The Mafia Crimson Desire

ers lightly brushed the intricate lace of the wedding dress she wore- white, pristine, with delicate beadwork that sparkled under the soft lighti

acknowledge. Luca had told her she was his, but this was more than just ownership. It was power. It was control.

es. Her reflection in the mirror was almost unrecognizable. She had always tried to avoid attention, to keep a low profile beneath the shadow of her father's

reaths. This wasn't her choice. None of it was. The cerem

e couldn't escape. They were both prisoners in this world-a world that demanded loyalty, submission, and blood. The Morelli family and t

ghts. The soft voice of her maidservant called

iffened, but she knew there was no choice but to face it. She forced a smile onto her l

pped in, her gaze dropping to the floor. She didn't look at Sophia a

es. She didn't want it. She didn't need it. She didn't need anyone'

y?" the maid

ve? She had already stepped into this life, and there was no way to walk bac

ady," s

work that framed her face, her mind too clouded with thoughts of what would come next. She wasn't prepared to m

n was unreadable, as always. His sharp features, the deep lines etched into his face from years of

said, his voice a quiet murmur. He reached out and adjusted the delicate s

years trying to make her father proud, trying to earn his approval. But this-this was beyond what she had ever envis

d quietly, the words slipping from h

etween them was palpable. She knew what he was thinking. He would see this marriage as a necessary sacrifice,

regret, "this is what is best for the family. This is not about what you

er she could have been. The daughter who wasn't trapped by this world of blo

of herself didn

focating. Then, without another word, her fathe

he grand hallway stretched ahead, lined with flowers and rich tapestries. The soft murmur o

ing, as always. His dark eyes were fixed on her as she descended, and for a fleeting moment

the boy she had once played with as a child. No, Luca Vieri had grown into something fa

fallen. The guests were silent, their eyes trained on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at

ht of them pressing into her skin. Her father placed her hand in Luc

ess. He didn't look at her with affection. He looked at her lik

wfully wedded husband?" the priest's voice rang out, a

e moment when everything would change. The moment

t she managed to force

ked down at her for a moment, then raised his gaze to th

one thing for certain: this was o

hey were spoken by someone else entirely. "I now pro

reality of the moment pressed in on her. The weight of it-the finality of it-was too much. She wa

felt his lips hover above hers for a moment, his breath a tantalizing, intoxicating whisper agai

hout warning,

hers with deliberate slowness, and for an agonizing second, Sophia felt like she was suffocating. She wanted to pull away, to break free, bu

atisfaction. His fingers lingered at her neck for a momen

a, as if she were underwater. She could feel the cold sweat on her pal

er waist. "To the future of our families," he said, his voice low b

down the aisle, his steps sure, strong, unyielding. She could feel the eyes of everyone on her, the judgment in their gazes, the

hia's face as they stepped into the courtyard, a stark contrast to the heat that had enveloped her inside. She glanced at

gaze flicking to his. The emotion in his eyes-familiar, yet unrecognizable-sent a chill through her. He wasn't angry. He wasn't cruel. But the

seats as Luca followed her inside. The driver closed the d

ask him everything that was swimming in her mind. But she knew better. Words were

oice low but clear. "Toni

rds. "What do you mean?" she asked

in his eyes. "You'll see soon enough," he replied. "The Morellis have never been involved in the Vieri business.

is marriage would change things. But she hadn't realized how deep those changes would go. S

high gates, and security guards stood watch, their eyes scanning the perimeter as the

ff, all dressed in black, their expressions neutral but professional. As they walked towa

d, the walls adorned with expensive artwork, and chandeliers s

this world, but she wasn't sure how to survive in it. The rules

g her waist. They reached a set of double doors at the e

you'll be joining me in mine. I expect you to stay close. Th

fight, to resist, but she couldn't. She had no power here. S

ouse. The king-sized bed was framed by dark, heavy curtains, and the furniture was sleek

ion in the air was thick, as though he was waiting for her to break. To show we

t offering her one. His back was turned as he swirled the amber liquid in his

and controlled, like he was speaking to a child. "The

n't belong here," she said, the words s

ion darkening. "You don't have to be

just made her his, she realized something horrify