Chapter 4 I Do

Their plan was so sudden and unbothered and if it didn’t work-it could only lead them to their deaths.

Well, it was worth the shot after all-there was no way back now. The drama needed to start.

When Bruno kicked the doors of the glass conservatory everyone fell dead silent.

Down the long white aisle, bathed in the glow of golden chandeliers, Renzo turned his head slowly and was immediately forced to tighten his jaw as his hand drifted toward the inside of his tailored jacket.

Standing at the front of the altar, Dante, Leo, and Matteo immediately straightened and narrowed their eyes as a dozen men in dark suits flooded the perimeter, cutting off every exit.

Then walked in Bruno Moretti…

The bastard walked so effortlessly, dominant, stepping over the littered rose petals with a proper gait.

He didn't look at Renzo, nor did he bother to waste his glance at the Bellini brothers.

But he was locked directly onto Carina, who was standing and shivering at the altar.

Oh, the drama was so worth her look.

‘The things I do to make women around me happy…’ Bruno lit up his cigar.

Before anyone could react, this stormhead rushed as fast as a striking viper, wrapping his arms roughly around Carina’s waist, yanking her back against his broad chest.

His hand flashed, and the sharp edge of a blade pressed lightly against the soft skin of her throat.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

"Bruno!" Renzo roared, pulling his gun, darkening his forehead with waves formed by pure rage. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Release her!"

Dante stepped forward and bit his lower lip, twisted in disgust. "Put her down, Moretti! She is of Bellini blood, and today she belongs to the Valenti family!"

Carina let out a small, terrified squeal that was so dramatically going through the courtyard.

She gasped, grabbing Bruno’s suit lapels with shaking hands, her head thrown back against his shoulder.

‘This bastard will strangle me!’ Her face turned crimson.

To her brothers, to Renzo, and to every capo watching, she looked like a helpless, fragile bride caught in the middle of a war.

None of them heard the icy, breathy whisper she breathed against Bruno’s ear beneath the cover of her veil.

"You're late," Carina muttered in a pretty annoyed tone. "Renzo’s men are on the roof. Left balcony."

Bruno’s lips twitched upward into a microscopic, lethal smile. His grip on her waist tightened, pulling her so flush against him that she could feel the thrum of his heart.

"Keep crying, little bird," Bruno murmured back that was like an imperceptible rumble against her crown. "You're doing great."

Without taking his eyes off Renzo, Bruno reached out with his free hand, grabbing the old, trembling priest by his satin collar and yanking the poor man directly into the center of the altar.

"Finish it," Bruno barked, carrying over the damned silence of the courtyard like a thunderclap.

The priest’s jaw trembled, his eyes looked so wide with utter panic as he looked between the knife at Carina’s throat and the gun Renzo was aiming at Bruno's forehead.

"M-Mr. Moretti... I cannot... the vows have not—"

"I said," Bruno rasped, drawing a heavy silver revolver from his suit jacket with his free hand and jamming the cold steel barrel directly under the priest’s chin, "finish the ceremony. Right now."

"You're insane!" Leo screamed from the front row, taking a step toward them. "You can't force a marriage at gunpoint!"

"Try me, Bellini," Bruno growled, icy eyes darted to Leo. "Take one more step and I’ll paint these white roses with your holy father's brains. Read the damn words, old man!"

The priest swallowed hard, his hands couldn’t stop from shaking so violently his prayer book nearly slipped to the ground.

"D-Do you... Bruno Moretti... take this woman... to be your lawfully wedded wife... in sickness and in health..."

"I do," Bruno cut in coldly.

"And do you... Carina Bellini..." the priest gasped shortly, his eyes went to Carina, "take this man..."

Carina let out another fake sob for the audience, burying her face in Bruno’s chest, pretending to shrink away from the steel at her throat.

She looked past Bruno’s shoulder, meeting Renzo’s murderous, bloodshot eyes.

This woman saw the humiliation burning in her former abuser’s face. She saw her brothers standing powerless, completely outplayed in front of the entire underworld.

A dark, intoxicating thrill rushed through her veins, hotter than the burn on her back.

"I... I do," Carina sobbed out in a high, quivering, and entirely convincing sound.

"Then... by the power vested in me..." the priest squeaked, practically hyperventilating, "I pronounce you... husband and wife."

"The ring," Bruno demanded.

He didn't wait for a velvet box.

Bruno pulled a solid-gold signet ring that was carved deep with the crest of the Moretti family, off his own pinky finger.

Grabbing Carina’s left hand, he jammed the massive gold band onto her ring finger, sliding it over her lace glove with a rough, unyielding force that pinned her to him permanently.

Carina looked down at the massive ring weighing down her hand. It felt cold and heavy. It felt like a blood pact signed in iron.

Well, that was her deal with the devil.

"She’s mine now," Bruno announced to the crowd, so full of arrogance and very clear malice. "A Moretti wife. Touch her, and it’s an act of war against my entire bloodline."

"Shoot him!" Renzo screamed, completely losing his composure as he raised his weapon. "Kill him! Kill them both!"

"Down!" Bruno roared, yanking Carina under his arm like a ragdoll just as gunfire shattered the glass roof above.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Panicked voices tore through as guests dove under tables.

Heavy smoke grenades, tossed by Bruno's men, came across the aisle, flooding the garden with gray fog.

Muzzle flashes lit up the smoke as bullets chewed through the floral arrangements and stone pillars.

Bruno didn't let Carina take a single step on her own.

He scooped her up effortlessly into his arms, pulling her tight against himself as his men formed an impenetrable wall of steel around them, firing back into the fog.

Carina wrapped her arms tightly around Bruno’s neck, her head tucked beneath his chin.

Through the haze, she caught one final glimpse of Renzo desperately firing into the smoke, screaming her name in pure, impotent fury, while Violet cowered behind her brothers.

Carina smiled…’check mate.’

Bruno kicked open the side gates of the estate, carrying her out into the cold night air where three black, armored SUVs sat idling with their doors thrown open.

He practically tossed her into the spacious leather backseat before sliding in right behind her, slamming the bulletproof door shut.

The driver moved his foot on the gas and the SUV leaped forward, tearing away from the Bellini estate and leaving that mess they just caused far behind in the rearview mirror.

It was over…their plan worked!

Carina sat up, blinking and gasping too often.

She pushed her torn veil back over her shoulders, her hair looked finally wild, her white dress was so ruined.

Beside her, Bruno casually straightened his charcoal tie, unbuttoning his suit jacket. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a crystal flask, and took a slow, deep drink of amber liquor.

He lowered the flask and turned his head, sweeping over her torn dress, her flushed face, and the golden Moretti ring on her small finger.

A slow, annoying smirk spread across his lips.

"Welcome to the family, Mrs. Moretti," Bruno spoke smoothly. "Now, let's go figure out how we're going to tear your groom's world to pieces."

Carina looked down at her ring, then up into the eyes of the devil who had just stolen her away. She didn't cry.

She leaned back against the leather seat and smiled back at the demon. "Starting with his northern docks."

“One more thing, my wife.”

“Yes?” Carina furrowed her brows.

The man who just kidnapped her had this strange facial expression on his face.

Before she could say or ask anything else, Bruno quickly pushed her sleeve down her shoulder and kissed her.

“I may now kiss the bride,” a muffled sound left his lips.

“Br-“

“You belong to me now, my toy.”