Chapter 1 THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

This is for the girls that have pure hearts but dark and twisted fantasies. Let's walk on the edge of the knife together.

Disclaimer:

In no way or form does the author condone gender-based violence and any assault, especially on women. When a woman says no, a man should listen, understand, and do as told.

This is a work of fiction with dark fantasies brought to life.

Trigger warnings: Violence, Explicit Language, self-harm, sex, and Non-consensual sexual activities.

The male leads are not morally gray, they are just bad bad men.

Book tropes: Age gap, Non-consensual, forced marriage, mafia, strong and fierce female lead, and dark romance.

BOOK 1: THE EXTERMINATOR'S WIFE

SERENE'S P.O.V

"It's time."

Time for my slaughter.

Time for my demise.

Time for the end of me.

I balled my hands into fists, ready to swing them to anyone who dared carry me out of the car.

I knew it was futile though. I knew resisting would make the matter worse. Never had a thought ever passed through my brain that I would find myself in such a situation.

"No." I spat out fiercely with the guards standing outside my door, waiting for me to open it but I would never.

"You have to, Serene."

"No, I don't Dad."

I actually did. I knew my only option was to obey.

I shouldn't have come home. Getting a call from my father telling me to come home hadn't set off any warning bells in my head. If only I'd known what he would tell me, I wouldn't have come.

Blaming him was unfair though. He was just a pawn on the chessboard, taking orders, and this time the orders were to get his only daughter home and prepare her for marrying whoever knows who.

I desperately shook my head. " Over my dead body."

"Serene, I've let you sulk and grumble, but this is not the day to disobey. The order has been given. We will comply and you will be a good wife."

I scoffed, not in this lifetime.

Never.

"You don't even know who or where I'm being carted off to. Do you even care?"

It was a low blow, I knew it, but I was too hurt to be reasoned with. Of course he cared. He was my dad. I loved him to death. He tried to keep me out of his world as much as he could but finally it swallowed me in. It would have been better if he had arranged the wedding but his boss hadâ€"Don Slade. Slade was a cruel and evil man. He was a man you had to always stay on his good books or the consequences would be too much to bear.

The church was before us, just a few steps to my unknown destiny. The thought of it made my chest tighten, and suddenly I couldn't get enough air. I was gasping and trembling like a newborn calf, blinking away dark spots from my vision as I got more and more light headed.

I didn't want to be a mafia wife. It was nothing but pain and death. I didn't want this life.

I had a boyfriend waiting for me back in the city. I had a degree to finish and friends to get back to.

"-ou….ed to calm…wn." I managed to make out as my ears rang. My father was right before me, when he stepped out of the car and ran around to my door, I didn't know. I was spiraling with anxiety and fear.

He took my face into his hands. "Breathe baby, breathe."

I shook my head over and over, frantic in my terror. I wanted to go home. I wanted to get away from here.

This couldn't be happening.

I blinked away the tears to meet his eyes, and soon I was breathing along with him.

A shudder ran down my body and the pain in my chest eased a bit.

My father brought me to his chest, hugging me tightly.

Would I ever see him again?

One thing I knew was that my soon to be husband wasn't part of Slade's cartel. He could have been from any cartel, from anywhere in the world.

"Dad." I cried out, desperately holding onto him.

"I know baby, I know. But you need to stay strong. This world is filled with dangerous men who see women as nothing but possessions. Stay strong and choose your fights carefully."

The words washed over me like cold water. I held on for a second longer as I composed myself. It was all funny coming from him considering what he did to women.

A kiss was planted on my forehead before my father pulled back.

My father's men surrounded us, silent observers to my suffering.

I knew everything was being reported back to Slade.

Dad held out his hand and I took it. I jumped out of the car. In my defiance, I had worn sneakers underneath my dress and the only reason my father hadn't protested was because of how long the dress was.

We climbed our first step into the church and my heart suddenly lodged itself into my throat. The two large mahogany doors opened as we got closer, and I could see the church full with who knows who.

The veil was pulled down my face, and I placed my hand into the crook of Papa's elbow. The orchestra started their performance, and I scoffed at the absurdity of it all. I felt like a mockery to my face; the expensive dress, the church, the guests, and the music.

Fear, anger, and hate all exacerbated the anxiety I was feeling, and I knew I was like a ticking time bomb ready to explode any moment.

I took the first step, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. I drew warmth and strength from my father.

The whole church had risen up to its feet, just staring at me as I walked down the aisle.

Finally, finding the courage, I looked away from my feet up and down the aisle to the man I would marry.

First was the priest in his ostentatious and extremely gaudy gown, smiling like he didn't know his church was filled with the worst filth this world had. I saw Slade standing in the first row and I shuddered. Next to him was another man looking as dangerous as Slade.

My eyes drifted away and finally set on the man I was being forcefully bound to.

My heart nearly exploded. A wave of coldness washed over me. I felt all the blood leave my face.

Thoughts and reason left me. The next thing I knew I had already turned. I ripped my hand from my father's before he could react.

A shout came from somewhere but my body was on flight-mood.

My feet moved on their own, seemingly as if it was all happening in slow motion then I snapped out of it and realized I was running.

There was no turning back.

I ran for the door, dodging the guards.

I grabbed the hem of my gown into my fists, showing my sneakers then I held nothing back. I ran with everything in me.

"Serene!"

It was a distant call, one I barely heard as I ran down the street, dress flying all around me. Tears filled my eyes, knowing my father would pay for this slight but it was already too late. I had run from my fate and there was no going back.