7: Mr. Mafia's Bride

Rylan's POV

"We need to talk." 

Thane asked with a stern face. Unlike him, he wasn't looking at my face. Rather, he was staring ahead without batting his lids. 

"I know you have questions, but we should do this later."

I subtly dismissed him and attempted to roll up the slide into the car we came by. 

"Exactly." He groaned, a little bit too loud. "Which is why we need to do this now." 

My eyes surveyed the church premises, there were people clustered in groups that gossiped and boldly looked at us, but dared not point their fingers. 

Alessia, on the other hand, the runaway bride, was in the backseat of the car, waiting for me to join her. 

"This isn't the best place to have this discussion." 

"Rylan," he called bluntly, throwing aside my title. 

This was the exact reason we don't make best friends your side buddy in the cartel. 

"I'm not joking." He affirmed. "We can talk in the other car." 

"Fine." I sighed, needing this to end as much as he did. 

I wheeled myself to the car right behind us and helped myself in, leaving Alessia all by herself. 

Despite the car having tinted windows, I could feel her turning around to find me, scared that she was abandoned. 

Softly slapping my forehead, I tried to focus. 

"Shoot."

"What is this about?" Thane hit the nail on the head. "You got dressed, and told me you wanted to attend a wedding, which sounded off to me, only for you to take the bride?"

Somehow, this fueled my distorted ego. 

"She's Torres's daughter."

"I've figured that out already." he stated. "So what are you doing with her?" 

"Her father put me in this mess, Thane. Who's the best person to bear the brunt? You?" 

He stuttered. "You can't possibly have the enemy within."

I chuckled. "Lessi isn't an enemy. She's just a naive kitten."

"You think so, huh?" 

I gritted my teeth, with my patient bank already wearing out. 

"What if she's on a mission and-"

"It will be her loss. She belongs to me now." I restated. "Besides, she isn't the only one with plans." 

He paused for a minute. "What do you mean?" 

Exhausted, I blew out air from my lips. "It's for a few months, maybe a year. But I call the shots."

"You don't plan on keeping her forever, do you?" 

"It's not a bad idea, is it?" 

He gasped. "Wait. Is this about you not being able to walk?"

"What took you so long?" I hissed. "Sad, but she's right. Very soon, there would be an uproar to dethrone me because of some nasty stunt her dumb father pulled." 

"And getting into a contract marriage to shut them up, don't you think it's worse?" 

He demanded keenly. 

"They'd be aggrieved that you took them for a fool." 

"Who's going to tell them?" I unclamped the wheel. "Stop sounding like my father, Thane."

"Look." 

He stopped me, rushing to stand in front of me, and stuck his phone in my face. 

"Look at the chaos you're brewing." He reinforced and continued to lament. "It's all over the internet." 

Ignoring him, I took a closer look. Alessia made a pretty bride even though she was agitated. And the moment she saw me, her face lit up with a warm smile. 

It was contagious, as I felt my cheeks wound up. 

When she sat on my legs and abandoned her groom, it caused an uproar. 

"People already think this is forced."

"I think it's genuine." 

Letting him sulk, I opened the door and rolled my wheel down the slide. 

"What if her father makes a fuss on the net?" 

I stopped to address this. "He wouldn't be that stupid. If he is, shut him up."

Leaving a lethal order for him to go on with, I returned to the car, and beside Alessia. 

She looked a little bit uneasy. The way she chewed on her bottom lip and played with her dress, weaving the lace around her fingers. 

"What next?" 

She asked, her voice trailing off. 

"We go to court and wed, to fulfill all righteousness." 

I looked outside the dark window. "They need something to buzz about." 

She swallowed dryly and looked at me. "Uh, when?" 

"Now." 

Her face was immediately flushed at my words. She was obviously having cold feet. So much for a mischievous lady. 

"Got a problem?" 

Complying, she shook her head vehemently. 

"Here." 

Dumping a five-page document on her lap, I waited for her to pick it up. 

"These are the terms and conditions for this marriage."

Her petite fingers were shaking as she retrieved it and buried her face to read every letter. 

"A year or until satisfied?" 

She gasped. 

"Would you prefer we put up a show and crash it after months?" 

"It's an agreement."

"Your words. Not mine." 

"So, when will you be satisfied? Fifteen months? A lifetime?" 

"Worry about playing your role perfectly." 

She scoffed. "This is ridiculous. I can't be tied to you indefinitely." 

"Say it. A cripple." I growled. 

Terrified, she adjusted in her seat and cut off our locked eyes. 

Hating to scare her like that, I looked outside the window. 

"So you know, it's not about you being in a wheelchair." She bounced back. Such a handful. 

"Okay?" 

"It's about putting my life on hold for a year or whenever just to play bride."

"Take a look." I handed her my phone and paused. "Every page you turn to, it's about us."

I bet I heard her sigh. 

"You still have the chance to opt-out." I let her process her thoughts. "Because if we pull this stunt, and it fails, my position will be threatened, as well as your father's life."

"You didn't have to bring that in."

She returned to reading the rules. 

"And uh- are we expected to uh-"

"Have sex?" I smirked. "You're not my type, Lessi. That day was a mistake."

She frowned and hissed. "You wish."

"I know I'm a charmer, but never fall in love, lady." My warning was firm. 

She ignored me and extended her hand to me. I handed her a pen and she signed against her name. 

"Good." I took it from her and signed on my part. 

The car started, with the driver already tipped about today's event. Thane wasn't coming with us, not a party to my decision. 

The ride was awkward, with neither of us saying anything to each other. The most we did was steal glances and focus on the road. After a while of driving, we arrived at the courthouse. 

"Stop."

I snapped her off her delusion of wanting to help me out. Wheeling myself to the entrance, she trailed behind, parking her wedding dress. 

"Mr. Rylan." Mr. Raphael, the judge on the seat, grinned. 

He was my father's old friend. 

The most he knew about this, was that I was getting married to the love of my life. The duration and contract involved, he had no clue. 

"Thanks for having me." I pulled out a seat beside me for Alessia to settle in. 

"Your bride is beautiful, I must say."

Forcing a smile, I blocked out the part of me hating another man from complimenting her. And there she was, smiling. 

Damn! 

"The certificate." 

I asked, trying to get past the pleasantries stage. He was informed of our arrangement today and had drafted the marriage certificate. 

"Not so fast, Rylan." He cautioned. "You have to exchange your vows and the rings."

"Of course." 

My smile was almost freezing up. 

The guard who accompanied us rushed forward with a small plush velvety box. It had expensive rings, with Alessia having a huge rock on it. 

Her face brightened up with a smile, which got me confused because she was from the old money, and things like that shouldn't faze her, especially when it was all for show-off. 

"Thanks, Ry."

She flashed a smile and batted her lids. 

Whoa! She was playing her role so smoothly. 

"Anything for you, Amore." 

Pulling out my ring, I took her petite hand in my coarse one, rubbing my thumb against her soft skin. 

I felt heat radiate all over the area I caressed, spreading to my body as well. She tried not to pull away, also sensitive to the reaction our bodies pulsed. 

"My Donna, I promise to bring the world to you and make you the envy of all women. I'll protect you with all of me, burn down the world for you, Lessi." 

Her cheeks reddened with a blush. 

Wearing a smile, I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her soft skin, noticing how she stiffened. 

"Will you be my wife?" 

She nodded. "I will, Mr. Mafia." She chuckled. 

Easily, I slipped the ring in between her fingers, glad I got the perfect size. 

"To you, my Don," she began to say her impromptu vows. "I will love and honor and respect you."

Trying to get her hand stable, I held her wrist for a moment till she was fine. Flashing a smile to show that she was okay, I let her slip the ring in between my fingers. 

"That's so cute." Barrister Raphael whispered. "Here you go." 

He slipped across the certificate for us, with our names boldly written on it. 

I signed and pushed it over to her, watching her frail hand sign right next to my name as my bride. 

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Rylan Russo." Barrister Raphael announced. 

Just then, Alessia's face went pale.