Chapter 2 The Wedding

• ARIA’S POV (Present Day)
• I walked into the gigantic home of Pietro Eppolito. The guards were obviously alarmed when they saw me, but they didn't say a word. Seeing Pietro's supposed bride in her wedding dress waltzing into the house as if she owns it. Well, I might own it if the wedding pulls through.
• The man who was once introduced to me as Giancarlo was the first to see me when I pushed open the entrance door. He frowned briefly. But I didn't give a hoot. It's actually my wedding day today. Everything is set. Our families are waiting, and I'm dressed for the so-called union.
• But I decided to speak to Pietro one more time to see if he could change his fucking mind. It was either that or I'll go ahead with the carefully orchestrated plan I already set in motion.
• "This is not a good time, Aria," Giancarlo called with such familiarity that you'd think we were friends, but we weren't.
• "I need to see Pietro," I replied instead. "Tell him I need just a few minutes of his time. I won't be long. I promise." I replied, lifting my wedding dress to adjust my step.
• "You're supposed to be at the church. What do you think you're doing here?" He asked, the worry lines on his forehead deepening.
• "I was on my way to church. The car is waiting for me outside. I just need to speak to Pietro, please." He stared at me briefly, contemplating if this was a good idea or not. Then he nodded.
• "Stay here. Do not take a step. I'll see if I can get him to see you."
• "Thank you," I replied as he walked out of the room.
• I watched him disappear into the room down the dimly lit hallway of the house. I waited for a while, maybe a minute or two. But I waited. When I didn't see anyone, I started towards the direction Giancarlo had disappeared to.
• What I assumed to be a room turned out to be a straight passage with doors on each side. I moved down the passage, checking each room, one room at a time, and passed four guards who were heading outside along the way.
• None of them stopped me, nor did they offer me an answer when I asked them about Pietro's whereabouts.
• I have a car parked just down the road, outside Pietro's house, with a small traveling box containing a few of my clothes and fake passports. All I needed to do was get this discussion with Pietro over with, and if the man doesn't see reasons with me, then I'll disappear.
• There was no other option aside from that. Marriage to a man like Pietro is out of the question and I must say "over my dead body". I was very certain he was trying to box me up and deal with me for daring to speak my mind.
• If I agreed to this marriage, then by the time he would be done with me, I'd be nothing but dust.
• The next door I opened had a dark passageway and another door that led to a well-lit-room. I could see Pietro's back through the window.
• I closed the door behind me and walked toward the door. I had just pulled the door handle when I heard loud gunshots fired at a man lying on the floor three times.
• A loud gasp escaped my lips, and Pietro turned to the door. He frowned and handed his gun to Giancarlo. He was dressed in an ash-colored suit that did so much justice to his hot body. But my eyes went back to the lifeless body on the floor and my brain focused there.
• Pietro observed me under those dreadful eyes of his. "Hello, Tesorina." He called and started walking toward me like a lion that had just discovered his prey.
• Reacting to instincts, I bolted out of the room. I heard him shouting about something or at someone. But my legs were very fast. My ticket out of this goddamn city was parked at a safe distance from his house and I needed to get to it before Pietro or any of his men did.
• I managed to run out of his house amid confused guards. And just as I stepped behind the wheels of my car, I saw two of Pietro's men run out of the gate.
• I adjusted myself behind the wheels and zoomed off. Unfortunately, one of Pietro's cars was already on my tail.
• 'Goddamn it!'