The city was flooded with rain, which left the streets shining black and silver. A wedding was happening inside the opulent Monteverdi Hotel, but it was a business deal rather than a happy union.
With his fingers quivering a little, Leo DeLuca adjusted his tie for the tenth time. The crowd of well-dressed elites, including women in designer gowns and men in sleek suits, were illuminated by the golden glow cast by the enormous chandelier above him. They all watched with discerning, critical eyes. He felt like a stranger who had wandered into a pack of wolves.
He never thought this would be the end of his life. He had been a typical college student just a few weeks prior, struggling to pay for his mother's medical bills and drowning in debt. Then his long-distant father, a wealthy benefactor, had suddenly intervened. A father who never showed him any affection, but now wanted him to wed a stranger.
"Leo, keep your head up," his father, Vincent DeLuca, whispered next to him in a quiet but firm voice. "This marriage surpasses you in size. Don't make me look bad."
Leo sucked back his annoyance. He didn't love the man who had left him and his mother years ago, but he was powerless to stop him. His mother's health issues were a cost of this marriage.
The grand hall's doors opened at the end. Upon the bride's arrival, the guests fell silent.
Romano, Isabella.
Her name was not new to Leo, but he had heard it once. She was the only child of the Romano family, one of the city's most affluent and influential families. A pampered heiress who spent her days shopping and going to charity galas was what he had anticipated.
However, the atmosphere in the room changed when she showed up.
She was beautiful.
Her dark hair fell in graceful waves over her shoulders as she moved with the grace of a queen, dressed in a sleek, ivory gown that accentuated her curves. Her face was a mask of cool detachment, with full, deep-red lips, sharp cheekbones, Eyes so dark they seemed limitless, full lips painted a deep red.
Leo trembled a little. She had a dangerous air about her.
As she walked down the aisle, she kept her eyes focused on the future and avoided looking at him. She was unfazed by the attention the room was receiving. She stopped in front of him, close enough for him to smell something smoky and a hint of jasmine, but she was still unreadable.
The priest cleared his throat. "Today, we are assembled to observe the union of—"
"Skip the formalities," Isabella said in a smooth, low, and authoritative interruption.
No one dared to question her, but the guests whispered. After a moment of hesitation, the priest nodded.
Isabella Romano, do you consider Leonardo DeLuca to be your legally wed spouse?
At last, she turned to face him. Leo felt like a prey caught in a predator's sights as her eyes met his.
"I do."
"And do you consider Isabella Romano to be your legally wedded wife, Leonardo DeLuca?"
Leo paused just a moment before responding. "I do."
Then, using the authority granted to me, I formally declare you to be husband and wife. You can give the bride a kiss.
Uncertain of what to do, Leo turned to Isabella. He anticipated that she would give him a cheek kiss, perhaps a quick one to honor custom. Rather, she moved forward, caught him by the nape of his neck, and drew him closer.
Her lips touched his—gentle yet firm, authoritative. She kissed him quickly, almost calculatingly, but she didn't hesitate. Her eyes were emotionless as she withdrew, as though it had been merely a formality.
Leo hardly noticed the roar of applause that filled the room. The intensity of that moment had left his mind reeling.
Isabella whispered in his ear as she leaned closer. "Husband, smile. The real show is only getting started.
---
The reception for the wedding
When waves of guests arrived to congratulate them, Leo was standing next to Isabella at the opulent reception an hour later. His mind was racing, but he did his part well, nodding and trembling his hands.
Although he was aware that arranged marriages were typical in the corporate world, something about this felt strange.
In addition to being strong, his new wife inspired fear. There was more than just wealth evident in the way people treated her, the deliberate tone with which they spoke, and the understated tension that pervaded the room whenever she walked in.
Isabella whispered next to him, "You seem to be asking questions," while drinking a glass of wine.
Leo was silent for a moment. "I didn't anticipate this."
"Expecting what?"
"How others perceive you." He spoke quietly. "They're not merely showing you respect. You are the source of their fear.
Her lips formed a smirk. "Good."
Leo felt a knot in his stomach. He required clarification. He excused himself and went out onto the balcony to enjoy the refreshing night air. His mind was a jumbled mess, but the city lights stretched out in front of him.
What had just happened to him?
The door behind him creaked open before he could comprehend it. Isabella's heels clicked on the marble floor as she stepped out onto the balcony.
She swirled the wine in her glass and said, "Husband, you should be careful where you wander." "A person like you is not safe everywhere."
Leo scowled. "And what is'someone like me' exactly?"
She studied him, tilting her head. Then, slowly and deliberately, she took a small pistol out of the opening in her wedding gown and put it in between them on the balcony ledge.
He gasped.
She said, "I know you're not stupid, Leo," in a soft, almost soothing voice. Let's not pretend, then. You married more than just a wealthy woman.
His heart thumped. "So, who did I wed?"
She leaned in and took a step closer, her fingers brushing his tie. She whispered, her lips brushing his ear,
"The Queen of the Underworld is your spouse."
Leo felt the weight of Isabella's words descend upon him like a dense mist.
"The Queen of the Underworld is your spouse."
Leo uncontrollably stepped back, his fingers clutching the balcony's chilly metal railing. There was no humor in her voice, no amusement in her dark eyes, and he wished she was kidding.
A shiver went through his body. "You're not kidding."
Isabella put her wine glass on the ledge and grinned. "Do I appear to be someone who makes jokes about this kind of thing?"
Leo's thoughts were racing. He had heard rumors of the Romano family being strong, vicious, and untouchable, but no one had ever mentioned Isabella as their head. Her father had always held that position.
He inquired cautiously, "What happened to your father?"
Something unreadable flickered across her face and vanished as fast as it appeared. "Dead."
Leo took a deep breath. "And you replaced him?"
She tilted her head and said, "I didn't take anything." "I always had it."
His stomach grew constricted. He had been caught off guard. It all made sense now, the fear, the respect, the way people behaved around her. He believed he was marrying into high society and wealth. Rather, he had entered a realm of power and blood, where one mistake could spell death.
And he had recently joined it.
With a sharp exhale, Leo combed through his hair. "So what? My spouse is a criminal boss.
She shrugged lazily. Queen of the Mafia, if we're We're being exact.
He rubbed his temples and laughed dryly. "All right. And what does that mean to me specifically?
She studied him, leaning against the railing. It indicates that I am watching out for you. It also implies that I have authority over you.
He tightened his jaw. "Dominance?"
Before she spoke, Isabella picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip. "Leo, you're mine now, but I don't expect you to understand right away. Your life prior to this? It's finished.
Leo felt his heart hammer his ribs. "This is not what I signed up for."
Her face grew serious. "Did you believe you were getting married to a mere heiress? That I would be a submissive, quiet wife in some kind of fairy tale? Her laugh was low and menacing. "You are now in my world. Additionally, Leo made himself remain composed. He needed to be careful. "What are these rules, then?"
She set the glass down once more and faced him directly. Like a goddess sculpted from shadows and moonlight, she was framed by the city lights.
"Rule one," she stated in a firm yet quiet voice. "You don't pose too many inquiries."
Leo tensed. He already had far too many, so that was an issue.
"Rule two," she added, taking a step forward. "You don't decide things for me. Never.
She reached up and slowly and precisely adjusted his tie, making his pulse quicken. Her presence was anything but, but her touch was deceptively gentle.
She whispered, "Rule three," as her eyes met his. "You don't turn on me."
Her words' weight fell between them like
like a knife to his throat.
Leo made an effort to look her in the eye. "What occurs if I violate the rules?"
She grinned, but it was not visible. "I'll have to remind you of my role as Queen after that."
A loud knock on the balcony doors broke the tense atmosphere. Leo turned to see a man emerge wearing a sharp black suit. He had a tall, broad-shouldered, and menacingly silent demeanor.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Isabella," the man said in a polite but firm tone. "A situation has arisen."
Isabella rubbed her temples and let out a sigh. "Obviously, we do." She gave Leo a quick glance. "Enter the building. Take pleasure in the celebration.
Leo's arms were folded. "I believe I should be aware of what's happening."
She raised an eyebrow. "Deserve?"
The one that She straightened and said, "Someone leaked information about one of my operations." "I have to clean up the mess now."
Leo paused. He ought to leave. He ought to turn and act as though he didn't hear this exchange. But a part of him wouldn't give up.
"Allow me to assist you."
After blinking, Isabella let out a sharp, amused laugh. "Aid? You have no idea what you're providing.
Leo's fists clenched. Isabella, I don't want to be merely a decorative element in your world. IwanttounderstandifI'min.
Startled, the man in the suit glanced between them. In contemplation, Isabella tapped the rim of her glass with a manicured nail.
At last, she let out a breath. "All right. Come with me.
Leo wasn't certain whether he had just made the best or worst choice of his existence.
---
The Initial Exam
They entered a dimly lit underground parking garage through a back entrance that led out of the reception hall. An SUV in black waited with its engine running.
Isabella urged them to get inside.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Leo slid into the backseat next to her. Another armed man sat next to the suited man, who he found out was named Marco, who took the driver's seat.
Leo looked at Isabella as they pulled out of the garage. "Where are we heading?"
"To take care of business," she stated plainly.
They reached a remote warehouse twenty minutes later. One light glowed inside, above a metal chair with a bloodied man strapped to it, his face bruised and swollen.
Leo felt sick to his stomach. This actually happened.
Isabella moved to the front,the sound of heels on concrete. With a groan, the man barely raised his head.
"Gabriel," she uttered calmly. "You understand why you're here."
The man spat blood as he coughed. "I—I promise, Isabella—I didn't—"
She turned to Marco and sighed. "Give the file to me."
She was given a folder by Marco. She turned the pages and then displayed a picture.
With an icy tone, she said, "Then explain why my shipment route ended up in the hands of the DeLorean cartel."
Leo's heart was racing as he watched. Isabella was more than just a businesswoman. She was in charge of an empire.
Gabriel was breathing laboriously. "I have a family—please—"
Isabella spoke softly as she knelt in front of him. "I do, too."
Leo thought she would give Marco the order to complete the task. Rather, she got up and gave Leo a sleek little pistol.
His blood froze. "What—?"
Her face was unreadable as she looked into his eyes. "Leo, I told yo
u. You are now a part of my world.
He looked first at the broken man in front of him, then at the gun in his hand. It was a test.
In her world, his first choice.
The Queen was also observing.
Was he going to shoot?