Defying the Don

Wedding day

I’m woken by my mumma pulling me from my bed and I see that there are many people in my room waiting for me.

A hair lady and make up artist and I can see the dress has been hung up in the window.

I’m still dressed in yesterday clothing and I know my mumma noticed but she says nothing.

I pulled to a seat set up next to a large mirror.

Where the hairdresser starts pulling on my hair and pulling on my bedhead and putting it into a sleek ponytail.

I finally look up into the mirror and noticed the bruise starting to accumulate under my eye.

My mother points at it.

“Fix that will you, I can’t even look at it” the make up artist rushes over and starts painting my face like I’m a little girl who’s gotten into her mothers make up box.

I sit in silence and look at the woman in the mirror.

It can’t be me, it can’t be.

This wasn’t how my 18th birthday was meant to me.

I slink back into myself, I even see the light dim in my eyes.

I might as well be dead because that will be what this life will be.

Sat alone at home preparing meals and being pumped full of heirs for the Helios name to continue. I shiver at the thought, I will have to just lay there and take it. Hopefully it’s quick, I’m still a virgin and I’m worried that he won’t be gentle with me.

I hear alcohol will dim it if needed, eyes closed drunk and I’ll just lay there pretending it’s all okay.

A life alone that’s what I’m heading into.

Once I’m done I just sit there in the white dress, my mothers crying like this is a love match and Ive chosen all this.

Like this is a happy event and I’m not a lamb to slaughter.

What if he hits me, some of the Dons and campos have abused their wife. It’s a real possibility.

Everybody leaves for the church and I’m alone, just waiting for my car to arrive to take me.

I rip the pearl earrings out of my ears and remove the pearl necklace of my mothers from my neck.

I remove the red lipstick and I take off the obscene white high heeled shoes and swap them for white trainers and finally make my way downstairs.

I pass the family living room with the bar and I grab the nearest bottle of scotch and start to down it.

It burns and I cough and sputter but it’s what I need right now.

My eyes water slightly and I have to wipe at my back mascara turning it into heavy black eyeliner.

“Miss Iris” I hear a gentleman at the front door.

I walk with my bottle of scotch to the foyer.

“Are you here to take me to my lonnnggg exciting wedding” he looks at the floor and shuffles from side to side.

“Yes miss, we must go now” he mumbles as he opens the front door wider for me to step out.

I raise the bottle,“Liquid courage.”

He just nods and opens the car door.

I enter and slide in and continue my bottle.

By the time we enter the car park, I’m just a touch tipsy.

“Iris” my mum all but hisses at me. “What the hell has happened?”

Ushering me towards the door and when two guards grab at my mother.

“Mrs it’s time to go in. We can not be late. The Don will not take lateness,” my mumma sighs and leaves taking one last look at me.

The Doors open and I can see the aisle is long. My dad suddenly grabs my arms.

“Don’t embarrass me” is all my papa hisses at me as walks us to my end.

I look up and see the man I am to marry, he’s cold and clearly irritated.

I can see the vein in his forehead pulse and his tongue clicks.

As we get to the end and my father is all chummy with Marcus.

“Make this Quick. I’m a busy man with things to do” Marcus coldly tells the priest.

I’m instantly mortified and know that everyone at this ceremony heard him.

What did I expect, the man hates me clearly.

He’s not looked at me once since I walked the aisle and approached him and even that he looked me up and down and was not impressed.

We get to giving rings and Marcus barely touches me and it all ends just as quickly.

He doesn’t kiss the bride, he just turns and motions to everyone to enjoy the evening reception and that he has a lot to do and will not be in attendance.

He leaves me at the alter still in shock as he walks away with his team.

It’s only then I notice his side of the church is practically empty with just his campos and security team.

On the other hand my entire family has congregation for this big affair.

My mother pulls me down the aisle mumbling on and I just ignore it all, I’m back in the car I came in alone.

I reach for the bottle that I left on the floor.

“Mrs Helios don’t you think you have had enough” the driver sighs at me.

“Clearly not in my opinion. I’m not going to this reception of Shame can you just take me to the honeymoon suite that I’m guessing has been booked but let’s first go past McDonald” I laugh at how my life has shifted in the last 24 hours.

A loving family and now I’m used just to better my father and brothers claim.

…

We pull up to the place that has been booked for our honeymoon.

I must admit it’s absolutely beautiful.

A Villa on the beach, the summer sun shines down on the white wooden surrounding making me feel as if I’m on holiday.

I take myself to the door.

“You can go Rome, I will be safe here” I shout.

“I’ll just wait till your in, I would of thought you’d have your own security team maybe Don Helios has forgotten” he patiently waits for me to enter.

“Thank you Rome” I wave to my driver.

I slam the door shut but it’s not as silent as I’m expecting.

I hear the sounds from the front door.

A woman moaning

“Marcus baby, yes like that” she screams.

I make my way to the master bedroom.

“Helena you dirty b***h split those legs for daddy. Let me play with your gorgeous little arsehole” a man sexily moans at her.

I see through the crack of the door.

My now husband f*****g some redhead in our honeymoon bed.

My stomach rolls and I barely keep in the vomit.

How dare this man humiliate me like this.

He ruins my life and can’t even stay faithful.

“Baby it will always be me, tell me it will always be me you love” she screams.

I watch as Marcus finishes in her arse and then suddenly pulls out a gun from under the pillow and shoots the woman in the head.

“I don’t know how to love you psycho” he laughs coldly.

I can’t help the scream I finally release from chest.

The panic is now palpable.

I knew he was unhinged but he’s f*****g mental.

He looks up makes eye contact and he’s surprised.

Making a Don surprised is a sure feat as normally they anticipate everything.

He jumps from the bed but he’s at a disadvantage he’s completely naked.

I run, I run so fast.

I make it out the door when I hear him screaming

“Iris, get back here now” he continues to scream as I get to the road and I keep going. I had tripped a couple of times and blood fell on my pure white dress.

The tears running down my face and the foundation leaving orange marks on the top of my dress.

Finally after what feels like forever and my legs burn a trucker slows.

“You okay there doll” calls to me.

“No, I need help. Please help me. I need to get away” I start to sob.

He pushes the door open.

“Hop in young lady. I’m going to Texas. How far do you want to go?”

“All the way. I can’t stay here” I slam the door shut and he takes off down the freeway.

“If you don’t mind me asking lady but your covered in blood. You have a bruised eye and a wedding dress and you look about 16. What happened to you?” he pulls down a wallet looking thing and it’s pictures.

“These here are my 16 girls, I’m driving home to them and my wife and I know my wife and girls would kill me if I left you out there alone. Your safe here darling” he smiles at me and I instantly relax.

“I was sold off to a bad man and I ran” I whisper.

The man pats my knee and we drive towards Texas in a big old hauler truck.