Page 40 of Beautiful Devil

I stare at his outstretched hand and don’t move a muscle. I don’t speak; I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I just stand as still as a statue. He doesn’t seem offended by me not shaking his hand or saying anything. He just lowers it back to his side as if it didn’t even happen. One thing that I will need to unpack later when my brain can process things again is him calling himDon Moretti.

Marco continues on, and I miss part of what he says.

“…everything is ready if you are, Ms. D’Amato?”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I give a slight nod anyway. He moves to my side and wraps his big hand around my elbow.

He must see the confusion on my face because he says, “I’m just escorting you to Don Moretti, Ms. D’Amato.”

I give another nod, and the next thing I know, I’m walking out the back doors where I see a beautiful arch covered in the red roses from the garden. Under it stand Fabrizio and who I can only assume is the priest.

Of course he would look sexy as hell standing there in his fitted Armani black suit. His jacket is buttoned at the waist, and a sharp black bowtie covers the tattoo around his neck. I see something move next to him, and my eyes widen at Jeff sitting next to the makeshift altar. If I could laugh, I would.

Marco escorts me down the stone pathway to where Moretti and the priest are standing, and the closer I get to him, the more empty I feel. I feel like my soul has left my body and I’m floating above myself looking down at the trainwreck that’s about to take place.

When we reach the end, Moretti takes my hand. We don’t say anything as he turns his attention and try as I might, I can't take my focus off him. As handsome and terrifying as this man is and as much as I try to resist it, I can't help being drawn to him.

Please, dear God, let this be a dream.

I don’t hear a single thing that the priest says, which becomes a problem when I notice Fabi looking at me expectantly. I just stand there and stare back at him blankly until he leans in and speaks directly into my ear.

“This is where you speak now,gattina.”

I still don’t respond to what he says.

“Just repeat after me. I’ll translate for you.”

The only word I hear myself say in the end are, “I do.”

The next thing I know, his lips are on mine as my body temperature soars, effectively snapping me out of my trance. Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and I find myself wanting to melt against him.

This is not how I should be feeling. This assholekidnappedme.

Goosebumps pebble down my arms and I feel my heart thumping hard against my chest. Never before in my life have I experienced a kiss like this, not even with Gallo at the start. All too soon, though, he breaks away. I pull back ever so slightly and look up at him. His eyes bore deep into mine, searching for something.

My hands suddenly feel clammy, and my heartbeat is still erratic. Our close proximity is making my head a little fuzzy, and as much as I hate to admit it, I feel a pool of wetness gathered between my thighs.

We walk hand-in-hand back down the stone pathway and back into the house. His is a death grip, as if he’s afraid thatnowI’ll run after we're already married.

Holy shit, I’m married! I’m still too desensitized to have a proper freak out or to take in any of my surroundings.

We continue to walk down a hallway when he speaks for the first time since the ceremony. “Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

Although I know I should, I shake my head no. He just nods in response, and we continue on our way up the stairs to my room. He must sense that I need some space, because he unlocks my door and holds it open for me. I step inside and he shuts the door and locks it without another word.

Once again, I’m all alone and back in my prison cell. I can finally release my breath, and when I do, the tears come hard and fast, tumbling down my cheeks as I try to process what the fuck just happened.

I’m married.

CHAPTER13

GIA

After the ceremony,I'd fallen to the ground and cried the hardest I ever had in my life.

I don't know how long I'd sat there in the middle of the room, but eventually I'd gathered myself up off the floor and made my way into the ensuite bathroom.

After turning on the shower, I'd caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and peered into my eyes to find... nothing. No happiness, no determination, no fight.

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