Shattered Attraction

"Arghhhhh!!" I ducked under the dinner table, my breaths shaky as the door to the family room was shot down and three men walked in spraying bullets in the air.

"Where is my money Antonio" one of them yelled, his eyes sweeping the room, hungry for blood.

"My chest tightened. "Will this be my last day on earth?" I covered my mouth with my hands, preventing the sobs from escaping.

"I- I don't have your money yet" father stuttered from his hiding place beneath the table.

The man who had spoken stepped closer, his voice like ice. "You said you had something for me." chills chased themselves down my spine as I heard my father sobbing.

"I'm sorry!" father cried as the man pulled him out from beneath the table by the scruff of his neck.

"You know how much I hate games Antonio" he said as he pointed his gun at father's head with a steady hand.

"Wait! Wait! Please!" father cried. I saw the fear in his eyes from my hiding place but nothing prepared me for his next words. "I-I don't have your money but I'll let you take my daughter as collateral, just give me a little more time"

I gasped in disbelief, my mind reeling. No. No, this can't be happening. But the sharp pain of my hair being yanked from my scalp told me it was all too real.

"You think your daughter is worth fifty grand?" the man asked, cocking his head.

"I swear to you she's handy at a lot of things, she will do whatever you need" he said shaking.

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the man who had raised me. All my life, he has been a deadbeat but I never imagined he will actually go this far.

"You will sell your only child to pay off your gambling debts?" the man asked coldly.

A silence fell over the room, but the answer was clear.

"No-No papa. Please don't do this" I cried as I dropped to my knees.

He could not look me in the eyes as he said "Gabriella, you have to understand, I don't have a choice-"

"No!" I screamed, "please you can't take me, this must be a crime" I said as tears flowed down my face.

"Papa! You do have a choice, we can work to pay it off, I will forfeit all my savings" I pleaded, desperate for a way out.

The man chuckled as he walked towards me. He grabbed my face, as if to inspect it.

"Hm, she's beautiful" he said turning my chin from side to side.

"Papa, I beg of you, don't do this" I begged.

"What's your name beautiful?" the man asked. I glared at him, raising my chin up.

"Oh that's how it's gonna be" he said chuckling. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you" His words were laced with a sick pleasure as the other men snickered in the background.

"Gabriella" father answered. "Her name is "Gabriella." I glared at him as he squeezed his eyes shut.

"You're about to become my new plaything, Gabriella" the man whispered in my ears as I trembled.

He watched me for some time, his blue eyes cold. "I'll take her."

I collapsed, sobbing loudly into my hands. "No please, please you can't do this" I said, my voice broken.

The man grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me to my feet. I stumbled, my legs, too weak to hold my weight.

At that moment, one of the other men said. "Matteo, I don't think your brother will be happy if we take her." I felt hope rising in my chest as I looked between them as they whispered to each other. But my hope was dashed as the man said.

"Fuck my brother" he hissed. "Now shut the fuck up and do as you're told" he finished.

"You're mine now, to do with as I deem fit" he said turning towards me, smirking. "And babyyy, there are a lot of things I'll love do with you."

I whimpered, trying to pull my arm free of his hold but I was too weak to fight him. "Please" I whispered in desperation, trying to make him see reason. "I can't do this sir, please, I'll work to pay off his debts, I'll do anything, just don't take me" I continued.

He ignored me, turning towards where my father was kneeling. "I'll take her Antonio" he began. "But you won't see her again. Your debt is paid in full"

I howled like a banshee after hearing that I won't be returned, my body shaking as the man dragged me towards the door. "Papa please, you can't let them take me" I cried, my voice full of anguish.

Father closed his eyes like he could not also bear to look at me. "I'm sorry" he whispered.

The moment I was pulled past the doors, I bolted. Running as fast as I could towards the gate, I could hear the man chuckling behind me.

I was two steps away from the gate when someone grabbed me from behind.

"Noo!! Let me go!" I screamed, kicking as I was lifted off the ground. I pounded on his back as I was dumped unceremoniously in the back seat of an SUV.

"Don't worry my love, you'll enjoy your life with me" He said, running his fingers down my cheeks. I spat in his face, he chuckled as he wiped the spit from his eyes with his index finger and my disgust for him skyrocketed as he licked it.

"Oh i'm definitely going to have my fun with you." he said calmly. "Maybe I'll pass you around to a few of my men when I'm done with you" he added.

I glared at him but before I knew what was happening. I blacked out.

My fists clenched and I shot my brother a glare. "What do you mean you collected his daughter as payment?" I growled in anger. "What the hell were you thinking Matteo?"

Matteo shifted, his face paling as he said. "He-he couldn't pay Dante, so-"

"So what!" I roared, banging my fist on the table. "If he couldn't pay, you put two bullets in his head, not take his fucking daughter!"

"I'm sorry Dante" he said, bowing his head in shame.

"We do not take women, that's not how we do business" I said coldly. "That's not how I do business" I added.

"But she was the only thing he had to offer, was I supposed to have let him off the hook?" he said, trying to defend himself.

My face twisted in disgust. "I know why you took her. Don't think I don't know what you do to women, Matteo."

Matteo's face flushed, his eyes darting away. Silence hung heavy between us, thick and suffocating.

"Do you even understand what you've done? You've crossed a fucking line!!" I yelled. "We do not touch wives or mothers or daughters. We do not touch people's women" I gritted out.

"It's just one woman, capo! What's the big deal?" he said in desperation.

I stood up slowly, walking towards him with cold menace, I saw the alarm in his eyes as I picked up a baseball bat. He was only allowed to take two steps back before the bat crashed into his knees.

"The big deal Matteo, is respect" I said coldly as I swung the bat into his midriff. He doubled over as I continued pounding him with the bat not minding that he was family.

"Dante, that's enough!" I looked up as my grandma walked in, the soft thud of her cane echoing in the otherwise silent room.

"Get him out of my sight" I said calmly, signaling to one of my men. "And the woman, take her to Hannah, make sure she's tied up" I turned towards my grandmother and I could see the twinkle in her eyes.

"What is it?" I asked crunching my eyebrows.

"You know what? I have the perfect use for the girl" my grandma said smiling.

"Hm, and what's this perfect use grandma" I asked as I walked back to my seat.

"What? You're going to marry her" she said clapping her hands in excitement.

"Excuse me??" I growled in disbelief.

"C'mon Dante, she is a pretty girl, have you looked at her? She's going to make you fine, strong boys" she continued.

I looked at her, baffled. "Are you okay, grandma?" I asked her.

"Don't you dare look at me like I've gone senile" she huffed. "I'm still in perfect control of my thinking faculties" she added.

"You could have fooled me" I murmured. She slapped my head. I have a great relationship with my grandma, considering the fact that it's just her and that little piece of shit-Matteo, that are left of the family. I've never felt more satisfaction than the day I killed my father. The motherfucker got off on preying on the weak and the scars on the right side of my face are a testament to that.

"You will marry her Dante" she said firmly.

"I'm not going to marry her grandma, the poor little thing will be scared shitless the moment she sees my face" I said.

"That's why you have to marry her, my boy" She continued, sitting across from me. "I'm worried about you." she whispered. "I don't have much time left and i'm worried about who's going to take care of you"

"I don't need a wife to take care of me, you should be more worried about Matteo, it's looking like he picked up more of our father behavior than I thought" I said, getting annoyed all over again.

"That's why he can't be the one to have the girl, he just wants a play thing" She sighed. "Dante, you're thirty-five years old and I know you act like you're not bothered about your face but the fact that you refuse to show it to the world speaks otherwise" she said. "You let Matteo abuse your name by letting people think he's the capo"

I scoffed as I saw her eyes fill up with tears. I have a soft spot for my grandma considering the fact that she's the only sensible family member I have left.

"Fine!" I growled. "I'll marry her if that's what you want" I added. I saw her hide a smile and that was when it occurred to me that I've fallen into her trap.

"Today?" she asked her eyes lighting up.

"What do you mean today? Have you taken a look at the girl? she's unconscious" I said, lighting a cigar. I could feel a headache coming as I leaned back into my chair.

"Okay boy, you can stop glaring at me, let's do tomorrow then?" she asked hopeful.

"Don't push your luck grandma" I said in a low voice. She looked at me for a moment before walking slowly out of the room, the door closing softly behind her.

The silence returned to the room as I smoked the cigar, deep in thought. I could not believe that piece of shit, Antonio, would actually give up his daughter for fifty grand. Feeling the right side of my face ache, I touched the scar that ran from beneath my hairline to the top of my cheek and sighed.

Deciding to take a proper look at the girl I'll be getting married to soon, I walked into the room I knew she will be. She looked peaceful while asleep. Her long lashes fanned across her cheeks and I could feel my heart tug at the tear streaks on them.

I could not help but agree with my grandma, she was beautiful. Her long Auburn hair was spread across the pillow in silken waves. Her skin was smooth and I heard her moan in her sleep as she tried to turn on her side. Feeling like I was invading her privacy, I let myself out of the room.

I jolted awake as a bucked of ice-cold water was dumped on my head. Looking around, I could not see anything but it seemed like I was in a very dark room with my hands tied to a chair.

"Oh, the poor thing must be scared" I heard someone whisper.

"Please, please help me!" I cried out. "Is anyone here!" I shouted, blinking against the darkness. "I'll do anything, please just help me out of here" I whispered sobbing.

"Oh dear, you can't get out of here" a woman said as she pulled the curtains, the sudden brightness, almost blinding me. I could hear the sound of water running in the bathroom, which made me realize there was someone else in the room.

"I'm Hannah, and I'm to help you prepare for your wedding" she said blankly.

"We-wedding" I stammered, taken aback. "To who?" I asked.

"To the boss of course" she said matter of factly.

"Boss?-What boss?" I asked confused.

"I wonder what he sees in her to even contemplate marrying her. She's not even that pretty." The other woman said, coming into the bedroom.

"Oh Shush!" Hannah admonished her, "You're just jealous you won't be warming his bed no more"

She turned back to me saying "You will be getting married to Mr Dante in a few hours my dear." she said clapping her hands.

"What-No, noo" I whispered in disbelief, shaking my head. "Ma'am wait, you have to help me, I can't get married to him" I said in panic. "I've only ever met him once, I don't even know him. Please you have to help me escape" I continued.

"Are you fine miss?" the woman said with concern, touching my forehead. "Oh, seems like you're having a fever."

The other woman cackled as she left the room, closing the door with a thud.

"I-I" I babbled, searching for words.

"The blow to your head must have really taken a toll on you" Hannah said and I could not confirm if the concern I saw in her eyes was genuine. "No one escapes from Dante Lombardi" she said with finality.

"You're too young to be put in a coffin. So I'll advice you not to speak to me about escaping ever again. He might have my head along with yours if he finds out"

My eyes filled with tears, my fingers trembling as the reality of my situation finally hits me. I've been sold for fifty thousand dollars, and now, I'm being forced to marry a man I don't even know, talk less of love.

"So, let's get you cleaned up, i'm going to untie you now, don't do anything funny" she said cautiously.

The moment I was untied, I ran towards the door, pulling on the doorknob but was gravely disappointed to see that it had been locked. A sob escaped out of me as I slid down and soon, I was bawling like a baby. I was thankful to Hannah for giving me a minute before she spoke.

"Are you ready for your bath now?" Hannah asked after some minutes. I nodded, feeling dirty and self-cautious.

"That's good, you're doing very well dear" She led me to the bath and scrubbed me. I was feeling better by the time she finished dressing me in a wedding gown she claimed belonged to Dante's mother.

"Oh my!" she exclaims. "You look stunning" Hannah said as I stood in front of the mirror. I frowned, finding nothing to be excited about as there was a knock at the door.

"Hannah, the boss says he needs her down now" a man said.

This was It. I thought as my pulse raced, my palms became clammy as Hannah responded.

"She will be down in a minute Rico."

"Please, I can't. I don't want to do this" I tried one last time to appeal to her.

"You don't have a choice my dear, everyone is waiting at the church for you. He is waiting" she said with kind eyes.

She put the veil over my face and then handed me over to Rico as she opened the door.

"Let's get this blasted ceremony over and done with" Rico cussed as he escorted me down the stairs and into a black SUV.

I swallowed as we got to the entrance of the chapel. The heavy oak doors-the only thing that separated me from a lifetime of misery- opened. The man-Rico, tightened his arm around mine, giving me a warning look not to try anything stupid.

The orchestra started as I walked down the aisle. I wondered whose idea this was as a man stood on the other end of the aisle in front of a priest with a mask on. I could see his fists clenching, as if he was as nervous as I was.

The priest began to speak but I barely heard him, my mouth felt dry and my head was reeling, desperate for a way out.

"And do you, Gabriella, take Dante Lombardi as your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked.

The question hung in the air for a few seconds.

"I-I" I faltered, I could not get my throat to work, the man in front of me was sending daggers my way with his eyes. I closed my eyes, I could feel the gaze of the few people in the church staring into me.

"I do" I whispered. Closing my eyes in pain, it felt like I had just signed a contract with the devil as the priest smiled.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride" the priest said. I gasped in shock as the man-Dante, removed the mask covering his face.

My mouth dropped open as I stared at my husband.