Marrying a Monster
Elianna’s POV
Six months have passed since I left America to come to the great Italy with Papa.
It was horrible. Papa trained me to fight every day, but it was all worth it.
Haze was happy in college with Eve, thriving in the football world just like he promised me.
He was doing well and being free. As for me, things were a bit different.
I knew the day was coming, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon.
Papa had arranged a marriage for me.
I didn’t want to get married. I didn’t even want to be in a relationship.
After Jace cheated, I was heartbroken. I don’t want to be close to any man, especially some random bald, old man with a stomach that is twice his head.
Whether or not I wanted it to happen, it was happening.
That was the deal I made with Papa. I would go to Italy, and I knew what that entailed.
So here we were, sitting in Papa’s office waiting for the old man, who obviously couldn’t tell time, to meet me.
Papa checked his watch for the sixth time.
Sixty minutes. That man was an hour late!
“Papa, maybe he is not coming. Even if he does, tell him he has wasted your time, so the deal is off.”
Over the past few months, while I was down here, I have come to realize how scary Papa was.
I thought he was bad enough whenever he dealt with Haze, but here? He is a monster.
These people here are dangerous. Most of them carry guns, and Papa has armed security at our house.
It’s very different from back home.
“Princess, this man we are dealing with is no joke. I know you are upset by his tardiness, but you must be well-behaved when he comes. He is dangerous and will kill you or me without a thought.”
“So why must I marry him?” I shouted. “Is that the fate you want for me? Some psycho is killing me because I didn’t cook his eggs well enough?”
“Princess-”
“Mariano is coming!”
Papa was cut off by a guard.
Papa instantly looked up and fixed himself.
I’ve never seen him try so hard for anybody.
I turned to the door and waited to see the man I cursed myself to spend the rest of my life with.
From the way Papa speaks of him, my life with him probably wouldn’t be that long anyway.
It’s better than making my baby brother come and work for such a man. If anything had ever happened to Haze, I would never forgive myself.
I pray he is close to death’s age so I wouldn’t suffer for too long.
Five more minutes passed before heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the office.
I closed my eyes until I heard the door open.
My eyes widened at the sight.
There he walked in confidently, sharply dressed in an all black suit with his black, silky hair neatly brushed to the back.
He was fifty years younger than I expected. He couldn’t have been any older than twenty-eight.
Who knows, some people age like fine wine.
He was sexy, I’d give you that.
His sculptured body allowed me to see his muscles bulging from that undershirt.
His facial expression was serious. Not even a slight smile.
When he reached near us, I stretched out my hand with a polite smile.
“You must be Enzo. I am Elianna.”
He assessed me from head to toe before turning to Papa.
“Do you have it?”
I couldn’t help but feel like I was stabbed in the chest.
He totally just ignored me.
Papa faked a laugh. “Yes, sir, it is right here.”
He stretched his hand to take the document, but Papa moved it away.
“With all due respect, Mr. Mariano, I cannot just give you my title deeds without you ensuring you’ll marry my daughter.”
He took a look at me once again before sighing. “I will take her.”
Rage overtook me.
Was I something in the store he could just take?
“No! I don’t want to marry this man, Papa. He couldn’t even show up on time,” I glared at his back, which he turned to me.
My father’s eyes widened as he shook his head. “Don’t listen to her. She likes to make jokes.”
“I’m not marrying him.”
He finally turned to me and showed his face.
He took two steps forward before his tall, lean figure towered over mine.
“Look, woman, you have no say in this. Whether you like it or not, I will marry you if that is what it takes to get your father’s title deeds,” he harshly said to me.
My hands turned into fists, and I looked over to Papa.
“Are you just going to make him talk to me like that?” I asked Papa, but he looked down.
I turned to glare at him, but he didn’t seem too impressed.
He turned back to Papa. “Give it.”
Papa held on to the documents with shaky hands. “Please, she is my only daughter.”
Enzo stretched out his hand for the deeds. “Once we are wed, I will protect her.”
Papa loosened his grip and gave the papers to Enzo.
Once the papers were in his hands, he turned around and gave me one last glance before walking to the door.
“Wait!” Papa shouted, and he halted but didn’t look back. “What about-”
"Everything will be handled. Just make sure the girl complies,” he said.
Without another word, he left.
I glared at Papa. “What was that!?”
He looked down. “Look, princess, Enzo is a very powerful man. He and another man run these streets of Italy. You will be well protected if you are his wife. No one would want to mess with his property.”
“I am no one’s property!“I argued. “I’m only twenty-six, Papa!”
He sighed. “Princess, I told you already that you don’t have to marry if you don’t want to. Your brother will come down and work with Enzo.”
Flashbacks of Haze calling me selfish appeared.
I can’t do this to him. He wants to play football and live in America. Who am I to stop him?
“No, I want to marry, but why can’t it be to someone else? You taught me how to fight. I can handle myself. I don’t need his protection.”
Papa rubbed his forehead. “Princess, you don’t understand. This man is not asking me for my title deeds; it is more like an order. I cannot just give it to him without getting some form of benefit.”
“Papa, please,” I begged.
“He is single, and you are single. You will be both wed, and that is it. He is the most eligible groom for you. It is either you marry him or Haze comes to work for him. I will not give up my property without getting some form of benefit.”
“Why does he need your deeds? I’m sure he is rich enough to buy his own things.”
Papa rubbed his beard. “It looks like he is trying to gain power. He is planning something, and whatever it is, it’s no good.”
I dropped to my knees. “Papa, please don’t do this. He is already mean to me. Did you see how he ignored me when I introduced myself?”
Papa slammed his hand on the table, which made me flinch a little.
“You are to be wed to him. End of discussion!”
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