Sold to the Mafia

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 

Aria’s POV  

“I can’t...I can’t do this” I cry as I start to panic. 

“Oh Dear don’t cry you will ruin your makeup. I know you don’t want this, I know what he has done. But I promise you he’s not a bad man. Get to know him, he will take care of you.” 

“I’ll never have the life I dreamed of Heidi. I had plans for my life, dreams. He crushed those when he took me from my home.” I say as a few tears escape my eyes. 

“I know it will be hard and it’s not what you wanted but if we don’t head down there, he will come up here.” Heidi warns. 

I nod knowing Heidi is right, if I keep him waiting, he will come up here and he won't be happy. I haven’t seen him since the other night when he forced himself on me and I'm nervous about having to face him. I’m nervous knowing what he expects out of me tonight. I don’t know if I can do it, I don’t know if I can give myself to him especially after what he did.  

I follow Heidi out into the backyard, this is the first time I have ever been out here. It’s decorated beautifully with flowers and tule everywhere. There are hundreds of people seated waiting for the ceremony to start. I was so busy looking around I hadn’t notice Marco approach me. 

“Hello Aria you look beautiful” 

“Oh, hi Marco, thanks” I reply 

“Are you ready?” he asks offering me his arm. I just raise my eyebrows wondering what he’s doing.  

“Luca asked me to walk you down the aisle, he didn’t want you to be alone” he says with a smile 

“More like he didn’t want me running” I say before I thought. Realizing I had said it out loud I look at Marco in horror. 

“I...I..I’m so..sorry, I didn’t mean to s...say that” I studder out in fear 

“It’s ok Aria I won’t tell” he winks at me making me feel a little at ease. The music starts playing and my heart is racing. I have to walk down in front of all these people and pretend I'm happy, pretend I want this. I have to kiss him in front of everyone like I love him. Yet all I want to do is run, run from him from this place. 

“Aria it’s time” Marco says. I just look at him unable to move, unable to produce any words. 

“One foot in front of the other Aria, everything will be fine. You will see in time he’s not that bad of a guy. He will take care of you, he can give you anything you want.” I don’t reply just start walking with him. One foot in front of the other, letting Marco lead me down the aisle. The walk to Luca seemed to take forever, I drowned out the music and the people just trying to focus on getting through this.  

The guests all sit back down as I face Luca. He grabs my hands, I pull back at first but he takes them again as the preist begins. 

“We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Luca Alessadro Rossi and Aria Grace Baros. Do you Luca take Aria to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. To love and to cherish till death do you part?” 

“I do” 

“Do you Aria take Luca to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. To love and to cherish till death do you part?” I stand there staring at the preist unable to form any words, Luca squeezed my hand bringing me back to reality. 

“I do” 

“By the powers vested in me I pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride!” 

And just like that his lips are on mine. At first, I wanted to pull away I wanted to reject him and this whole marriage but his lips on mine felt amazing. He was gentle yet passionate, not ruff and I liked it. No Araia snap out of it he’s a monster I say to myself. The quests all clapped and we walked down the aisle hand and hand.  

We had just finished eating and Luca had gotten up to talk to some people, leaving me sitting there all by myself. 

“Can I get you anything ma’am?” one of the waiters asked. 

“Yea a Manhattan please” 

“Of course ma’am I'll be right back” he replies as he walks away.  

Luca has been mingling with his friends and family and I have just been here drinking. This was the first time I have ever had any alcohol and I was loving it. 

“Aren’t you a bit young to be drinking?” 

“f**k off Marco” 

“Wow feisty” he chuckles 

“If I'm old enough to get married, I'm old enough to drink” 

“Fair enough I suppose. Why don’t you go dance? Enjoy yourself a bit.” 

“I’m enjoying myself plenty right here with these, I told the waiter to keep them coming.” 

“Suit yourself” he says walking away. A short while later I see a young girl looks about my age approaching me. 

“Hi I'm Sofia!” 

“Hello, Aria” I reply shaking her hand. 

“You look like you need some company and some fun. You should get to have all the fun on your wedding day.” She replies with a smile 

“I’m ok” I shrug. She takes a seat next to me, clearly she’s not gonna give up easily. 

“I’m Luca’s sister, mom was pretty pissed he didn’t bring you over to meet us all before the wedding.” I look at her shocked, I didn’t know he had any family other than Marco. 

“Yea the wedding kind of moved fast, it’s what Luca wanted.” I state trying to be vague about the situation. 

“I’m just glad to finally have a sister! Now when we are here to visit Marco and Luca, I have someone to hang out with!” She states excitedly 

“You guys don’t live in Italy?” 

“We do we are on the main land in Florence” 

“Oh” I replied 

“We used to live here in Sicily until the boys took over the business. Moms from Florence and her parents are there still so when dad retired, we moved there to be closer.”  

“Well, I hope you visit often” I reply with a smile. She seems sweet I think we could be friends. 

“Let's go dance! I love this song!” Sofia says dragging me to the dance floor. We danced for hours and I had so much fun the waiter kept the drinks coming as I had requested and I’m feeling pretty good! A slow song came on so we were about to head over to sit down when I feel hands on my waist causing me to tense up. 

“Can I have this dance Mrs. Rossi?” he whispers in my ear seductively. 

“Sofia and I have been dancing a lot we were gonna take a break” I reply wanting to get out of his hold. 

“Oh Aria go have a dance with your man I’ll be fine” Sofia states walking away leaving me alone with Luca. He turns me around to face him keeping his hand on my waist.  

“Put your arms around my neck Aria I won't bite”  

I put my arms around his neck clasping my hands together. The song feels like its lasting forever as we stand there swaying in silence.  

“I see you have been into the liquor”  

“Just trying to have some fun”  

“Well I’m glad you have been able to enjoy yourself” 

“Yea...Sofia is nice I like her” 

“She a terror but we love her” he chuckles 

“Do your parents know about why we are married?” I ask 

“My mother doesn’t but my father knows about the contract, why?” he says furrowing his eye brows at me. 

“Just asking, I figured I would have met them by now. Sofia said your mom was mad about it so I figured maybe they didn’t want to meet me.” 

“They will meet you before the end of the night. My mother was mad that I didn’t bring you to Florence before the wedding but I couldn’t very well bring you away from the house after you tried to escape.” 

I don’t respond, shortly after the song ends and I let go walking away towards the open bar. 

“Hey, I think you have had enough alcohol Aria” Luca states 

“Something has to make this day bearable” I reply harshly 

“I said it’s enough Aria, don’t cause a scene or you will be punished” he scolds. 

I walk off away from Luca, away from the party to the other side of the garden. I just wanted to be alone. Why did this have to happen to me, why couldn’t he just leave me alone. I find a nice quiet bench to sit on. I was enjoying the quiet when an unfamiliar man approached me. 

“What are you doing out here all alone?” he asked 

“Just needed a quiet minute alone” 

“Mind if I join you?” he asks smirking at me. I get a weird feeling from this man like he’s trouble. 

“Uhh I was just getting ready to head back to the party, but thanks” I say as I get up off the bench. 

“I think you should stay and talk to me” he says angerly grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him. 

“Let go!” I shout at him trying to pull my arm free. 

“Come on Luca and I have shared women in the past, I'm sure he’d be willing to share you too.” he says stroking my face. 

“I SAID LET ME GO!” I scream trying to pull away. 

“ANTONIO GET YOUR HAND’S OFF MY WIFE” Luca yells. I hadn’t even noticed him approaching but this is the first time I have ever been happy to see him. Tears are streaming down my face, I just want to get away from this creep. 

“Aww cousin I thought maybe we could share her as we have done in the past.” Antonio states. Luca say’s nothing just punches hi in the face knocking him to the ground.