Page 69 of Bound in Vengeance
She nods respectfully. "Right away, Mrs. Gallo."
I shut the door and finally step fully into the room. The moment the latch clicks into place, the heavy silence of the room wraps around me. The first thing I do is reach for the zipper of the wedding dress. The silk and lace are beginning to suffocate me, acting as a physical reminder of the vows I was forced to taketoday. I wriggle out of the layers of white fabric, letting the expensive gown pool unceremoniously on the floor.
I walk into the adjoining bathroom, turn the handle, and step into a freezing cold shower. The icy water shocks my system, washing away the tension of the precinct, the smell of Alessandro’s cologne, and the lingering adrenaline of the interrogation room.
When I step out, I slip into a plush white bathrobe, pulling the thick fabric tight and tying the sash firmly around my waist like a piece of armor.
My new room is not a sprawling suite like Alessandro’s, but I actually prefer it that way. It’s cozy, beautifully decorated, and most importantly, it's mine. I am just happy to finally be entirely alone.
I climb onto the bed and lie flat on my back, staring up at the clean, white ceiling. My mind begins to race as the quiet settles in. I wrap my arms around myself, wondering where I am going to go from here, how I am going to survive inside this golden cage, and how best to deal with my dangerous new husband.
I don’t know how long I sleep for, but I’m woken up by a soft knock on my door. Rubbing my eyes and yawning, I slip from the bed. I realize it’s already dark outside, the moonlight casting long shadows across the floorboards. My heart instantly clenches up in my chest, a sudden spike of anxiety hitting me as I hope and pray it isn't Alessandro standing on the other side.
But when I open the door, a wave of relief washes over me. There are three large security guards standing in the corridor, holding all of my luggage and personal belongings. Elena is standing right behind them, offering me a small, reassuring nod.
I smile warmly and thank her before opening the door a bit wider for the men.
"Thank you," I say to the guards, gesturing to the floor just inside the room. "You can just set the things down right by the door."
They do exactly as I ask, offering brief nods of respect before turning and walking back down the hallway. I quickly shut the door behind them and turn the lock, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
The very first thing I do is kneel down by my largest suitcase and unzip it, tearing through the neatly packed clothes. I search frantically until my fingers wrap around the familiar metal of my phone. I know my sisters must be absolutely worried sick after everything that went down at the reception.
I power it on, watching the screen light up with dozens of missed calls and unread texts. Without wasting another second, I tap on the screen and call Camilla immediately.
It doesn’t even ring twice before she picks up.
"Sienna! Oh my god, Sienna?" Camilla’s voice bursts through the line, tight with sheer panic and worry.
Before I can even answer, I hear the rustle of the phone being shifted, and Daniela’s voice chimes in on the speaker. "Sienna! Are you okay? Where are you?"
"Girls, breathe. I’m fine, I promise," I say, my voice softening as a wave of genuine warmth hits me. Just hearing their voices makes this cold room feel a little safer. "I'm perfectly fine. I'm back at the mansion with Alessandro."
Camilla lets out a long breath. "Thank goodness. Father has been absolutely impossible. He refuses to give us any kind of update. Every time we ask what happened at the precinct, he just barks at us and says you and Alessandro are fine and to drop it."
"You know you can trust us, Sienna," Daniela adds, her tone dropping into a quieter, more serious register. "Tell us the truth. Are you really fine? Did something happen?"
I let out a soft laugh, leaning my head back against the headboard. "I really am fine, Dani. A little tired, but completely unharmed. I promise."
Both of my sisters let out a collective, heavy sigh of relief through the speaker.
"Okay, good," Camilla says, her usual bright energy starting to return. "Because I was about to stage a rescue mission. When can we come visit you? I want to see you with my own eyes and be sure you’re okay."
"You can come over at any time, Cami. You too, Dani," I smile, looking around my quiet room. "You don't need an invitation."
"Perfect. I’ll speak to Dad tomorrow," Camilla says carefully.
I frown, my grip tightening slightly on the phone. "Why do you have to ask Father about that? You're visiting your sister."
Camilla hums over the line, a sudden, heavy note of caution entering her voice. "I just... I want to be on my best behavior right now, Sienna. I'm really trying not to get on his nerves." She pauses, letting out a small, nervous breath. "Especially not before he decides it's my turn to be married off to some other man."
A cold lump forms in my throat. I hate how much she’s right.
A heavy wave of sadness washes over me as the reality of my new situation hits home. Now that I’m married to Alessandro and trapped inside his world, I can’t protect her anymore. I can't stand between my sisters and our father's ruthless ambitions the way I used to.
We stay on the phone for a long while, talking about lighter things just to keep the dark reality at bay, until the exhaustion finally catches up to me.
"I have to hang up, girls," I say softly, checking the time on my screen. "I need to call Rosalia and Eleonora next. I know they’re probably losing their minds with worry, too."
