that she had tried to know the other woman better. "Will I ever see you again?" She asked with watery eyes, her emotions running wild at the thought of being separated from the one person who had given her some level of comfort during the whole ordeal. "Probably not..." "Enough of the sappy sh*t," growled the impatient guard, "we've got a wedding to attend." Pearl bit down on her tongue to stop the retort dying to be released and quickly hugged the other woman in goodbye. "Thank you for everything you have done," she whispered as she pulled away and the eyes of the brunette grew glassy. "You're welcome and good luck." She wished then hurried away, leaving the two of them alone. The guard, none too gently, nudged her forward and she opened the door without further protest. All eyes turned to Pearl as she walked further into the cavernous room, leering grins and wolf whistles worsening her discomfort. Here she was in a room full of the worst crooks, criminals and evils in the world, about to be married off to the worst of them all when two weeks ago she had been giddily watching true crime documentaries with her cat in her tiny apartment. "Move it you stupid c*nt." "How about I shove my bouquet so far up your *ss it comes popping out that sewer hole you call a mouth." She sassed, confident he could not do anything to her when his boss was standing by the alter and watching with a hawk-like gaze. Wisely, he said nothing in response and slithered to the corner to stand with his fellow goons and nurse his wounded pride. Pearl released a shaky breath, the confidence that came from standing up to her oppressor, the boost she needed to start walking down the aisle and towards her waiting for husband-to-be. Leonard was tall and missing one eye. The thin white scar that ran across his forehead, under his eyepatch and down to his chin did nothing to lessen his ruggedly handsome face. If they had met in any other situation and he had been a different man, Pearl would have been thrilled to have someone who looked like that give her a passing glance. But that reality would never exist and he could never feel her love for the mere fact he had made her wear such a dress to her own wedding. "This was a fantastic idea," he declared when she arrived at the alter, his eyes roaming over her figure with intense scrutiny. "Where..." She paused, contemplating how accusative her sentence was going to be then rephrased. "Is my dad... alive?" Leonard laughed, a musical sound that should not be made by a man as evil as him. "Oh darling, daddy dearest is off on some island partying his newfound wealth away." Pearl's hands tightened around her bouquet, angry tears gathering at the corner of her eyes as she began to tremble. Of course he was. What did she expect from him? Leonard moved closer and Pearl tried to move away but was stopped by his around her waist pulling her back into his towering form. "Right now," he whispered into her ear, "you should be worrying for yourself and not that scoundrel you call a parent." "Why?" The question slipped out before she could stop it. "Turn to your left," he instructed and she did, her eyes meeting the congregation who were watching and waiting, patiently. "Every single person here would sooner kill me than shake my hand but yet, they have not. Do you know why?" "Because they're scared," she answered without thought, "and weak." The sudden peck he placed on her cheek was so unexpected that she nearly flung her bouquet in surprise. "I knew you were brilliant!" He cheered as he leaned back and allowed his eye to roam over her pretty face. "Thousands of women would kill. HAVE KILLED. To be in your place and they and their families are not very happy with you." Pearl gulped, noticing for the first time the deadly and malicious looks she was getting. She turned to look up at the smirking man, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You wouldn't let them hurt me." She whispered, her fear and uncertainty clear to her ears. His eyes sparkled like he had been given the key to the world and he smiled. "If you keep me happy and satisfied, I have no reason to get rid of you." He placed one last kiss on her trembling lips then pulled back and signalled for the officiator to begin. "Dearly beloved..." "Skip to the I dos, father," Leonard interrupted, needlessly adjusted the collar of his suit, "some of us are more interested in what's happening after the ceremony." He winked at Pearl and the congregation laughed, their voices ringing out in the large hall. If the elderly man was offended by Leonard's crude joke it did not show as he wisely proceeded with the ceremony. "Do you, Mr Leonard Arthur McCarthy take Miss. Pearl Eveline Sinclair as your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do," he said, his smug smirk causing her skin to crawl. "And do you, Miss Pearl Eveline Jones, take Mr Leonard Arthur McCarthy as your lawfully wedded husband?" Pearl let out a shaky breath as she thought of why she was doing this and how meaningless her so-called sacrifice was. "I guess so," she muttered and screamed when Leonard's fist connected with her left cheek, the ring on his finger creating a line of red on her cheek. She looked up shakily, her breath stilling as she met his furious eye and quickly corrected herself. "I do." The father was silent, a spooked look on his face, then gathered his wits as Leonard grew visibly impatient. "Th-, Then with the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife," his aged eyes turned to Pearl with pity. "You may kiss the bride." Leonard was forceful and demanding as he pulled her into a bruising kiss, his large hand squeezing her cheeks and worsening her injury. Cheers rang out around them but Pearl was too focused on the whirlwind of emotions ravaging her and her new husband's forceful tongue making its way past her lips. Was this really it for her? Would she have to spend the rest of her life as the wife and punching bag -if what had just happened was any indication- to Leonard McCarthy? There was so much she had not done, so much she had yet to do and... Screams and the sound of gunshots exploded just past the large doors and Leonard pulled away from her with a thunderous look on his face, wondering who was ballsy enough to crash his wedding. They did not have to wait long for an answer as the heavy doors were flung open by a group of armed men who marched in with purpose, surrounding a man who was a familiar sight to anyone who knew fear. "Stone." Leonard hissed the name like it was poison and Pearl stared at their uninvited guest with a mixture of fear, disbelief and, to her surprise, excitement. What the h*ll had she gotten herself into?