Chapter Three

Francesca

As soon as we enter the restaurant, I’m met by the sound of Harry Connick Jr. belting out one of my favorite Christmas songs, but there is nothing joyous about this holiday season. And I’m pretty sure from this year forward, I will forever hate New Year’s, knowing that it’s my wedding anniversary, and the day my freedom was stolen.

“Look, Franky.”

My father smiles broadly. “The place looks like a winter wonderland.”

I scan the room, taking in all the twinkling lights. The green garland and wreaths hanging on the walls. The tinsel and snowflakes dangling from the ceiling. It looks like something straight out of a holiday Hallmark movie, but then I spot the man on the other end of the room, the Grinch who intends to steal me this Christmas, and all the beauty of the ambiance is lost.

He starts stalking toward us. His eyes locked on mine, burning me down with his angered glare as his big feet swiftly eat up the space between us.

“Where is the dress Maritza picked out for you?”

The livid whisper sends a trickle of dread down my spine as the hairs on the back of my neck stand in command to the fear. “I spilled perfume on it,”

I lie. The dress was too low cut and made me feel like a whore on display. Besides, black seemed more suitable for my freedom’s funeral.

“Deception and disobedience will not be tolerated, Francesca. You will come to understand that your actions have consequences.”

My father stiffens at my side, obviously having heard exactly what the tyrant said. Though, he does nothing to protect his only daughter. His spineless self doesn’t even utter a word. That’s because he’s a drone to the man who thrives on people’s fear. My father may not have any balls, but I refuse to feed Enzo’s monstrous ego. I will not quake under his glare.

“Good evening to you, too, my darling.”

I refuse to give his comment any stock. “For a calculated murderer, you clean up nice.” The venom of my irritation is laced in seduction, and I reach out, running my hands up his firm chest to his rigid shoulders, meeting his angry stare without a falter of intimidation. Theater was my favorite class in school, and I didn’t get chosen for the starring roles for my lack of skill. I know how to perform for an audience, and tonight, I’ll give the best performance of my life.

His arms stay locked at his sides as he watches me closely. He doesn’t trust me. He shouldn’t. I’ll play the game. I’ll study his every move until I find his weakness. And then, I’ll strike. And he’ll be left realizing that he chose the wrong bride. My father may want to be a slave to the man, but I certainly don’t.

It feels like I’m caught in a never-ending staring competition. Begrudgingly, I have to admit that the man is quite handsome. Tall. Dark hair. Clean shaven. A fine Italian suit fitted to every toned muscle in his body, which has turned even more rigid under my touch. A jaw of powerful prominence locked and pulsing under the tension of his anger, which brings him from a ten down to an eight on the hotness scale. The gleam of danger in his dark brown eyes knocks him down even lower. And the stiffness of his upper lip as he keeps it in a firm line drops him down to a four. If only he were a man of morals with an honorable character, he’d be quite the looker. But he’s a cold-blooded killer, which makes him hideous in my eyes.

“You’re walking a thin line, Francesca. If you keep it up, your ass is going to find itself burning at the end of my palm.”

He gives my backside a tight squeeze, and I gasp out in shock by his intrusive touch. Though the true shock is from the sudden flutter of butterflies in my stomach. “Now, tuck the attitude away and put on your pretty smile while I introduce you to your new family.”

The flutter fizzles into disgust, and I shrug out of his hold and turn, walking straight to the waiter who’s carrying a tray of champagne flutes. I take two from him, guzzling down one of them as I make my way back to my new master. I hand him the empty glass and then bring the other toward my mouth.

“Cheers to our wedded bliss,”

I say before chugging the entire thing.