Chapter 5: Raelyn

Raelyn pov

The night was cold and silent, It had been a long day. My shop had very few customers today, and even miss Delilah didn't come for her order. I Wondered if it was Rafael's doing.

I glanced at her watch and it was midnight already and there was no sign of Rafael anywhere, maybe he decided to let me go. The streets were deserted with no one in sight. As I turned to lock the door, I suddenly got this idea to ran away from here and never look back.

I could go to my aunt place in the countryside before Rafael find me. I took my purse and throw on a sweater and ran into the alley,when I heard someone following me, my heart picked up it's pace and I was suddenly sweating. I turned around the corner and bumped into a man.

The man turned sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto mine and I was shocked to see Dante,the one who insisted I die the time when I saw Rafael murdering someone.

I stumbled back, my feet slipping on the icy path. “I...I !” I stammered, raising my hands in a gesture of innocence.

His lips curved into a cold, humorless smile. “You’re a terrible liar.” His deep voice carried a distinct Italian accent. "Are you trying to ran away girl? From us?"

My mind at that time screamed at me to run, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. Before I could move, he crossed the distance between us in two strides, his large hand clamping my wrist.

“Wait! Please!” I begged, my heart hammering. Even though Rafael was bad and rude but Dante... Wouldn't hesitate to kill me if he wanted.

“Relax,” he said his voice was low but commanding. “I’m not going to hurt you. Yet.”

“Yet?” my knees nearly gave out.

He tilted his head, studying my frame. "Does Rafael knows you're trying to ran away? Does he?"

“Um...He doesn't know” i blurted, as if that detail could somehow save my life.

He chuckled maniacally, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "huh?how unfortunately for you, Rafael is on his way now,brace yourself"

My breath hitched as he leaned in, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “Congratulations. You’ve just earned yourself a one way ticket to Hell.”

As soon as he finished speaking, another man emerged from the alley with his hands in his pockets,when he neared us,I immediately recognized him. Rafael!

"You don't really listen gattino,do you? Didn't I tell you to stay put?" Rafael calmly said, but his eyes didn't reflect his tone at all. He looked murderous.

"I...I.. you can't keep me to your house! I have life,I have dreams too. It's not like I wanted to see you commiting murder!" I shouted then realizing it was the worst decision because he could kill me right away.

"Do not fucking raise your voice at me Raelyn! You don't have an idea who you're talking to." He seethed,his jaw clenched as his chest rise with anger.

"And congratulations Luce del sole! You're going to Italy with me" (Sunshine)

I stared at the Rafael, my mind struggling to process his words. “Italy? What are you talking about? What do you mean?"

He sighed, pulling a phone from his pocket. “Let me make this simple. You saw something you shouldn’t have and that makes you a liability. And since you are so keen on escaping,I'm taking you with me back to my house”

“I didn’t see anything! I swear! Please let me go!”

He arched an eyebrow. “That dead man would beg to disagree.”

My stomach churned and I started panicking. This is it... He's going to take me away from my home, from my family. “I’ll keep quiet, I promise! I won’t tell anyone. My family is waiting for me,I didn't even return home last night, please...”

“And you think I’m going to take your word for it?” he interrupted, his tone laced with irritation.

I swallowed hard,my throat closing in as I struggled to maintain my heart beat. “Please. I just want to go home.”

“Not an option,” he said, dialing a number on his phone. "Viktor, prepara la casa principale, torno con qualcuno e è meglio che ti trovi lì"

He spoke rapidly in Italian, the language flowing smoothly off his tongue. I couldn’t understand a word, but I didn’t need a translation to know I was in deep trouble.

When he hung up, he turned back to me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’re going to marry me.”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

“It’s the only way to keep you safe and under control.”

“That’s ridiculous! You can’t just force someone to marry you!”

He shrugged. “I can,and I will. Watch me!"

“Why?!”

His smirk faded, replaced by a murderous cold glare. “Because if my enemies find out you were a witness, they’ll kill you,marrying me will ensures your safety and my empire.”

My mind was spinning,I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This couldn’t be happening. I was just a small town florist who spent my days taking care of flowers and taking orders .

How had i stumbled into a mafia lord’s nightmare?

“Sign this.”

He pulled a piece of paper from his coat pocket and handed it to me. My eyes scanned the document, my hands trembling.

“It’s a marriage contract,” I whispered in disbelief after scanning the paper.

“Very observant, So you can read”

My lip quivered. “I can’t... I can’t do this.”

His eyes softened slightly. “Listen to me, Raelyn, You have no idea how dangerous my world is. If you don’t agree, you’ll be dead before sunrise.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks,I was trapped, with no way out.

“I don’t even know you,” i whispered.

He leaned in as he murmured against my ear. “Rafael De Ross. You can call me husband if you want” he winked

"Remember it well, cara mia. You’ll be wearing it soon.”

I kept thinking about my family,how would they take it? My mom would be devastated after finding out I'm gone.

And I wanted to disagree, to yell at him or ran away,but I knew I wouldn't even make a few steps before he put a bullet in my skull, as much as I hated Rafael, it wasn't worth it, because I wanted to live.

Instead I nodded at him.

"Good choice La mia piccola moglie, Dante take us to the airport, we're going back to the main house" he grinned, stuffing his phone back into his pockets. (My little wife)

Dante stared at him shocked by Rafael." You're taking her to Italy? Are you crazy Rafael?You..."

"Do not cross the line Dante! You don't get to question my decision. I'm your fucking boss, remember that!" Rafael barked at Dante who cowered back with his head hung low.

"Next time you disobey me again, ti giuro su Dio, I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.” ( I swear to you on God)

"I'm sorry Capo,it won't happen again" he bowed then turned back and led us to his car.