His Mafia Bride

CRYSTAL

I sat in the car with Leonardo, mortified hands clenching on to my wet dress that seemed like it was glued to my trembling body.

A deadly silence spread through the atmosphere like a wild fire, destroying every thing in its path as Leonardo drove along the high way.

I scrutinised his facial features as he drove. He was still visibly angry and it was affecting his way of driving. He drove speedily like we each had an extra life, overtaking cars and honking unnecessarily.

“Leonardo..”I called out in a shaky breath.

I got no reply but his gaze terribly focused on the road accompanied by his menacing look.

“Thank you”I voiced out in one breath, my tone wavering.

He immedately took a sharp turn which made me let out a shriek and pulled over.

“You are thanking me?”His acrimonious voice sarcastically asked.

I nodded my head frightfully unaware of what next to say.

“Do you know what could have happened to you if i hadn’t come on time?”He barked like an angry dog.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I knew fully well what would have happened if not for his timely arrival. I avoided the thought like a plague. I could have been abused or possibly died.

“What is wrong with you!? This is your second time of trying to run away. Stop testing my patience Crystal. We made a fucking deal!”he yelled, his nostrils flaring up in pure rage.

I shivered and tears pooled in my eyes.

“Stop shouting at me!”I heard my voice cry out even before I could stop myself.

He stared at me in utter disbelief.

“What?”He asked lowly with eye brows raised.

I cleaned the tears threatening to spill and sniffed my nose. “If you had treated me better, if you atleast showed me human empathy, probably I wouldn’t have thought of running away. But no! You are a beast. A monster. A cruel human. A devil. I hate you. You flog me, treat me like a mere commodity, toss me over like a rag and make me do things I don’t want to. Why shouldn’t I run away?!”

I suddenly didn’t feel scared any more. To hell with the consequences that would come with my actions.

I was sick and tired of the way he treated me. It hadn’t even been up to a month and this beast in a human form treats me with so much disgust and disdain.

I stared at him eyeball to eyeball, daring to face his cold blue orbs and challenging his authority over me.

“Let me make one thing clear to you Crystal..”he began after a brief, tormenting moment of silence.

He gripped my chin with one hand, his sharp long finger nails pressing into my jaws, probably leaving a mark there, causing me to wince in pain and shut my eyes.

“I own you and I have the right to treat you however I want to treat you. Don’t annoy me any further else I’ll make sure I throw you to the back seat, tie you up and do some nasty things to your body, making sure the entire street hears your pretty screams”He gruffed.

I gulped and he pushed my chin away, bringing his hands back to the steering wheel and igniting the car once more.

I was shaking. What did he mean by doing nasty things to my body?

I dreaded the lane in which my mind was leading me to and I shook my head to clear off those mundane thoughts.

I turned my face at him. Still quivering, I decided to ask, “Are we still going to see me sister?”

He huffed at me. “No chance. We are heading back to the mansion. No buts”

I felt my eyes being choked up with tears. I wanted to scream, shout, thrash around and hit my head repeatedly on the car sit but I suddenly lost my voice.

I pressed my lips in tightly as I felt tears threatening to spill over.

Leonardo didn’t even glance at my forlorn state, instead he kept on driving like I wasn’t even existing. He ignored me like I wasn’t seated right next to him, experiencing an emotional rollercoaster.

What sort of a life is this?

* * * * * * *

Time moved really fast in the mansion. After my failed attempt to escape yesterday, Leonardo truly kept to his word of not letting me go see my sister again.

My freedom, my life, my choice were literally snatched out of my hold. I was not in control of my fucking life any more.

Everything was in Leonardo’s hands. I felt so suffocated in this prison like mansion.

Ever since he dropped me back at the mansion, I had not set my eyes on him again. He did not spend the night in the mansion which got me relieved.

I usually felt able to breathe whenever he wasn’t looming around the corners of the mansion.

I felt a bit of freedom knowing his callous eyes weren’t monitoring my every movement like a criminal.

I spent my morning with Maya as usual. She was such a bubbly elderly woman.

I listened to her ramble about her grandson and Leonardo. It seemed she was very fond of Leonardo.

I wondered why Leonardo grew up to be so cold when the woman who raised him was practically so good and filled with love and light.

I glanced at the digital rectangular clock placed in the kitchen. It was three pm sharp.

“Maya will Leonardo come home today?”I asked as we sliced some carrots.

“Ofcourse. A function is to be held later in the night. He will come back”she replied.

What?

I felt my breathing obstructed in my lungs and my eyes widened.

I didn’t expect him to come back so quick.

I thought he would leave for a week like the last time.

“I know you are surprised he is coming back”she added as if sensing my anxious thoughts.

I nodded with a slight exhale.

“It’s kind off like a ritual in the Constanzo family. They throw functions very well especially to celebrate business deals. When his father was alive, he was always throwing large functions”she explained.

I hummed and gave her a soft smile.

“You should go get rest so you can be ready before sunset. The house will be bustling with people by then”she adviced.

Probably.

“I’ll Maya. Let me help you out more. I like your company”I said cheekily.

She laughed. “Ok child”

“So tell me, how long have you been in this family?”I asked with a wide grin.

I truly loved spending time with Maya. We were generations apart but she reminded me so much of my mother.

Atleast I could use my last moments of freedom well enough before the Devil would arrive.

* * * * * * *

My hands trailed along the walls of the hallway as I made my way downstairs.

I could hear faint chattering of the lively crowd and the sound grew louder as I approached downstairs.

I was putting on a silver coloured off shoulder gown that Maya handpicked for me coupled with a pair of heels.

My hair was let loose to fall at my shoulders but I spiced it up by adding some butterfly shaped hair pins to it. I wasn’t a makeup expert so I applied some mascara, light foundation to cover up my gloomy face and a shiny lip gloss to match.

I looked beautiful and simple.

I stood by the edge of the staircase, watching the crowd from upstairs. From a simple glance, I could tell this was a formal occasion for the elite class.

Someone of my status didn’t belong here. The imperial large living room had been given a total makeover.

Balloons were situated at all corners, red and blue lights glowing all over the room, giving it a tempting, romantic colour frenzy.

Waiters buzzed over the place like bees, carrying trays and serving it to whoever cared.

My eyes roved about for that one person, searching the sea of highly dressed individuals in search of that one person that was making my life hell.

My eyes spotted him. He looked up and our gaze locked. I sucked in my breath noticing a blonde was by his side, their hands interlocked.

Was she his woman?

Why would he have a woman and force me to stay with him in his house, doing all sorts of forbidden things to me?

He was a cheat.

He gave me a knowing smirk as he realised I had my absolute gaze on the blonde he was with.

I tore my eyes away from his and walked downstairs, my hands gliding through the gold rails of the staircase.

Once I was downstairs, I totally ignored his presence and looked for a deserted place to stay in. Every part of the living room was occupied with people

Soft classical music played reverabatingly out of the living room.

I noticed an empty seat and quickly went to sit on it before it would get occupied.

I felt so left out. I truly didn’t belong here.

I didn’t want to come to the function but Maya insisted I did because Leonardo specifically told her to make sure I attended the function.

I only accepted the offer for Maya’s sake. I didn’t want to see her disappointed.

Now I was here, I still wished I didn’t come but atleast I could spare thirty minutes here.

It was a good thing Leonardo saw me. Atleast he would know I attended his fucking function.

I spotted him dancing with the blonde, his hands wrapped around her waist and face buried in her neck.

I suddenly felt this burning sensation in my chest. My face became disconcerted as I watched them.

I noticed him whipping his gaze to mine. I immedately adopted a stoic expression

, trying to hide my disgust.

“Can we dance?”A young man came to me offering me his hand.

I truly wasn’t in the mood.

I shook my head and offered him a pleasant smile. “I am sorry. I’m not in the mood”

He nodded and walked away, leaving me to my disheartening thoughts.

After about some minutes of staying, I stood up with an exhale.

I couldn’t stay here anymore. It was suffocating. I fought to scramble my feet out of the living room but accidentally hit a waiter, having the contents of his tray spill on my gown giving it an awful stain.

Fuck.

All eyes were on me at this point.

“I’m so sorry”the waiter apologised immedately.

“No it’s fine. It’s my fault”I insisted with a smile.

I heard the blonde hiss. “Uurgh. Who is she Leo? Don’t you know how to walk?”she spat.

I stared with my lips slightly parted at her then to Leonardo.

“She’s just a maid honey. Don’t focus on her. Let’s enjoy our function”he replied without even batting an eyelid.

“And you, get out off here”he added gruffly pointing at me.

Everyone continued with their business except I who stood on the spot, shaken by what Leonardo just addressed me as.

Me? A maid?

It felt like the earth should swallow me up.

I felt tears pool in my eyes and I quickly scurried out of the living room, frantically heading upstairs to my room before anyone had the chance of seeing me crumble into tears.

“I hate you Leonardo!”I screamed in tears the moment I had bolted inside my room.

I shut the door and roughly pulled off my heels before falling on the bed.

With my face buried in the pillow, I cried out bitterly.

He just addressed me as a maid. I didn’t beg for him to bring me to his mansion. I didn’t want to attend this freaking function in the first place.

But I did. And I got insulted.

I will forever despise Leonardo.