Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

49. Allegra

Chapter 49

Allegra

T wo days ago, standing in the entryway, making sure Dante was not too exposed, we waved goodbye to Mamma, Nico, Ocean, and Romeo. They had around a dozen guards with them including Matteo. That alone was enough to raise suspicion.

Much to my surprise, my brother decided to take Ocean and Romeo on an impromptu trip to visit Patty in Charleston four days before my wedding to Riccardo. I am happy my sister-in-law gets to visit the woman who took her and my nephew in during her time of need, but it still doesn’t make sense.

My brother is calculated. So to act so nonchalant when his sister is being forced to marry a monster in just over four days… Well, let’s just say, I’m suspicious.

Now Dante wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his body and from my thoughts. My head tilts back as I smile up at him. He smirks, kissing my neck.

“I have a surprise for you.” My brows raise in silent question making him chuckle. He taps my nose with his forefinger. “Go upstairs. I left something on your bed. Put it on, then meet me in the garden room.”

Curious, I race up the stairs to my bedroom, frowning when I find a dress. It's beautiful. But for what reasons could Dante want me to wear it?

It’s not like we can go outside.

Shrugging, I make quick work of removing my leggings and oversized sweatshirt. Snatching up the dress, I unzip the back, then step into it, pulling it up my legs and over my body. Of course it fits perfectly, molding to every curve like a glove.

Reaching back, I find the zip, pulling it up my body before stroking down the fabric and checking myself out in the mirror. I smile at the reflection staring back at me. I look…happy.

My smile falls and I swallow when reality hits me. Quickly shoving it aside, I pad to the door and make my way to the garden room to meet Dante.

Stepping through the door, I pause at what I find, a gasp leaving my lips. My gaze finds Dante’s, and the happiness that spills from him is tangible. Closing the distance between us, he takes my hands in his, dropping his forehead to mine.

“What do you say, principessa?”

Panic grips me like a vise, my throat tight, as I pace my bedroom.

It’s my wedding day.

Despite our best efforts, we still haven't found anything to link Riccardo to Dante’s disappearance or the Conti family. Whatever involvement Riccardo has, he was smart enough to not leave a paper trail. Even after our dinner – the one he insisted on after the fire - where he all but confirmed our suspicions, it wasn’t enough to pin anything on him.

Through my brother’s contacts in the Las Vegas PD, we learned that the feds had ruled the fire at the house Dante shared with Caterina as an electrical fault which got out of control. An unfortunate accident was the headline in the local media. It was the outcome we expected but that didn’t stop the Conti’s from doing their own investigation. An associate of Nico’s, who conveniently had a contact within the Conti organization, had informed my brother that Vincenzo Conti believed the fire was in retaliation to them shooting up a club of one of their enemies. Both Dante and Nico believed Vincenzo might investigate it further, but in the end, his conclusions of it being the work of an enemy worked in our favor.

Anything was better than him suspecting our involvement and uncovering the truth.

Despite the last few weeks passing in a blur of love, a lot has happened since Dante returned home. He is doing well in his therapy, and while his memories haven’t returned completely, he remembers small parts of our past. And even though they are somewhat distorted flashbacks, he is having them and that’s what matters.

Like a puzzle, Dante is slowly piecing together who he is, and I hope one day he will have the full picture of not only our relationship, but his childhood. Dante would never be so vulnerable as to admit it. But I see it clearly. He doesn’t feel whole right now, not when so much of his past is still missing. I have every hope that in time and with lots of therapy it will come back. I just wish I could be with him every step of the way when that happens.

Pain radiates through my chest at the thought, and I feel like I can’t breathe. My legs buckle, and I fall to the carpet, a sob bursting from my mouth. We have come this far and yet, once again, it is going to be taken away from me.

Believing the man I loved was dead, I thought I was doing the right thing for my family when I agreed to marry Riccardo. I thought I was being strong. Brave. And look where it got me. Whoever said being strong was a good thing, had clearly never been in such a dire situation.

Not once did I ever think or dare to dream that Dante was alive. Had I thought for even a fleeting second that he was, I would have never put myself in this situation.

And now we have no excuse to not go through with this wedding. I am going to be tied to a monster for the rest of my life. Stopping this farce would mean going to war. I cannot risk that, no matter how much Dante has begged me to. He suggested running. Taking me and getting as far away from this place as possible, to keep me safe. But keeping me safe means bringing harm to my family. I can’t do that to Nico, Mamma, Ocean, Romeo, and my new niece or nephew that is on the way – despite everything inside me begging to do just that.

If Dante’s disappearance, after what we did two days ago, is anything to go by, he doesn’t understand why I am doing this. I can’t even blame him. If the shoe were on the other foot, piece by little piece, I would be dying inside.

The door being pushed open breaks me from my thoughts. My head snaps up, eyes widening at the sight of the angry looking man barging inside my bedroom. His chest heaves as if he just ran a marathon, his dark eyes wild as he stares at me on the floor. Mamma rushes after him, and I take in her flustered form.

“Jesus Christ, Dante, what are you doing?” she huffs out, though I hear the concern in her voice.

“I need to see her,” he snaps. Mamma's eyes widen in shock. Never, in his whole life has he ever raised his voice to Valentina Marchetti. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath, collecting himself before facing Mamma. “I’m sorry, Valentina, I didn’t mean to snap at you. Can you give us a minute?”

Mamma’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, a sad smile on her face. She nods in understanding. My chest tightens. I know how she feels about this whole state of affairs, but she understands why I am doing it. Reaching up, she pats his arm.

“You have an hour before the makeup artist and stylist arrive,” she tells him, then turns and exits my bedroom.

The door closes, leaving me alone with the man I love. Tension radiates through the room, the atmosphere so thick it’s almost suffocating, but I will gladly let it pull me under if it means having him here with me right now.

“Dante?” I whisper.

He stiffens, as if he cannot bear the sound of my voice, his back moving with every breath he takes. Minutes pass before he finally turns to face me. The turmoil in his dark gaze nearly mirrors mine and I whimper, a sob bursting from my lips.

As if snapping out of his trance, he closes the distance between us, scooping me up and cradling me in his strong arms. He buries his face in my neck, breathing me in, his voice strained when he speaks. “I hate that you have to do this, principessa .”

Cupping his cheeks, I press a kiss to his lips.

“I love you,” I tell him honestly.

He shakes his head, his voice pleading when he speaks. “Then don’t do this.”

Tears burn my eyes. I want to give him what he wants, but the thought of what will happen to my family overrules my need to put a stop to this.

“From the look on your face, I know there is nothing I can say to stop this. Just know that you are killing me, principessa .” His voice is thick with emotion. “In saying that, I would rather die than let another man take what’s mine. When you walk down that aisle, I want my come running down your thighs,” he growls out, his lips smashing to mine in a claiming kiss.

Heady with desire, I don’t notice when he moves quickly across my bedroom. I don’t sense the animalistic, primal need emanating from him. It’s only when he drops me to the bed and I see the look on his face, that I realize what is about to happen. My stomach tightens with desire, panties turning slick with arousal. I lick my lips. Swallow my nerves.

Dante, the man I have loved for most of my life, is going to fuck me.