Chapter 3 A Trip Down Memory Lane

He didn't say anything for a while, just stared at me like I had completely lost my mind. Honestly? I was starting to think I had. I mean, how could I possibly propose marriage to the man who kidnapped me-the same man who wanted to use me as bait to capture my own father.

Alessino finally spoke, his voice dangerously calm. "And what made you come up with this suggestion?"

His cold eyes never wavered as he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a gun.

Damn. He wasn't playing.

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Well," I started nervously, "seeing as my options are either help you or die horribly in some unmarked grave, I'd say a fake wedding sounds like the lesser evil."

I forced out a shaky laugh, gripping the fabric of my dress as if that could somehow help me.

Alessino raised an eyebrow, watching me like he was considering whether or not to pull the trigger. Seeing this I quickly continued.

"If we make the wedding public-extravagant, with the media covering every detail-my father will see it. He'll believe I'm safe now, under your protection, and that you're no longer hunting him. He won't be able to resist coming out of hiding, and that when we swoop in to catch him."

Alessino leaned back, his expression unreadable. "You think he'll really take the bait?"

"I know he will." My voice wavered slightly, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. "He's spent years watching over me from the shadows, even though I never really see him. so if he sees me marrying into your family, he'll think the danger is gone." okay well the watching me from the shadow part was a lie but he doesn't need to know that.

A slow, dangerous smirk spread across Alessino's lips. "Then let's give him a wedding he won't be able to ignore."

I exhaled in relief as he tucked the gun away, it was time to put in my request but I wasn't stupid-I treaded carefully before adding, "I have two conditions. No, I mean two favors to ask for."

His smirk faded. "Go on."

I hesitated, then forced a nervous laugh. "First, I need to know why my father is being hunted. And second... if we do capture him, I want to speak with him. At least once."

Alessino was silent for a moment, then finally gave a single nod.

He leaned back in his chair, shadows carving sharp lines across his face. "I wasn't there," he admitted, voice devoid of emotion. "I was out, clubbing with my friends. And then when I came home..."

He let the silence stretch, his eyes locking onto mine.

"The gates were open. That never happened. My father was paranoid about security. But that night... There were no guards, no alarms. Just the front door hanging off its hinges." His jaw clenched, his breath steady but forced. "The house reeked of gunpowder. Blood smeared the floors. And my parents, lying dead on the floor...." His voice rose at the last part, his expression dark like he was ready to murder someone. For a split second, I thought he might actually pull the trigger.

My breath hitched, too afraid to move, too afraid to hear the rest.

He slammed his fist down on the table, the sound slicing through the heavy silence. "Your father was the only one missing." His voice was razor-sharp. "The man my father trusted more than anyone. He knew everything-our security codes, our business, our alliances, every single thing."

His eyes darkened, something colder taking over his expression. "I thought no one had survived. But I was wrong."

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Marco, one of my father's best men, was barely clinging to life. I found him in the study, drowning in his own blood. He was badly injured. I wanted to take him to the hospital, but he grabbed my arm-held on like he had minutes left. And he did."

Alessino exhaled sharply, as if he could still feel the grip of a dying man on his skin. "He coughed up blood, tried to speak... and when he finally did, he said three words." His gaze burned into mine.

"Antonio betrayed us."

My head shook in silent denial, my hands trembling in my lap. "No... that's not possible."

Alessino's smirk was cold, hollow. "He didn't get to say much else. He bled out before I could ask him why." He leaned back, eyes unblinking. "But I didn't need an explanation. My parents were dead. Your father was gone. And the only witness who could've told me everything died."

He paused, his voice dropping lower, colder. "Because of him, I had to become a man overnight. At sixteen, I wasn't mourning-I was rebuilding. I will find him. And when I do, he'll suffer ten times the pain my parents did."

I didn't say anything. Just sat there, frozen, my mind trying to process what I'd just heard.

No wonder he was so determined to find my father. No wonder he was as cold as ice.

But no matter what he said, I couldn't believe him fully-not until I heard my dad's side of the story.

He was my father, after all. While Alessino was just a stranger.

So why did my heart ache for him?

I swallowed hard. "Don't worry, I'll do my best to help you catch my dad." My voice came out quieter than I intended.

Alessino didn't respond. He simply got up.

"Get ready. We will get married tomorrow. The makeup artist and designer will be here soon to get your measurements and discuss things for the ceremony."

I gawked at him. "What?! Tomorrow?!"

He didn't even look back as he left, his footsteps fading down the hall.

I stared at the closed door, my mind going blank.

Damn I was really marrying my kidnapper..

But that didn't mean I had to play by his rules.