Chapter XXXIV

Our voices stopped and when I looked around I noticed that Dante and I were all alone. We were still standing in the same place and looking at our burned names. It was strange to see them standing there together. In general, the day was a real rollercoaster. I don't know what was going on in my head anymore. First he screams in the whole house at night, gets on my nerves because I don't dance to his tune and then he makes sure I can see Ivan and now the whole thing with the names. Even though I couldn't really enjoy the gift thanks to Leonardo, I really appreciate the idea behind it. It almost felt like a real wedding. Only it wasn't one. I can't lose myself in the illusion that this is real, because it isn't. We were both pushed into it, that's all.

I noticed Dante watching me out of the corner of my eye. Standing here alone with him, surrounded by romantically decorated arrangements and candles, was somehow strange and gave me an uneasy feeling.

"We should go back to the others," I suggested, after I had finally found my voice again.

Dante just nodded and then took a few steps back. I took advantage of this space and walked past him towards the pavilion.

I heard his footsteps behind me, but I increased my pace so that he couldn't catch up with me.

In front of the pavilion I met the others who had gathered there. Leonardo was pushed in my direction by Riccardo, who looked at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry that the surprise failed," he said sheepishly to me.

"And?" came Pablo's demanding question.

Leonardo now looked at the floor and mumbled something to himself, but I couldn't understand it. A smile crept onto my lips.

"Excuse me?" Pablo asked, so that Leonardo repeated his sentence again.

"And it's all my fault."

I felt a presence behind me and Dante's perfume filled my nose.

I looked back at Leonardo, who was still standing in front of me like a toddler.

Although I had to suppress a laugh, I was simultaneously touched by his apology, even though Pablo obviously had to force it out of him.

I let my feelings guide me and hugged the tormented man.

"It was still beautiful, thank you," I whispered to him.

I felt a hand on my shoulder which pulled me back with light pressure. I was pressed against a hard chest, Dante.

"You're welcome, but it was Dante's idea." Leonardo let his brother down. He tensed up behind me. When I looked at him, I saw him glaring angrily at Leonardo. It seems as if I shouldn't find out about it.

One more reason why my head is spinning.

Why is he doing something nice for me and doesn't want me to know that he is behind it.

My thoughts were interrupted by Riccardo, who handed me a sparkler and lit it. When I looked around, all the Martinellis and a few other guests were standing around us in a circle, also holding a candle.

It looked incredible.

"I hope you like it, Signora Martinelli," Dante's voice now sounded in my ear. He was still standing behind me with a hand around my waist.

I just nodded and let my eyes dart over the beautiful picture. Everyone was beaming and amused.

Then I looked at Marco, who was standing next to Laura and was also whispering something in her ear. She laughed and then whispered her answer to him.

I guess I had found Marco's date for the wedding.

Chiara was standing between the twins and was still making fun of Leonardo.

My candle was already half burned down when I saw Barbie out of the corner of my eye, strutting towards us.

Suddenly she grabbed my hand, which I was holding the candle with, and turned it towards her.

I hissed painfully, as it was my injured hand that still hurt when I made sudden movements.

"Take it off!" she screamed at me hysterically. I freed my hand from her grip and was immediately pulled behind him by Dante.

He stood protectively in front of me.

"What are you thinking!" he shouted at her. His voice was more than just angry, he was completely beside himself.

"Are you okay?" I heard Luca quietly next to me, who was examining my hand. I just nodded at him and then looked back at Barbie.

"What are I thinking? What is she thinking of wearing that ring? She's not one of us!" she screamed angrily and threw her hands up in the air. This woman was crazy, I was sure of that now.

"She's my wife! And you'll never talk to her like that again!" Dante shouted angrily at her, causing her to flinch. She looked at him in disbelief.

"Understood?!" Dante's firm voice thundered. Leonora just nodded and looked venomously at me.

"Did you understand that?" Dante asked demandingly.

"Yes," Leonora said meekly.

A good feeling spread through me. It was good to see how Dante had put her in her place in front of everyone. In general, I was surprised that he had defended me like that. Was it because he had to? I mean, she shouted at me in front of everyone and perhaps forced him to act.

Barbie turned away from us and walked quickly towards the exit.

I breathed a sigh of relief when she disappeared from my sight. I hadn't even noticed that I had been holding my breath.

Dante turned to me and looked me over briefly before he reached out his hand and carefully placed it on my head and then let it slide down. Had he just stroked my head?

I don't understand this man.

"Does it hurt a lot? Should I get a doctor?"

I shook my head. I was a little disappointed, because now it seemed as if that was why he was so upset and not because she wanted me to take the ring off. I

wonder if he sees it the same way as she does? That I don't belong to them and probably never would.

As far as I know, I am the first Russian wife of an Italian mafia heir. There were a few marriages between the countries some time ago, but they only involved low-ranking mafia members. So it's quite possible that I'll never be accepted here, at least not in the way I hope.

I also couldn't console myself with the thought that there was or would be nothing going on between Barbie and Dante. He had shouted at her, but who knows.

Pablo ran up to Dante and whispered something in his ear. I couldn't hear what it was, only that it had to be something bad, because Dante's expression quickly turned serious and he just nodded at Pablo.

"Amore, I have to go. There's a problem I need to sort out. But don't worry, we'll make up for lost time."

He gave me a wicked wink at the last part.

Was he referring to our wedding night? I was inwardly happy that he was leaving now and I would be alone for the night.

But I immediately flinched at his words when I realized that he was just going to postpone it.

Dante kissed the top of my head and then turned to his brothers.

"Lucca and Lorenzo, you're coming with me. Riccardo, please prepare everything for the flight tomorrow and Chiara, please help Anastasia pack."

Wait a minute, pack? Where are we flying to? Why am I never told anything? His tactic of presenting me with a fait accompli is really getting on my nerves now.

I had just sorted out my thoughts when the three of them made their way to the exit.

"Where are we flying to? Or am I the only one flying?" I called after Dante. He didn't turn around, he just kept walking straight ahead.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," I said louder.

"On our honeymoon, mia cara," he replied just as loudly. Just as I was about to run after him to talk to him, Valeria appeared next to me and stopped me.

"Not now, love." I just nodded at her and saw Dante get into the car. The three cars sped out of the yard at high speed.

Chiara hooked under me and pulled me towards the house.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. And you'll like the place, trust me."

I didn't have the strength to say anything else, let alone fight back, so I just let it happen. I didn't want to fly away, and especially not alone with Dante. Why the hell is he planning a honeymoon without asking me or even telling me? I wish I could just say no and hide in my room until it's all over, but it probably never will be.

"Do you know where we're going?" I asked Chiara, but my curiosity got the better of me. She nodded, "Yes, but I can't tell you, Dante would kill me. But don't worry, it's not far and only for a week."

Thank God, I was afraid he would make it a month.

Amelia came towards us in the hallway. I hadn't seen her all day, luckily.

"Signora Martinelli asked me to help you pack." Nodding, I headed towards my room, but was stopped by Amelia, who stood in my way.

I really didn't have the nerve for her today. Just as I was about to tell her off, she spoke up. "Your things are already in Signore Martinelli's room."

I looked at her in shock, when did that happen? Great, another thing where my opinion wasn't asked.

I knew that after the wedding I would most likely have to leave my room and move in with him, but it still shocks me that no one tells me. I certainly don't ask anyone to ask me, because apparently I could wait a long time for that, but letting me know shouldn't be too difficult.

Anger spread through me, he's in for a real sham when he comes back here.

Apparently Dante didn't care about my feelings and my opinion. Oh, what am I saying, he obviously doesn't care, otherwise we wouldn't be married now.

Chiara and I followed Amelia into Dante's room. I stomped angrily.

Two doors formed the entrance to his room, which Amelia opened before she stepped aside and made room for us.

I entered the room carefully. The furniture was black and the rest of the room was kept rather dark. Well, it suits the soul, I would say.

In the center was a large bed with black silk sheets and two nightstands, also in black. Heavy curtains hung on either side of the window wall, which was similar to the one in my room, only several meters longer. Here too, one of the glass sections was the balcony door. Although it looked incredibly luxurious, it was still simple. There was no decoration or anything like that, just the furniture and two paintings on the walls.

The wall, which ran for about five meters next to the bed, was completely covered with bookshelves and a staircase. It was to the right of the entrance and led to a gallery that extended above the bed.

Amelia walked past me up the stairs. So the dressing room must be up there. Chiara sat down in the corner of the couch by the window wall and busied herself with her cell phone. I looked around further down and noticed a door on the other side of the room. I opened it and a bathroom appeared. Here, too, everything was luxuriously furnished, but without any decoration. Everything here seemed cold and dark, which ironically corresponded exactly to Dante's character. I closed the door again and decided to explore the room upstairs further.

I followed the stairs to the gallery and came into an open wardrobe. The left side was filled with Dante's suits and shirts, while my things were hanging on the right. Amelia was just packing Dante's suitcase when I appeared next to her. He only had dark suits, black, dark blue, dark gray, but they didn't get any lighter. There was a bit more variety in his shirts. But not really, because apart from white, black and various shades of blue, I couldn't make out any other color palette. I walked along the clothes racks until I stopped at a passage. At the point where our clothes were only a few meters apart, there was a passage that was not immediately noticeable due to the black paint on the walls.

I walked down the narrow hallway until I reached a clean room.

I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a whole arsenal of weapons on the wall. Everything from short-range rifles to long-range rifles, pistols and knives hung there.

This would be enough to equip the army of a small state. There were screens attached to one wall, but most of them were dark. The rest showed entrances to the property or the house. Fortunately, I couldn't find a picture of the inside of the house.

There were also several computers on a table under the screens. Why did he have a room like that? I mean, most people have something like that at headquarters, but not at home, and if they do, then in their office.

What was going on here? I wondered if there were any other rooms like this? I was pretty sure that this was just one of many.

I was about to leave when I spotted a strange device on a bare wall. I had a bad feeling because the wall wasn't covered in hangings like the others.

As I got closer, I realized the device was a combination lock, similar to a safe.

Why on earth did he have a safe in this room? Why not outside this room? What could be so important and why would

he keep it in his bedroom and not in his office?

"Anastasia, where are you?" I heard Chiara's voice from the dressing room.

Fuck I'm trapped.