Chapter 9
The crimson carpet stretched endlessly beneath my feet. I’d walked this hallway thousands of times, but never like this–never as a bride walking toward someone else’s future]
For once, I let myself be vulnerable, my voice soft against Fabiano’s shoulder as he carried me:
“I didn’t think you’d show up.“]
“Five years ago, I imagined this moment differently. I thought you’d be carrying me to our wedding. Not… this.“]
Fabiano’s voice cracked like breaking glass:
“I’m so fucking sorry, Arianna.”
T’pressed my face against his back, feeling oddly peaceful
“It’s okay. I’m not angry anymore.“]
Ahead of us, Massimo waited by the sleek black Maserati, holding my custom Louboutins, ready to help me into the car.
The instant my feet hit the marble floor, chaos erupted.|||
Fabiano moved like lightning, yanking a switchblade from his jacket and pressing it against Massimo’s throat hard enough to draw blood. His eyes were wild, completely unhinged, but when he looked at me, they filled with desperate, pathetic hope:[]
*I fucking love you, Arianna.”
“Please… don’t marry him. Choose me.”
My blood turned to ice. This was insane, even for our family
“Fabiano, what the hell are you doing?”
“Put the knife down before you do something we’ll all regret!“]]
“If you hurt him, his family will start a war that’ll destroy everything Papa built.“]
Fabiano’s grip tightened, his whole body shaking with barely controlled madness.
“I don’t give a shit about any of that! Just say yes! Say you’ll come with me instead!”
“I’d die for you right here, right now–would he do the same?”
But Massimo? That psychotic bastard just started laughing.
His voice turned silky and dangerous as he whispered in Fabiano’s ear:]
“Do it, you pathetic fuck. I’m practically begging
ring you.”
Then his eyes found mine, and something in his expression made my heart stop. For the first time since I’d known him, Massimo looked… completely sincere.]
“Kill me, Fabiano, Because here’s what’ll happen–if I die in her arms today, she’ll never forget me. Every time she closes her eyes, she’ll see my face. Every time she fucks you, she’ll remember how I died for her.“]
He pressed his throat harder against the blade, blood streaming down his neck.[]
“You think you’re saving her from me? Brother, you’re handing me immortality. Dead men don’t have competition.”
“Go ahead. Make me a martyr.“[]
Fabiano’s face twisted with rage and realization–he was trapped, and Massimo had orchestrated the whole thing.
“You manipulative piece of shit!“[]
“Choose, Arianna!” Fabiano screamed at me, his voice breaking completely. “Choose right fucking now! Him or mer
The blade pressed deeper. Massimo’s smile never wavered, even as more blood poured down his shirt.[]
My world tilted sideways. Two men I’d cared about, one holding the other hostage, both demanding I pick a side in their psychotic game.]
Without thinking, I lunged for the nearest bodyguard’s holster, yanking out his Glock []
*ENOUGH!“]
Both men froze.]
I raised the gun with steady hands, my voice deadly calm
“You want me to choose? Fine.“]
The safety clicked off
“I choose myself.”
BANG.]]
The gunshot echoed through the marble hallway like thunder.
Fabiano collapsed, clutching his chest, blood spreading across his white shirt like spilled wine. His eyes went wide with shock and something that might have been… relief?]
“Arianna…” he whispered, blood on his lips,
I knelt beside him, my voice gentle for the first time in years:]
“I loved you once, Fabiano. But love without trust is just poison.“]
His hand found mine, grip weakening:
“I know… I know I fucked everything up…”
“Just… be happy, okay? That’s all I ever wanted… for you to be happy…“]
His eyes closed for the last time.]
I stood up slowly, my wedding dress stained with blood, and looked at Massimo. He was staring at me like I’d just performed a miracle.
“Well?” I said, voice steady despite the chaos. “Are we getting married or what?”
Hours later, in our honeymoon suite, Massimo couldn’t help himself:
“So… you feeling guilty about putting a bullet in your ex?”
He was sprawled across the silk sheets like he owned the world, that insufferable smirk playing at his lips.
“Does this mean you actually love me now? Because that was pretty fucking romantic, not gonna lie.”
I looked at him–this beautiful, dangerous, absolutely insane man who’d nearly gotten himself killed just to force my
hand.]
Without warning, I grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back against the headboard, straddling him with predatory grace.]
His eyes went wide with surprise and arousal.
“You want to know if I love you, Massimo?”
My hands pinned his wrists above his head.]
“Here’s what I know–I just killed for you. I chose you over everything I used to be. And now?“]
I leaned down until my lips brushed his ear:
“Now you’re mine. Completely. Forever. And if you ever pull a stunt like that again…”
I bit down on his earlobe hard enough to make him gasp.]
“I’ll put the next bullet in you.“]
Massimo’s grin turned absolutely feral:]
“Promise?”
I kissed him hard enough to draw blood, tasting victory and violence and the beginning of something that might actually be love
Or at least, it was close enough for two psychopaths who deserved each other.]
