The Undesired Wedding

CHAPTER 1

"You must marry Lorenzo De Luca"

"Father..."

"Not a chance for deliberation young lady".

Valeria Romano shook her head dismissing the thoughts and forced her shaky legs to walk down the carpeted aisle in the stiletto heels she was mandated to wear. 

'What if I turn around and make a run for it?'

The thought crept into her mind, twisting her stomach into a tighter knot because she knew she couldn't do it even if she wanted to. She could not bring such shame to her respected family.

The Romano's...The Roman empire.

Numero Uno.

Only the thought of what her father, Dante Romano would do if she dared do something silly like run out of the ballroom made her grip the flower bouquet tighter with shaky hands and sweaty palms.

 ... disobedience means death...

Was her father's motto.

The crystal chandeliers hanging in the opulent ballroom casted fragmented light onto the assembled guests...big shots from all crime families in Italy who were associated with either the Romanos or De Lucas.

Her eyes darted around their faces as she frantically searched for something... although she was unsure of what she was searching for. Soon, their faces started blurring together and then she felt the wetness on her cheeks.

Thankful that the veil essentially did it's part in hiding her teary eyes and wet cheeks, she forged ahead, not sparing the man standing at the front any glance.

"You must marry Lorenzo De Luca". Her father's voice rang in her head once more and she struggled to keep composure as her head spun on a one-eighty. It was beginning to torment her.

"Such a beautiful bride". The voice of a woman whom she did not recognise brought her out of her trance. Only that her mental trance was not much better than the dilemma reality brought.

"The groom is quite dashing too". Another said making Valeria close her eyes. 

As dashing as he was, she wanted to dash a million miles away from him. Freedom sounded simple but it was far difficult than it sounded.

As she got closer to the front, streaks of sweat ran from her temple down the corners of her face. It were as though she were willingly walking straight into hell and the air conditioning did nothing to ease the heat she felt all over.

Reaching the front, her elder brother came up to hug her. "Father says you should remember". He said in a disembodied whisper and broke the hug.

Just a simple statement but a million and one things clouded her thoughts. 

"Where..." Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat, "...where is father?".

"Work". He said and took notice of her change in stance. "You know how it is heading the mafia operation".

Did he really think she was bothered about his absence at her wedding? She even felt sick to her stomach calling it her wedding. 

"Don't wanna keep your groom waiting". Marco said jerking his head to the side. He placed his hand on the small of her back and walked the remaining steps with her.

"Your bride". Marco said to Lorenzo as he and Valeria both reached the front. She was handed over to him like a sacrifice on a silver platter.

Lorenzo stepped forward and took her hand saying something Italian to Marco which Valeria was too distracted by her inner turmoil to care about. She was soon standing in front of Lorenzo and the officiant started speaking.

Her gaze was fixed on Lorenzo De Luca, the man she was about to marry- a union that was supposedly meant to seal peace between their warring families. Since the union was going to seal peace, she searched for a glimmer of warmth in Lorenzo's piercing blue eyes but his expression remained stoic.

Stoic...the same expression her father always put on as a mask to hide his true feelings.

The ceremony progressed and so did Valeria's anxiety, her gaze drifted to her mother, Isabella Romano, who sat in the front pew, her face a picture of elegance and poise. Beside her, sat Valeria's elder brother, Marco and younger brother, Angelo.

But Valeria detected a hint of tension in her mother's shoulders, it was a subtle stiffness that betrayed her anxiety. Frantically searching for an iota of calm, her eyes moved to Antonio De Luca, Lorenzo's father who's eyes were fixed on her mother with an unnerving intensity.

"Valeria". Lorenzo's deep baritone jolted her from her search for a sense of calm. She stared at him and he raised his left brow which made Valeria notice the scar on it.

"Do you take Lorenzo De Luca as your lawfully wedded husband?". The officiant repeated and she didn't trust her mouth not to betray her so she only nodded.

As the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, and they turned to face the guests, she held back bile that threatened to escape her mouth.

...

Meanwhile, outside the ballroom, Valeria's father, Dante Romano, was seated in his car with an unknown man. He exchanged a discreet handshake with him.

"Make sure every news station covers this wedding," Dante instructed, his voice low and urgent. "I want the world to know that a Romano has married a De Luca."

"Consider it done, sire".

...

Back in the ballroom, as the reception got underway, Lorenzo and Valeria were mandated to walk around and show appreciation to the guests.The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and forced pleasantries which made Valeria feel like running, but to where?

"Time for pictures". Valeria's mother, Isabella said as they got back to the table obviously trying to hasten the wedding. Valeria never understood her mother's hatred for weddings. But then again, her mother had always been cold and distant.

As they stood for the pictures, Valeria's younger brother, Angelo, who stood beside her leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Be careful, Valeria. This marriage is not what it seems." 

Valeria felt a shiver run down her spine as she pulled away from Angelo, her eyes scanning the crowded ballroom for any sign of danger.

Valeria's mind drifted to Angelo's behavior before the wedding. His behavioir had been erratic, and a cause for concern especially the things he had to say about her impending marriage to Lorenzo.

 "Trust no one, not even those closest to you," Angelo whispered the night before her wedding.

Thinking back now, the thought made unease settle in her stomach.

Valeria's eyes scanned the crowded ballroom and they fell on someone - an unfamiliar man sitting alone at a table with his eyes fixed intently on her. Valeria felt a shiver run down her spine as their eyes met but she waved it off.

As she turned to look at Lorenzo whose hand tightened on her waist, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat. It was a red light, tiny you could almost miss it but she didn't.

She knew so much about weapons to decipher that it was a sniper's scope. And it was trained on Lorenzo's temple. 

Before she knew it, it was gone but trained on a new prospect. 

Her.

The sniper scope was now trained on her chest.