Wedded To The Ruthless Mafia Boss

The heavy December wind struck the earth's surface, causing debris to land in different areas of New York City.

Lena had gone to get a few drugs for her dad's treatment. Now she was stuck in the pharmacy store; she sighed wearily and wished the wind would stop blowing heavily.

She needed to get home to her father as soon as possible.

"Ena," Pat, the pharmacy technician, called.

"Oh, I've told you several times that my name is Lena and not Ena." She didn't sound pleasant. She glared at Pat, almost letting out a long hiss.

"Hmm, you seem mad at me. Have I done something wrong?" He asked her.

"It's so tiring that I get to correct you every time. My name is Lena, not Enaaaa." She emphasized.

"Noted, Lena." He smiled at her, but she didn't acknowledge that.

She had moved out to check the weather outside. It was still a bit dark, she stretched her hand to feel the impact of the raindrops on her skin, and it was manageable.

She did a mental calculation of the pharmacy to her house and realized she would only get drenched a little bit if the intensity of the rain didn't increase.

She shoved the small polythene that contained the drugs in her purse and dared to enter the rain.

"Hey Ena, Lena, hey, wait for the..." Pat ran out of the store, but all attempts to stop her were futile. He shrugged his shoulders, returning to crouch down on the stool.

The rain increased, and Lena muttered cuss words as she walked in the wrenching rain, she was now cold, and her feet were barely moving.

Through gritted teeth and cold shivers, she checked around, but there was no shade to hide for safety. She walked on, hoping a miracle would happen to her. She wasn't looking well, it was getting dark, and the street lights were not on, probably due to the heavy rain. She heard the honking sound of a car and turned away before it hit her.

She halted at a standstill staring at her wet clothes and drugs; her father would scold her for not waiting for the rain to stop before returning home.

The already wet drugs were not the problem; she could get new ones with the money she'd saved over the months, but her card wasn't with her, and she would need it if she wanted to buy new drugs.

She rubbed her temples in worry. Biting her lips regretfully, she wished she had a car. She strolled on and noticed the car that passed her earlier hadn't made a move past the place the driver halted.

She walked past the vehicle but was stopped when the driver wound down the window. He smiled at her and asked if she wanted a ride. Lena shook her head and walked swiftly, she didn't trust the men around, and there had been cases of missing bodies lately.

The car trailed behind her, causing trepidation to creep into her mind. Can the day get any worse?

Firstly, she was drenched in the rain, and now a black tinted windows range rover sport was following her. Was the driver trying to kidnap her?

She didn't understand why he was following her, but she made sure not to wait. She walked as fast as her legs could, but unfortunately, the car caught up.

The driver wound down and stopped again. "What the hell do you want from me!" She yelled at him.

"Chill, my boss wants to have a word with you." He smiled at her, revealing a perfect set of white teeth, "Would you wait now?"

"I don't give a fuck who you and your lame boss are. I'm drenched and need to get home!" She yelled again and walked away from the car.

"Sir, she just left. Do you want me to pursue her?" The chauffeur bowed his head slowly and looked back to ask his boss what to do.

"No, leave her be. She seemed rude and not even one of the types I want." A deep voice responded to him. He nodded his head and continued to drive slowly.

They drove past Lena, and she muttered cuss words at them. She hissed and continued walking.

The raindrop was less now; she hurried before it would start again. She regretted not coming out with some cash and her card; she got home in a few seconds.

As she approached her house, something caught her attention -the car that stopped her earlier, or was it something that looked like it? Of course, a car wasn't made for one person.

Even though it wasn't for the man who stopped her earlier, who could be the owner? She lived alone with her father in that house, and he hardly came home with friends.

Different thoughts ran through her mind as she walked closer to the doorstep, she flung the door open, and to her chagrin, the driver who stopped her earlier was right there standing close to a man she was yet to see his face.

"You again?" She pointed an accusing finger at the skinny man with dirty blonde hair. He smiled at her-surprised to see her as well.

Lena walked to where her father sat, looking weak and feeble.

"Dad?" She called, and at that moment, her eyes met with the most handsome face she would ever see.

His skin was whiter than hers, though only his face was visible. All other parts of his body were clad, but she could easily make out his perfectly built body from the blue t-shirt that hugged his body.

His face had a dull expression that she couldn't read, and he had his hair packed backwards.

She was impressed how a man could keep such long hair. A cigarette was between his long lean fingers, and he slowly took a drag.

He didn't spare her a glance; she wasn't even sure if he knew she was there. She was the one doing the body survey. He didn't care about her presence.

"Dad," She stopped gawking at the young man and turned to her father.

He fidgeted and held his daughter with his weak cold hands. Lena was sad. She didn't know how to tell him that the drugs were wet and she needed to get new ones for him.

"Is that your daughter?" The strange man who had refused to spare her a glance, asked.

Lena looked at him, and his eyes were on her. She wondered why he asked that question from him.

"Yes, I'm his daughter." She stared back at him; his eyes were blue and very beautiful. How can a man be this flawless? His voice sent cold shudders down her crest -deep, charming, and soothing to the ears.

"Then I think the bait is done!" Blue eyes man crossed his long legs and let out a small smile that didn't look genuine.

"How's that?" Lena was confused. She would still ask her father who they were, maybe when they were gone.

"I think I would need you," He gently took a drag of the cigarette in his hand and sent a puff to the dilapidated ceiling.

"You look like someone who would know how to do something right." He laughed; Lena was now getting scared. "Since your father refused to train you properly. How about I marry you to teach you ethics?" He looked at his chauffeur.

"What do you think, Jay?"

"That would be a perfect decision, boss!" Jay replied, "A Valid one!"

Lena was lost. She stared at them like they were acting in a movie.

"Gavin Johnson, I want my money now." Darian, the blue-eyed man turned to her father with a fierce look. He grinned, "I will send you to jail if you don't provide my money at this very moment." The way he spoke his words was reserved, he had a calm voice, but his words were wicked. "But you do have options here." He relaxed on the tattered couch, giggling as his eyes ogled Lena.

"Darian, I beg you for some time." Gavin finally spoke up. Lena held her father. She didn't understand what was happening between those two.

Where did her father know such a man?

"Dad?" she called, but he ignored her.

"Please, I will pay you. I promise to pay you once I have my job back."

"Pay me? Where do you intend to even get that money from?" He chuckled and shook his head. "I need my money now." Darian puffed the smoke out of the cigarette again. "And If you don't provide it, you'd be jailed."

"Who are you, and why are you frustrating my sick father?" Lena flew up angrily; she placed her hands on her thighs and tapped her feet on the marble floor.

Darian gawked at her, pitifully shaking his head.

"Did your father not teach you to mind the first words you say to strangers?"

Her father pinched her hard when she sat back. She winced in pain and stared at him. "Who is he?" She whispered in his ears.

"Let's break it down for the little girl," He chuckled again. "Your father here, Gavin, came to borrow some huge amount of money he spent on gambling!" He laughed and retook a drag. "Been over three years, and he still hasn't paid half of the money. He even had the guts to challenge me to a game! Well, I won it, and the price was huge. He thought he could win over me, but a master would always be your master." Darian straightened up and looked at Lena. "Your daughter is ripe enough for marriage," he lapped his lips against each other. "You either pay my money, or you give her to me. You have twenty-four hours to decide if you will go to jail, or I will be planning a wedding in my crib!" Darian intoned, flouncing out of the small living room before Gavin could give a response.

His driver followed behind him, slamming the door shut as they walked out.

Lena exchanged a knowing glance with her father; he sure had a lot of explaining to do. But before then, she hurried to her room to get her card.

She dashed out of the house to get new drugs for her dad before he asked about the ones she had gone to buy before.

Some minutes after Darian left the house, Lena went to get her father new drugs.

It was already late when she returned home. She gave the drugs to him, crouching next to him on the couch. She monitored as he carefully swallowed the pills.

When he was all done. She coughed lightly to attract his attention. Glancing at her father, she placed her hands on her chin, questions muddling up her mind.

"Dad, who was that man?" She was ready to talk about it now. "And what was that whole nonsense he was spewing? I didn't understand anything. Could you please explain this to me? Properly this time." She demanded, swabbing her feet on the floor.

Her father heaved a long sigh, shaking his head. His eyes held so much guilt as he stared at his daughter.

"He's Darian Dawson, the CEO of Darian's Holdings. He doesn't reverse his decisions, he speaks once. He's dreadful, Lena. And no one dares go against his will," Gavin replied to his daughter in a reserved tone.

"How did you get involved with him, dad?" She continued with her questions.

He heaved a weary sigh, folding his arms together; he rested his back on the couch and shook his head in regret.

"I met him years ago," He began, "You were in school, and your mother just passed away; I got fired from work, and it was all hard for me. I took to drinking when I met some men. They were bad associates, but I felt like I needed them then. We would go to the club every night and gamble, and that was where I met Darian for the first time," he told his daughter. Pausing for a brief moment, he continued. "He was young and vibrant, and I envied him so much. Days after meeting him, my friends approached me and told me about a business I could involve in that would fetch me some money." He sighed again and sipped in some water from the can. "They told me I needed huge money to start the business and eventually cajoled me into lending some money from Darian because he was a regular at the club where we gambled."

Lena stared at her father surprisingly -she had no idea her father was into that shady stuff. When she lost her mother while in the uni, she had proposed the idea of coming back home to stay with him in Geneva, but he had opposed it and told her he was doing okay; she had no idea he was moving with bad friends.

"What happened after that?" She asked impatience laced in her soft voice.

"I approached him, and he challenged me to a pool game. I won, and he said he would lend the money to me, which he did."

"So, what did you do with the money?" She asked him again. "And how much was it?"

"A huge amount, a Hundred thousand dollars." He said, and Lena almost screamed; that was huge!

"That big money? What happened to it?"

"I gambled with some, and when it was time for me to invest, I didn't find my friends anymore. They left with all the money, leaving me in debt."

"Oh shit! Dad, how could you be so gullible to let anyone do that to you?" She was disappointed.

"Yes, I was foolish. I agree, but the situation at hand now is that. . ." He paused again. "I need to pay back his money. He would make sure he throws me in jail if I don't." He panicked as he thought of ways to solve the payment, but nothing popped into his head.

"What do you plan to do, dad?" Lena inquired of her father.

"I don't know of anything, I have no money with me, and the only way is..." He stared at her, and she quickly abated his glance as it reached her.

"Please, Lena, you have to do this for me." He begged her, "I'm weak, and going to jail would worsen things. He's a vicious man. He would render you homeless, throw me in jail and take everything from you. Please, consider all of this and help me." She glared at him in confusion.

She understood what he meant but feigned not to.

"Dad, I don't understand what you want me to do here. Do you want me to work for him?" She queried.

"He gave us conditions, Lena. He gave us conditions, you either become his wife, or I pay my debt."

He bowed his head and rubbed his temples, closing his eyes, he felt a sharp pain hit his chest; he breathed hard and opened those eyes again, boring into his daughter's.

"You want me to get married to him?" She asked

surprisingly.

"That's the only way to save me from this, Lena," Gavin stared apologetically at his daughter.

Lena stood up and turned her back to her father; she shook her head in disagreement, walking steps away from him.

"How could you, dad?" She frowned, "How can you tell me to go marry a man I barely know?" Her eyes burned with disappointment."I saw him for the first time today and..."

He held her shoulders, rubbing them gently; her heart softened, and she stopped speaking.

"I regret this mistake. Depression led to all of these, and I'm so sorry. Please, Lena, save me, and the family, and you won't even have to be with him for long." He told her, letting go of her, he sat back on the couch.

"How is that possible?" She sat on the couch and glared at her father; she was mad at him.

"How do you plan to repay him a whole sum of a hundred thousand dollars?" She was interested in the magic he wanted to perform to bring out the money.

"When you become his wife, you will have access to lots of things, and within a short period, we will get the money and pay him back, and then, you can file for a divorce."

Lena shook her head, disgusted with her father's point. She wondered when he started to build up those ideas and how he even managed to get himself into that mess.

"And you think he would be foolish to let me get such an amount?" She scoffed. "Father, I can't do this. I'm sorry." She bluntly refused.

"Then, do you want to watch me die?" He held her hands and stroked her fingers. "Darian is merciless, he has strong connections, and he's even involved with the..." He paused and didn't talk further. "Maybe it's time to go join your mother in heaven." He relaxed on the couch, letting his thoughts completely control his mind.

Lena gazed at her father; she had adored him since she was little. He loved her so much and cared for her.

Growing up as a child, he made sure he gave her all that she needed, and ever since her mother died, he had been the only one for her.

She didn't want to watch him suffer when she could easily help him but getting married to a stranger was never part of the plan. She closed her eyes, and tears dripped down her cheeks.

She had plans, great plans for her life, with her best friend, not this. She wished she could turn back the hands of the clock and do some things right, her father had made a lifetime mistake, and now it would even cost her her own life.

Lena was not ready for marriage-not to a stranger, but then, she had to save her father and herself.

"Lena?" Gavin called her again, she looked at him pitifully, and he was close to tears. She knew she couldn't watch him go to jail and die there; she would do it.

"I will marry him." She agreed to do it.

"You will?" There was a mixture of little excitement and more sadness on his face. It wasn't his joy to give his daughter away, but sometimes, when life hits hard, we have to move with the train.

"Yes, for you, father, for you." She sobbed, and he pulled her into an embrace. She cried slowly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He apologized and hoped that she would be able to forgive him someday.

~

Lena returned to her tiny room, flopping on the bed. She thought of everything and wasn't sure she wanted to do it, but she had already told her father that she would.

When she was little, she planned to marry when she was twenty-four, and she was just a year before that.

She sighed, resting her head on the teddy bear she got as a birthday present from Lisa, her best friend.

Life was unfair. She thought as she reminisced about everything that had happened so far.

All her life, she'd never had a boyfriend, never loved a man, and now, she wasn't just going to love a man, she was getting married to a stranger.

She wondered how people could be crazy to make such decisions; she was thankful he had never been married, but that didn't settle it. She didn't plan to marry someone she didn't know.

She stretched her hand to pick up her phone, and she swiped on the screen.

She dialed Lisa's number and placed the call on her ear, patiently waiting for her to pick up.

"Hey, baby!" Lisa's voice rang loudly in her eardrums. She sighed, wishing Lisa could stop yelling whenever they were on a call.

"Lisa, I'm getting married." She broke the news sadly to her.

"Married?" Lisa laughed for a few seconds and stopped, "To who?" She laughed again. "What the hell! Are you daydreaming?" She asked, "And stop this joke. I'm not in the best mood for this." She warned Lena.

"I'm dead serious! My dad wants me to get married to settle his debts!"

She knew it was a shameful thing to say, but she and Lisa had gone past that stage; she was her best friend and more like a sister to her. She knew everything about her, and there was no point hiding things from her.

"Oh my gosh! That's terrible!" Lisa screeched. "Who is he?" She asked again.

"He's Darian Dawson, CEO of Darian's Holdings," she replied in a faint voice.

"Oh my gosh, oh my Gosh! Are you kidding me now?" Lisa squealed.

"I'm serious. Do you know him?" "Of course I do! That hot man? Oh my gosh, you need to see his body. He's so hot and devilishly handsome! Oh my God! That's a big catch."

She knew it, Lisa knew him-Lisa was an avid reader of celebrity news and was sure she had read everything about Darian's life.

"Have you read about him too? What are his good and bad sides?"

"Oh my God! I don't know what to feel!" Lisa giggled over the phone. "I don't know either, I saw him, and he doesn't even look nice; I didn't plan to get married this way. The plan was to work hard and get married at twenty-four, and now, I'm even jobless, I have no savings, I'm just twenty-three, and dad wants me to save him by getting married to this stranger. I do want to cry out; I'm unhappy about it." She was about to cry again, "I'm sad!"

"Hey, calm down, okay? Just be positive about him." She told Lena.

"Positive about someone I barely know? How will I live with a stranger for the rest of my life? I can't handle this. I don't think I can do it." She said to her.

"Lena, you will be fine. You can't go back on your decision now. You have to save your father from going to jail, or do you want him to be in jail while you live your life?"

"I don't, but it's so hard to do, so difficult, and why does it have to be me?"

"It will get better, I'm always here for you, and I've got your back anytime and any day. Don't worry too much about it, be positive!" Lisa told her again, and they ended the call.

Lena closed her eyes, dropping onto the bed. That was it, she was going to marry Darian Dawson, she couldn't back out now, she had to save her father.

The day was finally here.

Lena and Lisa sat in her room while the makeup artist did the final touches on Lena's face, giving herself a satisfactory smile.

She turned to Lisa and said, "Done, ma'am!"

Then she started to pack her things into the makeup box.

"I don't think this is necessary," Lena told Lisa. She had rejected the makeup offer when Lisa suggested it to her, but Lisa didn't have it. She went ahead to invite the artist over.

"It is, you look so pretty, and I'm sure he would go crazy once he sets his eyes on you today." Lisa giggled, standing from where she was seated.

She strode over to where Lena was sitting and cradled her already-styled hair.

"I don't want to do this."

Lena just realized that after the wedding today, she won't be coming back to her father's house. She was so scared it could be a bad one.

"I'm so nervous. I don't want to live with a man I don't know."

"This is the crossroad, Lena. We can't go back anymore. We either take a cross, or we stop at a standstill." Lisa caressed her back and kissed her forehead. "You will be fine, trust me." She convinced her friend.

Lena didn't trust her friend's words. She could read the uncertainty in her voice and expression; she wiggled her head and stood up.

She went towards the window in her overflowing white gown; Lisa had specially picked her wedding gown. Though Lena just wanted to make things simple, she didn't want to give Darian the impression that she was pleased to marry him even though he had dropped some money for them to make preparations.

Lena rubbed her temples in worry, sighing hard, her eyes roamed the room. She felt homesick already. She walked back to the bedside and stood, staring at Lisa.

Lisa monitored her friend's movement; her overly long gown flowed throughout the room, the slit that cut right to her knees revealed her well-toned legs, and her perfectly carved shoulders were shown in the dress; she had simple but expensive makeup on her face.

She was so pretty that sometimes, Lisa wished she was a guy and Lena was his girlfriend. She looked at her again and nodded at the choice of gown she made. She was proud of herself. Her slender figure fitted the dress perfectly well.

"You should take it easy, okay? The church program starts in an hour. We should brace ourselves for it." She told Lena.

"So, this is it? I'm getting married to that man!" She half yelled and was close to tears. "I don't want to do this. I'm so afraid." She held her best friend very tightly. "I don't want to do it, please help me."

Lisa patted her shoulders and hugged her. She could see the trepidation in Lena's countenance but there was nothing she could do to help her now.

"I will be here for you, but Lena, don't ruin that perfect makeup with your tears." She pressed her lips together and shrugged her shoulders when Lena looked at her scornfully. She smiled and urged her to be strong.

They left the room afterwards, and Lena met her father, who sat in the living room casually dressed in a black suit.

He should be glad his daughter was getting married, but there was no smile on his face; he looked at Lena as she walked towards him -she looked so beautiful and innocent, her hair was curly and packed to the back, her long gown graciously flowed and she looked so perfect as she walked towards her father, holding the two sides of the gown with her fingers, she looked so beautiful, but there was no smile on her face.

"Lena?" He called once she was standing in front of him.

She looked away from him. Bowing her head, she waited for him to speak to her.

"I'm sorry. I hope you forgive me someday." He muttered in a gentle voice. He took her hands and kissed them softly.

"Will you be fine on your own? I just realized that I won't be coming back to this house after today." She sniffed, about to cry again. She still cared about him no matter what he did.

"Darian made arrangements with some maids. He will send them over tomorrow." He told her, and she was surprised.

She was oblivious to all that, but she didn't push it further. All that mattered to her was her father's well-being, and she was glad it would be sorted out.

"The church program is starting in twenty minutes. We have to leave now." She told him, and they both walked out of the living room.

They got outside, and a car was already waiting for them; Darian had sent a car to go pick up his bride. Lisa helped Lena pack the gown as they entered the car.

----

A few minutes later, they were in the church premises. Lena got down from the car with her father standing by her side.

Lisa was at the back, clutching the tip of the dress in her hands.

As they walked inside, Lena's heartbeat intensified; that was her fate being sealed with a man. After that day, there was no going back, she was going to be his wife and bear all the shit he would make her go through.

These thoughts clouded her mind, and she was on the verge of crying, giving up, and running out of the church, but it was already late, she couldn't do that anymore. Her father walked her down the aisle.

Darian was standing there already; he's been waiting, and he loathed that she kept him waiting, but he would let that slide-it was their wedding day.

Darian donned a well-fitted expensive black suit, he dropped his hair this time, and Lena wondered how he could be so flawless.

His manly cologne filled her nose, which smelled expensive. He had his eyes on her, making her so uncomfortable.

Her father let go of her hands and stood back; there was no audience in the church, just the couple, Lisa, Gavin, and Darian's Chauffeur, and the priest who was to join the two in holy matrimony.

Darian looked at Lena, a smug smile spreading across his face. "You kept me waiting," he cautioned sternly.

She said nothing to him, she looked over at the priest, and the mass began.

After the celebration of the holy mass, it was now time to join the couple together. The priest approached them with a bible in his hand, and Lisa walked up the aisle to deliver the ring.

"Darian Dawson, do you have a toast to make before I join you two together?" The elderly priest asked him.

"No," he shook his head without hesitation.

"And you, Lena Johnson, do you have a toast to make?" He asked her.

Lena gave the same response too.

"Now, you say after me." He turned back to Darian. "I, Darian Dawson, take you, Lena Johnson, as my lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish every day of my life, for better or worse till death do us part." The priest called out, and Darian said slowly after him, but he wasn't sure about those words, and he felt the marriage oath should not be necessary to try, but they had to go through the required procedure.

He slid the diamond ring onto her fragile finger, and it faultlessly fitted; Lena looked into his eyes and felt nothing at all; she let out an exasperated sigh-that was not the kind of wedding she had wished for all her life.

"Lena, are you ready to pronounce your vows?" The priest asked her, and she looked to where her father and Lisa were sitting.

She wanted to scream out loud and tell the priest she didn't want to marry Darian, but that would be her father's death.

She turned back to the priest and nodded in response, "I'm ready," she muttered.

"I, Lena..." He said, and she repeated after him. When she was done pronouncing her vows, she took the ring and held Darian's beautiful lean fingers; she gently put it on it and looked at him, his eyes met with hers, but he was quick to stare away from her.

"You may now kiss your bride." The priest announced to them.

At that moment, Lena realized she had not had her first kiss, she widened her eyes in shock, but Darian had a smug smile on his face.

He pulled her closer to himself and gently lifted the veil, cupped her face in his hands, and bent his head to her level.

"You're mine now." He whispered into her ears, and those words alone sent quivers down her spine. The words sounded dangerous.

He smiled at her and placed his lips on her tiny lips, kissed her once, and let go very quickly. Lena felt no impact from the kiss, she looked at her father again, and he had an apologetic look on, bracing herself for what was coming the whole day.

"I join you two in holy matrimony, and I now pronounce you husband and wife!" The priest raised their hands to the air.

Lisa and Gavin applauded. Lena was so scared. Her heart couldn't stop beating hard, but there was no going back now, it had been sealed, and she was officially his wife.

After the solemnization of holy matrimony, they left the church premises.

Lena met with her father and Lisa for the last time before going with her husband.

"Lisa, I'm leaving. Going with him forever." She sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know what will become of me I'm scared." She let out her fears, and her friend hugged her tightly.

"You will be fine," Lisa assured her. "And don't forget that we are always there for you. No matter how hard it gets, you can always call on us." She said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I'm so sorry, Lena." Her father started. "I blame myself for this." He patted her back and gently rubbed it down.

After a while, she raised her head. "I have to leave now. He's waiting." She told them.

"Take care of yourself, and don't forget to put a call across if something goes wrong." She nodded her head, and Lisa blew her a kiss.

She stared at them for the last time before leaving. She waved to them as she was going to the car to meet Darian, she got inside, and her eyes met with him; she quickly gazed away.

"Were you planning to go back to your father's house?" His voice sounded harsh.

Lena looked at him and said nothing.

"It wouldn't hurt if you gave a response, you know?" She still didn't respond to him. The chauffeur started the car and drove away from the church premises.

Lena's heart began to beat hard; that was it, she was going to his house and didn't know what awaited her.

She felt nauseated and wanted to throw up, fly out of the car and go back to her father. But the deal was done, she was starting a new life with Darian-a life she would either loathe or love.

She sighed, awaiting her doom in the hands of Darian Dawson.