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Chapter I

Opening my eyes wasn’t that easy. Eyelids felt heavy and it was overall struggle. It was dark in the room and the only source of light was coming through the window that had view for the other hospital wing where many lights were on.

Hospital. When the hell did I get there?

Images started running through my mind and I gasped out at the realisation. Dylan went all nuts that I wouldn’t date him, so he locked me up in his apartment. Things were scary but then he pulled out a gun threatening to kill me or himself. And in the end…

I moved my hand to my left shoulder that was bandaged. He shot me. Just like that, somewhere in the yelling he pointed gun at me and shot. It was the weirdest feeling but I didn’t got a chance to think it through since he pointed it again. Everything then went so fast and I wasn’t sure if it was real or just imagination as I was laying on the floor when the doors burst opened. Never in my wildest dreams I could imagine Salvatore to be my savour. But there he was, beating the hell out of Dylan, blood splattering, bones breaking. This all before I drifted away.

My head was dizzy and arm hurt with every move but despite that I managed to stand up after few attempts. I had nothing but hospital gown on and my feet were naked against the cold stone floor. I leaned against the drip stand and slowly made my way towards the door – what was quiet a journey.

Harsh light hurt my eyes as I opened the doors. Before I even managed to get through them, tall figure stood in front of me. Just few blinks and I could look at the stranger. He was lean, wearing a suit pants and white shirt and his rounded, pale face and blue eyes told me I had seen him back in Dylan’s apartment either. Was he with Salvatore? Or again,w as it just my imagination?

“Look who woke up.” He mocked flashing his teeth in the smile. “You go back to bed, I will get you a nurse.”

He frowned slightly as I did no attempts to move. Who the hell was he to order me?

“Now, now, lady. Before I help you myself.” He rushed me with a motion of his hand.

With no power to argue and deciding that eventually everything will solve on its own, I made my way back towards bed. I slipped under the thin, itchy duvet and just waited. There was a bit of confusion in me. What Salvatore would do there, saving me? He had no idea about my whereabouts, that’s for sure. It must have been a funny joke that my mind played on me. In reality I was just being delusional from the shot and blood loss and it was neighbours who called police. The stranger outside of my doors must’ve been someone I saw – perhaps a police man or – just maybe – bodyguard send by father. By now they had to know that I was at the hospital though I had no idea why I kept believing that Antonio could turn out to be a decent person but in current situation it was my only piece of hope.

Not long later nurse came in. She changed my bandage – and I got to spare a glance at the stitched up wound that wasn’t looking good – and gave me some medicine and another drip. I asked a bit too many question that she barely answered, telling me only that it was Friday night.

Trying not to overthink this all, I went back to sleep that came surprisingly quickly.

Morning came definitely too early. More than gladly I could sleep few more hours if it wasn’t for a nurse that came to check on me and leave me meds. I couldn’t sleep anymore so I just laid staring at the celling. My phone was nowhere to be found and no one came to see me. Although I knew that the pale stranger still sat outside my doors since he came in for a moment just to check on me.

It all was more than confusing. No one would talk to me about what happened and I expected at least my mother to visit. But perhaps it was my punishment. Father would let me come back but there would be silent treatment and as for a fact no one would visit me.

I thought of my mother, how heart-broken she was that day when she waited for me with suitcase. It wasn’t because of my father, no – it was because of me, because I made decision to step away from family and it hurt her. I was in pain either but I couldn’t just go further with father’s crazy plans. It wasn’t life for me. And it seemed that in the end of the day it was going to be as he wished anyway.

Nurse told me I would be able to go home this evening and even brought me a pair of jeans, sweatshirt and sneakers from unknown source. By the time I was to be out I sat on the edge of the bed, just waiting. I must’ve admit that putting on cloths with only one hand wasn’t the easiest task and took me way more time then needed. And because of that struggle my arm was killing me. But I told myself I wouldn’t cry.

The doors opened and Man-With-No-Name-For-Now came in. Once again he was smiling and I just couldn’t understand why.

“Ready to go?”

“Yes.” I stood up from my place, looking at him frowned. “But first you need to say where you’re taking me.”

“To your house. Where else would you like to go? I believe not back to the place that we brought you from. It’s one bloody mess.” He smirked heading towards the exited and I just followed him.

“Can I at least know your name?”

“It’s Alessandro.” He shrugged leading me towards the elevator. We walked into an empty space. I wanted to just be quiet but my inside was itching from curiosity.

“You’re my father’s bodyguard?” My question was apparently funny since he let out a sincere laugh.

“Oh, he wished I was.” He shook his head. “All you have to know for now is that you’re going back home and you will know the rest later.”

“But…”

“I’m not telling you anything.” He cut me off.

I knew I should have been more cautious getting into the black SUV with total stranger but I couldn’t care less. I was in pain both physical and mental. The feeling of failure and hatred was filling me to the rims. There was no more chances I would get away from my family – though it was surprising they were letting me back in since ‘I was such a disgrace’. And to that I felt so broken because of what happened with Dylan.

“Who are you working for? I saw you before but I can’t remember where.” I started again, looking at Alessandro carefully. It wasn’t entirely true but I had to pull on his tongue a bit.

“We met on the New Year’s party this year. I work for Lombardys.” He said simply. That brought me into further confusion. Lombardy? So perhaps…what I saw wasn’t delusion. But then again - why Lombardy’s soldier would be my guard? I thought that if father would ever let me go back home he would have me do that own my own – kind of walk of shame.

“And why exactly are you my guard and chauffeur all of the sudden?”

“I already told you more then I should have.” Alessandro flashed me yet another smile, tuning up the radio what made my eyes roll.

I felt uneasy as we pulled onto the long driveway that led towards our house. It wasn’t as big like – for example - Lombardy’s villa but still quite impressive. For a moment I considered acting a bit childish by refusing to leave the car. And I was close to doing so but Alessandro quickly pulled the doors opened for me.

“Come on, I had order to bring you back so don’t make it difficult.”

With hesitation I left the car looking at the house before me. I still couldn’t understand why my father was letting me back and as at some parts I was grateful – I knew things would only get worse once I step inside. So it scared me greatly.

Alessandro let me go first, probably making sure that I didn’t lost my way while walking behind him. I was surprised when Marco opened the doors before we even reached it. His first instinct was to rush towards me but he stopped in the spot as he noticed Alessandro. It was so sad to see what my father was making him to be. He was just a teenage boy, a really nice and kind one, but it wasn’t acceptable by my father. Marco was supposed to be a man already, all tough and cold. Especially in front of other people.

“Hey.” I gave him a tight smile. It was three weeks since I last saw him and I missed him. And no matter how much I wanted to hug him I couldn’t do it to him. Marco was treating seriously all that father told him so I wouldn’t just make him look bad in front of Alessandro.

My mum was nowhere to be found once we walked inside. I assumed that perhaps she was in the kitchen like most of the time, though I wasn’t fortunate enough to find her since Alessandro stopped me.

“You’re required in your father’s office.” He motioned towards the stairs.

“Required? Really?” I raised my eyebrows for what he only smirked. I wanted to see my mum, tell her I was sorry and that she was right. During the last weeks we kept in touch by phone calls and messages even though it was rather sneaking behind Antonio’s back.

“You are really playing on my nerves.” He shook his head with a small laugh, following me upstairs. I let Alessandro overtake me in the hallway and knock on the doors.

With final deep breath, blocking out every bad thought, I walked inside. Office was just like the last time but it was darker as only Tiffany lamp on the desk was on and fireplace on my left lit. What hit me the most was heavy smell of cigars that made me slightly light-headed. I didn’t expect that my father would have a company but there he was.

Salvatore stood next the fireplace, cigar between his lean fingers that he brought to his lips. He wore a black suit and the shirt in the same colour with two top buttons undid. As his face was slightly covered in the shadow and another had warm light of fireplace of it he reminded me much of Phantom from movie version – though much younger and few inches taller. His rather long, black hair were slicked back and his face has this roughness to it that was framed with square, shaved jaw.

“Look who came back.” Antonio said too enthusiastically what made me know right away that something was off. He was sitting in the chair in front of his desk – not his usual spot on the other side – with glass of auburn liquor in his hand.

“You can leave us.” Salvatore said with the deep voice making my eyes go wide. What the hell he wanted from me?

Just a moment later the doors closed behind Alessandro and my father, leaving me completely stunned and frozen in my spot. My eyes travelled around the room but refused to settle on man standing at the fireplace. Million thoughts were running through my mind and none of them were pleasant.

Salvatore finally stepped away from the fireplace and his pale-blue eyes moved to me. I must’ve admit that he looked even more handsome then I remembered but it was darkness surrounding him that took my breath away.

“How are you feeling?” He asked simply tossing rest of his cigar into the fire before sitting in of the two chairs that stood there.

“B…Better.” I gasped out as it was only rational answer I came up with.

“I bet you are wondering why in the world your father let you come back home after you refused to marry me for what he just allowed you – I’m assuming to your amusement.”

“Y-Yes…” Right away I felt silly. It wasn’t like me. Salvatore was just a man. Yes, he was a Capo of one of Five Families but he still was just a man. I shouldn’t feel so intimidated by him.

“You see, Christine, as much as you are new to life among ours, it surprises me how much hatred you have towards my family and our traditions.”

“I don’t…” I started but he quickly cut me off with a harsh look of this beautiful eyes.

“I have better things to deal with then some spoiled young girl but as your father can’t get to cope with you, perhaps I will. You tried living on your own, saw where it led you. I told your father that he would allow you to come back but there is one condition. You will marry me as it was planned.”

My jaw swung open at his statement. I never thought he might say that. I was a traitor of sorts, I refused to marry him and turned my back on Family. And yet he still wanted to go along with marriage. That was truly beyond my imagination. Salvatore was Capo and in this crazy system I was no one.

“What?” I let out thoughtlessly.

“You heard me. Engagement next Sunday and wedding on December 27th. And before you open your mouth again, just think. You have no other option. I mean, you can always wait for your father to find you another fiancé and believe me, not many man in our family would go for soldier’s daughter that was cut off for weeks during which God knows what she did. Besides where else will you go if he kicks you out? Or are you planning to just run away this time?” He looked up at me, eyebrows raised. It almost seemed that he was challenging me. That bastard.

“Deal.” Words left my mouth before I even got a chance to process them. And I regretted that right away.

Cold shiver run down my spine at the realisation. I just agreed upon marrying Salvatore Lombardy. One of the most dangerous man in the state or maybe perhaps in all US. I felt dizzy all of the sudden and had to lean against the nearest wall. It was definitely too much to process in such a short period.

First there was shot and Dylan, a rescue that was still somehow a mystery and now this. In the end of this all I came back to how things were supposed to be. I dropped college to work as a waitress in some coffee shop just to pay rent and eventually move out from Dylan’s and I was left with nothing. Salvatore was right. I had nothing else left. Life with father would be a hell if by any chances he let me stay and I had nothing to come back to outside this place.

I couldn’t help to let out a small pathetic laugh since it was such a funny irony. All my life I was doing everything to fight this life back, to get away from this family since I was suffocating there with all its violence and traditions that has women for nothing more than a toy. But it turned out that once my rescue came from outside world it almost kill me. And all my eighteen years I haven’t been even remotely close to the actual gun, not mentioning of being shot by this.

No matter how much I hated this, I brought this all upon myself. I wasn’t strong enough and I didn’t try hard enough so now I had to somehow just go through it the best way possible.

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