Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“A similar pretty boy face, who wines and dines before he takes your life without blinking an eye. He’s a Mafia Casanova.” Raising his hand up in the air, he pinched his fingers together. “He’s going to be the end of me, that grandson.”
“I’ll keep him in mind for the future,” I vowed. “I want the worst men you have.”
Sinacore nodded. “Then Romeo is your man.”
With that, I finished my part in this meeting, speaking with conviction…
“Because this is where we eat the meat and spit out the bones.”
Chapter 16
—Sienna—
One month later
I looked like the princess everyone knew me to be.
There I stood in front of the ceiling to floor mirror, wearing my mother’s white lace wedding dress.
Her diamond engagement ring shined bright against my tan skin.
Her crystal crown held high on my head.
I was a spitting image of her, and I couldn’t have hated it more if I tried. I didn’t want her life, yet there I was with no choice but to walk in her footsteps down the aisle. Praying I wouldn’t eventually end up in a body bag like she did.
At least, she wed for love and had the opportunity to experience it. I, on the other hand, could end up dead for an arrangement of nothing but power and bloodlines.
Would I have to give him a child? A son?
The mere thought alone made me sick to my fucking stomach.
“Sienna! Did you see this?” Aurora, my maid of honor asked, rushing into the private suite of St. Andrew’s church. The same cathedral my parents were married in.
“See what?”
“You’re wedding! It’s front-page news!”
“My arranged marriage,” I corrected, grabbing the article out of her hands.
The headline read, “Alejandro Martinez, known to the world as El Diablo is alive! His son Crucifixio Martinez will be marrying Mafia Princess, Sienna Contessa Luciano today at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.”
“Ugh…” I grabbed my stomach. “I’m going to be sick.” I continued reading out loud, “In a world where you’re worth more dead than alive, El Diablo has decided to rise from his grave after almost twenty-three years to tell the public he faked his death for the family he always wanted. Oh, God, how noble of him.” I rolled my eyes. “Choosing love over organized crime. Is this about my arranged marriage or portraying this man as God instead of The Devil?”
“You have to admit it’s romantic! He gave up everything for his wife and children.”
“Aurora, open your eyes. There is nothing romantic about the crimes he’s committed in the name of mafia life.” Proceeding on, I recited, “El Diablo has decided that today of all days it would be the perfect chance to announce his return to the world. His son, who is the mirror image of his father, is marrying Lorenzo Luciano’s daughter this morning, on her eighteenth birthday. We are told their wedding will have over five hundred guests in attendance. Five hundred guests? They’re making a spectacle of my death!”
“Girl, you haven’t seen the church yet. Your father spared no expense on this ceremony. I can’t imagine what your reception is going to look like because the church is every bit of lavishness, sprinkled with gold.”
I held my stomach firmer. “I think I’m going to go throw up. I can’t do this. I can’t marry him. I don’t even like him, Aurora. I hope he gets run over by a car crossing the street to the church. I’m hoping my fiancé goes to the hospital! This can’t be happening! I can’t get married to him! I fucking hate him!”
“Shhh…you’re swearing in the house of God, Sienna.”
“I don’t give a fuck! Where is God right now? He sure as shit isn’t looking out for me!”
“Ay, Sienna!” She did the sign of the cross on her body. “You don’t mean that.”
Peering up at the ceiling, I gazed at the mosaic angels in the glass. “Why are you allowing this to happen to me? Haven’t I suffered enough? You took my mother from me!”
“Sienna, per favore,” she begged, “Please.”
“How many guards are outside?”
“Babe, you can’t escape. The church has a fleet of men surrounding every corner. There is no way you’d go unnoticed. You’re the centerpiece of today, everyone is waiting for you to make your first appearance. Besides, Cruz’s mom is on her way in here.”
“Cruz’s mom? What the fuck is she coming in here for?”
“Sienna, your mouth! You’re going to have to go to confession before you walk into the church.”
“Aurora, eat my as—”
“Sienna, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Our stares flew over to the door where a woman I didn’t know was standing. She was dressed in a silk, soft yellow gown. Her hair was pinned up with a few curls framing her petite, pretty face. It was her sultry eyes that caught my attention the most, Adriana had them. I remembered from the brief moment I saw her at my graduation party, when I was arguing with her brother.