The Mafia's Contracted Bride: Her escape, His power

"I told you already I'm not interested in dancing with you or sharing a drink. Just leave me alone, please, for God's sake." The tension building up throughout the night finally found its way out, even after I left the event to breathe fresh air.

The individual in the shadow who was stepping onto the terrace stopped moving. For a second, I thought they would turn around and leave, but I was wrong. I swear to God my last option right now is to jump off this railing to escape this horrible night, and I'm willing to take that chance.

"Care for a cigarette ?" The man's voice approached me, and I took a cautious step to the right, disappearing into the darkness. This wasn't the voice of someone I'd been trying to escape all night. It was deep and raspy, the total opposite of the one I'd been hearing throughout the entire event.

As the figure approached the glass railing on my left, the dim moonlight revealed who he was. I was surprised he chose to attend this type of event when he typically does not. He calmly took a drag from his cigarette, disregarding my presence, which was already concealed by darkness.

"Nikolas Salvatore," I've been researching this name for a whole week, but it felt weird saying it out loud.

Nikolas Salvatore, one of the heirs of The Salvatore Empire and the most important person in my plan of freedom. Besides his older brother, he's the rumored one to be taking over one of the most powerful underworld mob family businesses, The Salvatore Empire. He's also the person I've been meaning to look for.

"Are you one of my Admirers?" His smile turned into a smirk.

"No, but I want you to marry me." This was not what I had in my mind.

An uncomfortable silence passed between us, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze on me even though it was dark and he couldn't see me. Just when I thought he would take a step forward and strangle me to death, given his background, he shook his head and chuckled.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. I have plenty of suitors, so get in line," He drew on his cigarette once more, and I felt his attention slipping away from my fingers.

"That's because I have an offer to make. You will need me soon, better make it quick before you lose the battle to Matteo. The Salvatore Empire don't want a failure in it, do they?" I touched a sore spot.

Matteo was his rival, and Nikolas was currently fighting for an establishment to build their empire. My whole week of endless research paid off when I was able to grab his attention. If I wasn't so desperate, I wouldn't have been making a deal with the devil right now, but this is the only way I can save myself and my future.

"Interesting," He commented, "Is this another plan of Matteo to bring me down?"

"No, but this can be your plan to bring Matteo down," I countered.

"And why should I believe a faceless and nameless woman hiding behind the dark." His eyebrows raised in question.

A gush of wind passed by, and I pulled the white fur tighter around my shoulder as my red satin dress clung softly to my body. My heels clicked against the floor as I took a few confident strides toward him, revealing myself as the moonlight shined down at me. No matter how confident I was, His presence was still empowering as he stood there, towering over me.

"Aurora Sinclair," He immediately recognized me. "What a surprise. You were the last person I was expecting these words from."

"You know me?" I was stunned to learn that, despite my limited appearance, he recognized me immediately.

"Of course. It's impossible not to recognize you when I'm at your engagement party." His eyebrows raised in question.

That's right, my engagement party, the one I was informed of a week ago, along with the introduction of a man I was supposed to marry within one month. The same party I tried to escape tonight just because my own 'fiance' is an absolute piece of crap. Now, I plan to get rid of him at once by offering a deal to someone nobody expected, not even myself.

"Very well. Now you know that what I'm offering right now is not gibberish and extremely serious. It's like the last gambit that would turn the tables for both you and me," I explained.

"The last thing I expected tonight was Matteo's fiance trying to get rid of him." He paused, "But why did you even decide to marry that bastard anyway? Isn't he the same age as your father?"

"He's 35 and 10 years older than me. And to answer your first question, I was forced by my family into this engagement, but after knowing his plan and what I'm getting myself into, I decided that I would rather kill myself than marry him." I explained.

For some reason, I started feeling nervous as he put out his cigarette to study me with his grey-blue eyes as if trying to decipher every thought in my mind.

"What are you trying to do, Aurora?" His question felt genuine yet so demanding.

"I'm trying to save myself. I have every right to defend myself, and you'll know everything if you decide which side is more favorable to you."

"A Sinclair child acting out, that's something new. I thought you all were machines, designed to agree with whatever your father says." Nikolas folded his arms and leaned against the glass railing.

I was running out of time, and he did not understand the intensity of the situation. Truth be told, It was justifiable since our family is not exactly on great terms. That's why my father was supporting Matteo instead of him in the upcoming voting for the establishment. Sinclair Family and the Salvatore Empire have had their differences of opinion since the start, but it hasn't resulted in a war so far, considering how both families are so powerful.

"I don't have time for your mockery. It's a matter of time before someone figures out I'm missing from the party. So we better talk business before the time runs out," I hurried.

"I'm listening, princess,"

"Princess?" I scoffed at his remark, "If I were a princess, I would not be rebelling against my father, knowing that he would kill me," My hands balled into a fist.

It was like talking to a devil who's not interested in helping a dying woman at all. I'm serious when I say that there is a high possibility that I will be dead if I continue with this plan, but I'm willing to take the risk. All because it's better than slowly dying every day.

"Nikolas, I know I sound crazy to you because the first few words I shared with you were asking you to marry me. I understand that you have no reason to trust me. But still, it's better than losing everything you've worked hard for to a man like Matteo and my father. You know that organization would be automatically handed over to Matteo if he decides to take a bride from a powerful family such as mine. And it would be the doom of everything you've worked on." I ran a hand through my wavy curls, accepting the fate I'd been given as being born into an underworld mafia family.

"All I want from you is to think about my offer and the opportunity given. I know that If you decide to marry me, there will be consequences. But in the end, you'll have your empire, and I will have an opportunity to breathe and not die every day. This is a perfect business deal between us. Apart from that, you will have a wife in your name, but you can live your life however you want. Maybe this relationship can heal the relations between both the powerful family which no can break,"

I took a deep breath as I finished my speech and was surprised at how focused and calm he was while listening to everything I said. No matter how absurd it sounded to him, he didn't let it show on his face. But, of course, who would be better at masking their emotions than the Salvatore's?

"The consequences you're talking about, what if they are rivalry between our families? What if it declares the war against the underworld if I decide to steal Santoro's Future bride?" The questions he asked were something I had deliberated quite hard on.

I was about to answer his questions when I heard my older sister's voice coming from the room next to the terrace. She was calling me out, looking for me. I had no time to waste, so I quickly took out a pen from my clutch and grabbed his hand. My heart was beating out of my chest in anticipation as I wrote my number on his hand, which was firm and steady.

"Look, I don't have time, and this is going be a long discussion, I believe. But since you are considering it even if it's a little, this is my burner phone number, which you can only call me at night," I explained.

"Why do you have a burner phone?" He looked confused.

"You don't?" I forgot not everyone has a psychotic house just like mine.

I straightened my dress, fixed my hair, and rushed to leave, but then I decided to look back at Nikolas, who was holding his hand with my number on it and giving it an intense look.

"I hope we meet again, Nikolas."

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