Page 23 of Hunted to the Altar
I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow in the quiet space. “Protection? Is that what you call this? Kidnapping me? Forcing me to marry him?”
“It’s survival,” Marcello said simply, his tone devoid of judgment. “And it’s not just your survival on the line. The Caputo family doesn’t operate in half measures. You either belong to them fully, or you don’t belong at all.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let the fear show. “That’s not a choice. That’s a death sentence.”
Marcello’s eyes softened further, and for a moment, I thought he might reach out to comfort me. But he stayed where he was, his hands steady and his gaze unwavering. “It’s the truth. And I won’t sugarcoat it for you.”
The weight of his words settled heavily in the pit of mystomach. I glanced at Samuel, who stood silently beside me, his expression unreadable. He said nothing to contradict Marcello, and that silence was more damning than any words could have been.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I can’t be part of this.”
Marcello’s gaze didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something—regret, maybe—in his eyes. “You’re stronger than you think, Nina. And whether or not you believe it, Samuel’s protection is your best chance at survival.”
“Protection?” I repeated, my voice rising as the emotions I’d been holding back came rushing to the surface. “You call this protection? He doesn’t care about me. He just wants to own me, to control me like a damn possession.”
Samuel finally spoke, his voice low and calm but no less dangerous. “If that were true, you wouldn’t still be breathing.”
I whipped around to face him, my anger boiling over. “And I’m supposed to be grateful for that? Grateful that you’ve kept me alive while you rip every ounce of freedom from me?”
His lips curled into a dark smirk, and his amusement at my rebellion made my blood boil further. “Gratitude isn’t necessary, Nina. Obedience is.”
“You’re insane,” I spat, the fire in my chest barely keeping the fear at bay. “You can’t just come into my life, demanding I obey you.”
Samuel crouched down, leveling his piercing blue eyes with mine. There was no anger in his gaze, just a terrifying calmness that unnerved me more than any rage could. “Too late. And in time, you’ll get used to it.”
The way he spoke, as if the entire world bent to his will, made my stomach churn. But before I could argue further, Marcello’s voice broke the tension.
“Nina, fighting this will only make it harder for you. For everyone.” His tone was calm but firm, as though he’d seen thiskind of resistance before and already knew how it ended. “Samuel has decided. And whether you like it or not, you are now part of this family.”
My breath hitched at his words. Part of this family. It sounded more like a sentence than an invitation.
Samuel stood, towering over me, and held out his hand. “You can keep fighting, or you can stand up and face what’s coming. Either way, Nina, you’re mine now.”
Marcello stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. His eyes were steady, almost pitying. “Welcome to the family, Nina,” he said softly. “Even if it’s not by choice, you’ll find your place here.”
The priest stepped back slightly, folding his arms as he glanced between the two of us. “The wedding will be soon,” Marcello continued. “It will be quick, simple. Just enough to satisfy what the family needs to see. There will be witnesses, of course, but only those Samuel deems necessary.”
My chest tightened as Marcello’s words sank in. A wedding. My wedding. To Samuel. The room spun for a moment, and I pressed a hand to my forehead, trying to steady myself.
“And after the ceremony?” Samuel asked, his voice steady and matter-of-fact.
Marcello’s gaze flickered to me before returning to Samuel. “You’ll present her as your wife. She will take your name, and with that, the protection it offers. But,” he added, his tone shifting slightly, “she must understand what that means. What’s expected of her.”
“I don’t care about expectations,” I cut in, my voice trembling but firm. “I don’t want this. I don’t want any of it.”
Samuel’s hand found its way to my chin, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to want it, Nina. You just have to do it.”
Marcello cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “I suggest you both prepare. Samuel, you know the familywill expect this to happen without delay. Tomorrow would be ideal.”
“Tomorrow?” I echoed, my voice rising with disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
“It’s already decided, as your time has run out,” Samuel said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “The sooner this happens, the safer you are.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My heart pounded in my chest, every fiber of my being screaming at me to keep fighting, to find a way out. But as I stared up at Samuel, his expression as calm and immovable as stone, I realized there was no escape. Not now. Not ever.
CHAPTER TEN
Samuel
