Page 115 of Brutal Revenge

My father’s face hardens as he throws a hand in the air. “Enough.” Ican’t breathe when all his attention homes in on me. “You will not marry Antonio.” His verdict is cold and final. “You will marry Matteo. Today.”

I stare at Matteo as the fury burning through me switches to sick humor. He’ll object. He has to. The world knows his dislike of monogamy and marriage, so he certainly won’t agree with my father’s ruling. But what he doesn’t know is that his refusal will send me to my deathbed.

Sex before marriage is a sin my father will never forgive.

I stop giving him my best thanks-for-killing-me look when half his mouth quirks.

Although a flare darts through his eyes, he doesn’t say a word when my father tells the priest there’s been a modification to the lineup.

Not a single one.

He doesn’t object, nor does he backtrack on the lie that will add the title of husband to his personal dossier within the hour.

He just stands there, silently manipulating the world into his own twisted game of ownership.

Chapter 36

Matteo

The hotel’s chapel looks like it was ripped out of a billionaire’s wedding magazine. Warm golden lights illuminate the chapel, florists arranged flowers in perfect symmetrical arcs, and the air carries the scent of roses and money.

I’m standing on the groom’s side of the altar, about to get married.

Married.

What. The. Fuck?

My pulse pounds in my throat and my palms sweat, but no matter how much my brain screams at me to do something—anything—to stop the insanity, my feet stay rooted to the floor.

Not even when Azra tried to persuade Antonio to elope did they budge. She told him that her father’s rules don’t apply to him because the same laws that Antonio and I must follow don’t govern the Turkish mafia.

When that didn’t work, with Antonio too much of a one-pump wonder to realize I walked out seconds after the apparent penetration, she begged her father to reconsider.

She used every trick she knew on the situation.

None of them were successful.

I could have walked solely from the disrespect she directed at me, and no one would have batted an eye, but I didn’t, because the truth is, I don’t want to walk.

I want this.

I wanther.

If I can’t have her without tying her name to mine for eternity, fuck it. I’ll do that.

Nico leans in from my left and whispers out of the corner of his mouth, “Want me to blast an escape hatch through the chapel wall? Elio’s been itching to test a new drone explosive system.” He nudges his head toward the front row of pews. My family has taken the seats the Adamis once filled. Papa, Giovanni, Dante, Elio, and their respective partners are all here, patiently waiting for Azra to show up. “I’m sure Giovanni will happily fill the position. He’s been dying to get Valentina down the aisle before bub is born, and in all honesty, I reckon Dante would fight him for it. We could have some free afternoon entertainment.”

I snort under my breath. I’m always up for free entertainment, but since I’m confident I am about to undertake the most thrilling ride of my life, I deny his offer. “I’m okay.”

With his mouth agape, Nico studies me. “You want to do this.”

He’s not asking a question. He is stating a fact.

My throat feels scratchy. “Yeah.”

He balks, then slowly nods. “Aren’t you worried?”

“About?”