Taken By The Mafia Lord

As Cassie had notified her, the designer was the first person to grace her prison aka her living room, first thing in the morning – everything had to be rushed with the fast-approaching wedding.

And as much as she hated this wedding or the thought of it, Arianna had been so cooped up in her room all day that discussing a different issue – aside from watching Netflix and talking with Cassie – captured her interest immediately.

Arianna hated this wedding – that was true – but since she was going to be a bride – against her wish – why not look the part? She would be the most beautiful forced bride. She’d look so stunning that other young women out there would wish to be in her shoes. And how much she wanted them to be in her shoes.

Cold, cold, world.

She went over the numerous magazines and brochures the designer came with and at last, settled on a ruffle wedding dress. There was nothing subtle about the frothy, cascading ruffle skirt, and a frilly collar. Fitted all the way down to just above the knees, it would hug her curves and highlight the smallest part of her body – her waist.

Arianna could already picture herself turning head in that dress. That was the one, she concluded as she pointed at the design. Although she wondered how the designer would go about the wedding dress when there were just two days to her wedding.

But that was until she heard that the dress had been pre-ordered already and all she had to do was to make a choice. Once chosen, the dress would be altered to her measurements, and Voila! Her wedding dress was ready.

Arianna didn’t know whether to be saddened or gladdened by the news. She had been hoping somehow to use the dress as an excuse to delay the wedding. But it seems Big Joe thought ahead of her already. Good, the short man wasn’t dumb after all.

.....

The dress cost a ton and Arianna wondered who he sold or drained their life force and future to be able to afford that. Arianna was angry and disgusted; she wanted nothing to do with that dirty money.

By the time Arianna was done with the meeting, her stomach was rumbling in protest. She was as hungry as hell and no one had sent breakfast to her.

Cassie was nowhere to be found – she was usually the one who served her – and Arianna had already made peace with getting starved until an invitation was extended to her – Big Joe wanted her for breakfast.

Who knew what he had in mind again? Arianna was weary of his presence. The last time they had breakfast, he whipped her cousin in front of his associates for entertainment and punishment for her actions. Who knew who he would whip this time? Her aunt? Although she was honestly thrilled by that scene. But the point is, her family was not for sports.

Arianna didn’t bother to dress chic as she had done the previous day, rather she put on a pair of comfortable clothes and followed the underlings he sent to escort her to the destination.

Their destination was the garden and this time Big Joe was all alone with enough feast on the table in front of him that could feed a lot of people.

Even as the outside felt comfortable and there were no prying eyes except his guards keeping an eye on them, Arianna couldn’t let her guard down. Who knew what he was planning to do to her?

“You’re here,” There was a proud look on Big Joe’s face when he spotted her. Sometimes Arianna couldn’t help but think Big Joe was not marrying her because he liked her but to keep up with appearances.

Arianna knew she was beautiful – at least people told her that – and she had no doubt Big Joe saw the same thing in her. So yeah, she was going to do a good job of looking good at his side and not as an equal.

She was already scared of this dreary future. Arianna prayed whatever plan Elijah was hatching, he worked fast because she was slowly losing hope. Time was against them.

“Goodmorning,” Arianna responded in a bland tone. Since Big Joe decided to show her the other side of him, she was not going to pretend she appreciated his company as well.

“I hoped you slept well?” He pushed on even though it was quite obvious that Arianna wasn’t interested in the conversation.

“Who would sleep well in my condition?” Arianna retorted, busying herself by smearing Jam on her bread. Big Joe was the one who pissed her off, not the food; she was having her full.

“I didn’t know you were this fiesty,” Big Joe was amused by her temper. Her fit of anger was interesting and cute.

“Disrupt my breakfast once again and I’ll show you the other sides to me,” Arianna warned him with a deep scowl. She wanted to hurt him badly, till he bled red. Gosh, she was beginning to think like them. It seems a few moments with the dark side was beginning to corrupt her soul.

Thankfully, Big Joe didn’t bother her any longer and Arianna ate as much as she could until she pushed back the seat with a squeak and stood up, saying, “Thanks for the meal, I’ll be going back to my room now,” disdain dripped from her words.

“You know you can’t keep this up for forever,” Big Joe told her.

The way his knife cut into his meat, looking so calm and nonchalant pissed Arianna off so much. While her inside was a boiling cauldron, someone was having the time of his life.

“Try me,” Arianna sneered, eyes fiery with bottled rage. She needed that rage to keep on boiling, to remind herself why she hated this place and the asshole in the first place.

Having the upper hand in this conversation, Arianna was about to leave with that sense of satisfaction when Big Joe announced to her horror, “Whether you like me or not, you do know we would have to consummate our marriage,”