Page 4 of Stolen Union

At the end of the aisle stands Antonio with a stupid grin. Ugh. Here we go.

I force my feet to walk forward. It’s a good thing Rocco is holding onto my arm—it’s keeping me from falling. I’m no stranger to dresses or heels. That’s not the problem. The problem is I might just fall and get hurt to avoid marrying Antonio. It sounds like a smart plan to me.

But then, in no time, I’ve reached the end of the aisle, and I’m standing in front of Antonio with his hand on mine. Rocco leaves me to sit down beside Lara. Next to him is Massimo and Emilio—my two other brothers. All my brothers are tall with dark hair and imposing builds. Thank god they’re my brothers. I’d hate to be on their bad side.

I study Antonio’s face as the officiant starts the ceremony. He looks like he could blend in with the family, but he doesn’t carry the same gravitas as my brothers.

I look back at them. Massimo gives me a thumbs-up before bringing his fingers to his head and pretending to shoot himself. It makes me chuckle. Massimo knows just how to make me laugh.

Antonio notices. “What’s so funny?” he asks, interrupting the officiant.

Everything goes quiet.

“Um … nothing,” I say. “I’m just happy to be marrying you today.”

“Oh.” Antonio puffs out his chest. Gag again. “Well, good.”

I sneak a look back at Massimo, and he gives me a helpless shrug. Rocco nudges him to stop while Emilio watches on in stoic concentration.

“Do you, Antonio Ricci,” the officiant says, breaking my concentration, “take Gabriella De Luca to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do,” Antonio says without any hesitation.

The officiant turns to me. “And do you, Gabriella De Luca, take Antonio Ricci to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Oh god. Here we go.

I open my mouth to speak when the doors burst open, drawing everyone’s attention away from me.

A man stands in the aisle. A man who’s face has haunted my dreams for a long time.

Dante Romano.

“I object,” he says right before he whips out a gun and starts firing at the ceiling.

I dive to the ground, and Antonio jumps on top of me. Chaos ensues, and people run for the exit. I can see my brothers trying to get to Dante, but too many people are in their way. A couple of other men run into the room, firing their weapons.

In the chaos, Dante runs up to Antonio and me. He kicks Antonio in the face, sending my fiancé sprawling onto his back. Before I can react, Dante grabs my arms and hoists me over his shoulder.

“You’re coming with me,” he says.

I can’t even process what’s happening. All I can see are my brothers fighting to get to me as Dante runs away with me over his shoulder. It only dawns on me once we’re out of the room and Dante is sprinting down a hallway toward the back of the hotel where I’m being kidnapped.

By Dante.

Again.

CHAPTER 2

Dante

I’ve been planning to kidnap Gabriella De Luca for months.

The plan formed after I tried to make a deal with Rocco. I asked him to let me go. I wouldn’t cause any trouble if he just stopped hunting me down. But Rocco couldn’t do that.

I remember how he tried shooting at my head and chasing me. I managed to escape, but just barely. Rocco couldn’t keep his promise to me.

So now, I’m not going to keep any promise to him. I’ll take his precious baby sister so he knows I’m serious. He killed my father. Now, I’m ready to make his life torture.

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