Runaway Bride
Chapter 1: Runaway Bride
Scarlett's POV
“Smile, Scarlett, it's your wedding, not your funeral.” I heard my best friend Claire mumble, and my heart sank.
Wedding? How could it be my wedding when I was forced to even attend it? I never wanted to get married, but my uncle, Don Gazalo, a deadly gang boss who ruled the underground world in the city but was not the most deadly, fixed the marriage against my will.
My marriage was more like a political marriage, where I was used as a collateral bride for my uncle's influence to grow in the underground world. I didn't even know the man I was getting married to, but I knew I wouldn't be getting married.
“I can't get married now, Claire. I have to leave. I have to avenge my parents' death before I can dream of any happy ever after with anyone,” I said, taking off the veil on my head with determination after thinking all night long.
I needed to kill that man who stole my parents' lives when I was still young and turned me into an orphan. Getting married to anyone would ruin my plan.
“I know, so what are we going to do? We can't back down; guards are stationed outside the door; you can't leave,” Claire said, but a crazy thought slipped into my head as I looked at the woman in front of me.
“Do you really want to help me, Claire?” I asked, and she nodded her head. “Then take my place; be the bride while I find a way to kill that heartless man. I will come back and accept Uncle's punishment after that.” I said, and she looked at me in surprise.
“What? You are running away?” She asked, but I slipped out of my wedding dress, knowing I didn't have enough time. The ceremony will start soon, and I will soon be escorted out of my room. I needed to run away before I got whisked out of the room.
It was now or never.
“Wear this, and I will wear your bridesmaid’s maid dress to fool the guards stationed outside.” I said, but Claire looked visibly scared.
Of course, who wouldn't look scared if they got asked to fool a deadly mafia boss? Claire and I exchanged our clothes, and she used the veil so that they wouldn't notice her.
“But if you leave, what are you going to do? You can't kill such a powerful man alone!” She blurted, looking concerned, but her worries were unfounded.
I would worry about that later; I just needed to get away and not be my uncle's pawn so I could avenge my parents properly. I had been training for that all my life ever since I lost them.
“I know, but I'm going to do it since no one wants to help. I will make sure I drag his body to my parents' grave and make him pay.” I said through gritted teeth, as I remembered that the man who caused me pain was still at large.
“Your uncle will kill me if he finds out,” Claire panicked, but I assured her that it wasn't possible. Her father has worked for my uncle the longest; if not for anything, she would be spared for her father.
“I love you, Claire. Don't get too scared, and make it obvious.” I said, as I hugged her tightly and walked towards the door, but her words halted my steps.
“Don't you dare die, Scarlett. I'm going to kill you if you die,” she pouted, and my lips curled up in a tight smile. “I won't die, Claire,” I say. ‘Not until I kill that monster with my own hands.’ I mulled the words in my head.
I got out of the dressing room with ease since I was using Claire's identity, dressed in her bridesmaid's dress, and in no time I was outside the hotel looking for a cab to take me out of there. I was lucky to get a cab quickly, and I entered it, asking to zoom off immediately.
“Where are you going, ma'am?” The thick voice asked; the voice was a bit suspicious, but I was too paranoid to notice it. “Russo’s villa,” I said, and the cab driver chuckled.
“Same destination, ma'am—same—” I heard, but I was too tired to place my hands on what he meant, as I started feeling dizzy, and I couldn't keep my eyes open. That's when I realized that I had entered a trap.
“Let me off—” I stuttered, but I was too drowsy to scream. I also saw the man's sick smirk as I lost my consciousness.
Only one thought lingered on my mind as I lost consciousness: I'm fucked!
I stretched lazily from the bed, and a groan left my mouth. I turned around to get another sleep, but I noticed the bed was too comfortable to be my bed, so I took a peek lazily only to find out that I was in a strange room, and I jerked up lazily.
“Where is this place?” I winced in pain as my head banged with a headache as the events of the earlier morning flooded my head, and I finally realized what situation I was in.
“Did I get kidnapped? But by whom? A rival gang?” I cracked my head trying to think of a better option, but I couldn't find any, and the cabman who kidnapped me wasn't in view.
But what did he mean by saying we were going to the same destination? I looked around the spacious room, and I wondered which crazy psychopath would place their victim in such a fancy room.
“But that's none of my business; I need to get out of here,” I said as I looked around the room, and my eyes fixated on the window, knowing if I could open it, getting access to the outside world would be easy.
“Ahh!” I breathed as I tried to pry the window open, but my efforts were to no avail. I couldn't believe what misfortune befell me; how could I get kidnapped when I was trying to escape my sham wedding?
How messed up could my life be?
“Are you going somewhere?” I heard a thick, familiar voice say behind me, and I stiffened in shock. That deep baritone voice, which made my stomach curl with hatred, I knew I had definitely heard it before, and it belonged to someone I loathed. Or could I be wrong?
Could that be—I trailed off as I turned around, only for me to land my eyes on the face I dreaded the most. The face of my sworn enemy.
“Logan Russo?” I called with shaky lips as my eyes gaped at him in shock.
I will be damned!